Cities
have an abundance of potential where an economy can prosper. It is of utmost
importance that cities must develop sustainably and also a balance must be
sought between the city’s social, economic, and, important, environmental
needs. However, this doesn’t always occur and urban settlements aren’t always
effectively managed.
There
were 7.2 Billion people worldwide in 2014; 6 billion were in less developed
countries and 1.2 billion were in more developed countries. Today, half of the
world’s population of 3.5 billion people is living in cities. According to
United Nations, nearly 60 per cent of the world’s population will live in
cities by 2030. By 2030, it is projected that 6 out of 10 people will reside in
urban areas and the number will increase to 7 out of 10 people by 2050 (Khar Ee
&Suet Leng 2014; Population Reference Bureau 2014).
Liveability
is essentially about living a good, healthy, and sustainable life and about
enjoyment, satisfaction, and fulfilment with one’s life. A liveable place is
safe, clean, beautiful, economically vital, and affordable to a diverse
population and efficiently administered, with functional infrastructure, ample
parks, effective public transportation, and broad opportunities for employment.
It also connotes a sense of community. Liveability refers to those spatial,
social, and environmental characteristics and qualities that uniquely
contribute to people's sense of personal and collective wellbeing and to their
sense of satisfaction in being the residents of that particular settlement (UN
Habitat 1996; Balsas 2004).
Measuring
liveability of a city enables planners to see where the city’s weaknesses and
strengths are. There are five dimensions of liveability, including vitality,
sense, fit, access, and control. Balsas (2004) further notes and add a six
element of “viability. These elements provide a context for discussion of the
spatial, physical, social, and political organisation of various types of urban
development”. Other aspects of liveability can also be subjective based on the
fact how an individual perceive their satisfaction and happiness.
Zarin
& Tarantash (2011) note that neighbourhood liveability includes density,
walkability, transportation availability, land use and distribution, housing
choice and affordability, leisure use spaces & opportunities, and special
amenities and place qualities.
How an all-inclusive, resilient, liveable, and authentic city should
look like. Source: The Philips Center for Health and Wellbeing [sa].
POLICIES, GUIDELINES, OR
BENCHMARKS FOR LIVEABILITY
In order
to counteract the various liveability problems that a city so often experience,
it is important that there exist policies, guidelines and benchmarks in order
to ensure that cities are sustainable and healthy. Several documents are
valuable in the liveability realm, including:
1) The Habitat Agenda (referring to
Chapter IV: B. Adequate shelter for all and C. Sustainable human settlements
development in an urbanizing world).
2) Agenda 21 (under the section
Promoting Sustainable Human Settlement Development)
3) Economist Intelligence Unit's
Liveability ranking
4) Mercer's Quality of Living
Reports
5) Monocle's Most Liveable Cities
Index
The Habitat Agenda (referring to Chapter IV: B.
Adequate shelter for all and C. Sustainable human settlements development in an
urbanizing world) of the UN was selected. This enables local governments to
adopt similar approaches and adapt it to their own needs and development
problems. It deals with (UN Habitat Agenda 1996) adequate shelter for all; sustainable
land use; Population and sustainable human settlements development; social
development; environmentally sustainable, healthy and liveable human
settlements; and sustainable transport and communication systems. This is an
extremely useful and valuable document in order to achieve sustainable human
settlements and in particular liveable cities. Local governments can use it as
a universal benchmark and apply and modify it to suit its individual issues,
especially in a developing cities which faces other, more pressing
socio-economic problems. Under section 135 of the Habitat Agenda (UN Habitat
1996), it gives guidelines about liveability as it influences the quality of
life.
Achieving
sustainable human settlements. Because liveability includes the good, effective
shelter, transports services, and other basic services, the Agenda 21 (under the section Promoting
Sustainable Human Settlement Development) can also provide very good policies
and benchmark for liveability purposes. It is an important blueprint that must
be used nationally and locally by governments and organisations. Related
objectives include: providing adequate shelter for all; promoting sustainable
land-use planning and management; promoting the integrated provision of
environmental infrastructure: water, sanitation, drainage, and solid-waste
management; promoting sustainable energy and transport systems in human
settlements; and promoting sustainable construction industry activities.
Two
extensively known measures of liveability are the Economist Intelligence Unit's Liveability ranking and Mercer's Quality
of Living Reports. They have, on a global scale, provide a valuable
measurement of certain criteria of how good a city is and how liveable it
really is. They calculate liveability of cities from around the world, using
both subjective life-satisfaction as well as objective quality of life
measurements. The EIU Liveability ranking assesses stability; healthcare; culture
and environment; education; and infrastructure which are essential in good
liveability (EIU Liveability ranking 2015).
Monocle's Most Liveable Cities
Index include Safety/Crime,
Climate/Sunshine, Connectivity, Public Transportation, Quality of Architecture,
Environmental Issues, and Access to Nature, and Urban Design. When these
aspects are achieve it will lead to good liveability in a city.
GEOGRAPHICAL TOOLS TO DEAL WITH
LIVEABILITY ISSUES
Various
geographical tools are readily available to deal with liveability issues.
Geodesign
assist in providing a framework to organise methods in order to construct
liveability indicators thoroughly and accurately. Geodesign combines geography
with design by providing designers with robust tools that support rapid
evaluation of design alternatives against the impacts of those designs.
Globalization, population growth, climate change, and increasing demands for
resources are serious problems. Geodesign is the solution. Geodesign can assist
developers and planners to make a more liveable city and especially in local
areas where geographical contexts differ considerably (Esri 2010).
Geospatial
Technology (computer-based mapping techniques) look at spatial data to acquire,
analyse, process, and report information by looking at the spatial organisation
of people, places, and environments on the earth’s surface to assist in the
decision-making process and solve energy supply and demand problems in human
settlements. Spatial information on energy sources and usages in settlements
are of importance as the population continuously grows. Different tools can
assist in dealing with the aforementioned challenges (Esri 2010).
GIS
spatially views and analyses information to depict patterns, see correlations,
and come to conclusions and look at changes of spatial patterns over time. By
understanding geography and people's relationship to location, we can make
informed decisions about the way we live on our planet. GIS can deliver
insights from data by identifying, displaying, analysing, and deciphering
real-world problems. A geographic information system (GIS) is a technological
tool for comprehending geography and making intelligent decisions (Esri 2010).
GIS,
being a good spatial problem-solving tool, integrates hardware, software, and
data for capturing, managing, analysing geographically referenced information
(Elliot 2014). GIS’ ability to manage, integrate, analyse, and visualize very
large and complex data is making it an essential platform for creating the
sustainable cities of the future Patterns of distributed data mashups (both
tabular and map) are increasingly being implemented in cities (Dangermond
2014).
Remote
sensing (obtaining information from a distant to observe spectral, spatial, and
temporal resolution) as a technology is valuable because electricity demand
continuous greatly in South Africa and is especially a problem in rural, more
inaccessible areas and can be used as a point layer to spatially plot different
class features that will require electrification in the future e.g. a dense
informal area.
GIS
functionalities, including spatial and database management and analysis, and
cartography can help as a solution for geographic problem-solving in particular
when it is complex. For example, it can configure a transportation network.
Because residents in cities are so vulnerable and at risk of hazards, GIS can
help to analyse potential risks and integrate it into the planning phase.
In terms
of population and walkability, GIS maps can measure the number of residents within
a convenient walk of a specific facility. GIS helps to assist in understanding
the geographical world. It can demonstrate how differently an issue affects
different populations or geographical areas e.g. in an informal and formal
settlement (Esri 2008; Esri 2010). GIS can also show the accessibility of a
certain area. It is possible to measure the distance to the city centre and
where open spaces are located and compare it to the total urban area. Population
density measures the compactness of an urban area and is done by comparing the
population with the urban area. Remote sensing and GIS can be combined to look
at where urban poverty occurs. So too can QOL be analysed in a city through
GIS. GIS data can also so built environment according to their tabular
attributes as well as help with research on walking and other physical
activities in a city.
SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO APPROVE
LIVEABILITY
Various
categories exists where improvements can be made and will be thoroughly
considered in order for a city, on the long haul, to be a sustainable,
liveable, and resilient city. This also means that the overall wellbeing of the
residents will be significantly improved. A balance between economic,
environmental, and social necessities must be reached.
It is
thus vitally important that human settlement strategies should mainly focus on
establishing viable integrated communities, which are both social and economic
sound, and conveniently located close to economic opportunities and important
amenities as well as have affordable transport to do so. Human settlements must
be economically resilient and environmentally sound in order to become
sustainable. In order for a city to become an all-inclusive, healthy, and
sustainable city, it will be important to improve resident’s quality of life by
looking at the following aspects:
Land use
The
zoning must be changed so that it can become mixed-use. Affordable, accessible
land can help to prevent poverty and assist migrants. When designing new
settlements, it is important that it is closely located to transport corridors,
thereby ensuring that people live a dignified and healthy life.
Safety
and vulnerability
Vulnerable
groups must be given maximum attention and to break down the barriers to
shelter, education, work and other basic services. To limit criminal activity,
social and recreational activities must be in place. All people must be able to
live and thrive in a comfortable and safe and healthy environment. Criminal
activities can be curbed by providing plenty of employment opportunities,
transport, education, and housing.
Housing
Housing development must take place and integrate public transport
services and an integration of basic services should take place, by way of locating
economic and social facilities and amenities (leading to socio-economic
interaction) close to a residential area so that it will make the built
environment in close proximity to where people work and relax. This
will ensure all community members will have equal access to such amenities and
facilities. Housing must be supplied to all people in a community at an
accelerate pace in order to provide for the huge backlog by making more space
available, properly upgrading existing structures, and must be affordable, of
good quality and be supplied with thorough basic services. Housing must also be
equitable and energy-efficient and available to all ages, and races. It must
also be fiscally sustainable. It is important that all people’s needs are fully
met. These houses must be integrated with existing infrastructure of a
settlement and well-located (close to important amenities) and well-managed.
Connectivity/Transportation
uses
It is
important to promote connectivity across the whole region and curb transportation
gaps. Congestion must be limited and that fuel efficiency take place. It must
be affordable, reliant, fast, frequent, and efficient. It must use as little
resources as possible while simultaneously limiting air, water, noise
emissions, and waste. Transport options must also become more economically and
must be of a high quality. Roads must be widen or the number of cars must be
reduced.
Walkability/Mobility
Social
amenities and important facilities must be accessible within a few minutes’
walk. Mobility helps to minimise the distance covered and make less accessible
places more easily accessible. Accessibility is so important in order to
effortlessly reach goods and services. Walkability and the improvement thereof
relates to land use, street design, and affordability. Streets and paths must
be connected to all facilities and activities. More jobs must available close
to the very dense residential areas.
Public
Participation
Public
participation must be at the forefront of planning and the decision-making
process and promote community involvement for this process to become more
inclusive. Interested and affected parties must be fully part of the spatial
planning as this will lead to social Integration.
Built
environment
Streets,
buildings, and spaces must be integrated, green and inclusive of all people.
Buildings must be disaster-resistant, durable, and sturdy. Renewable building
materials must be mostly used.
Green
spaces
It is
important to encourage more green space as well as green infrastructure.
Alternative technologies (e.g. Solar Water Heaters, grey water recycling and
solar and energy efficient lighting to informal settlements) must be explored
in order to increases sustainable resource use. Energy poverty must be
addressed adequately.
CONCLUSION
Cities
are urban sprawls which face a lot of challenges in terms of integrating
sustainability and liveability. Several developing cities face serious
liveability issues. But, it is possible to make it a more sustainable,
liveable, and equitable city through improvements in the transport,
walkability, housing, and vulnerability and safety sections. This will enable
people not only to live a happy life but also a prosperous one. Liveability is
of utmost importance in a city, when the liveability is good, the quality of
life is good. Liveability is essentially about living a good, healthy, and
sustainable life. When the liveability is poor, it impedes people’s quality of
life and their ability to lead a prosperous and happy life. Several
geographical tools are useful as a solution for these problems as well as
international and national documents are available as benchmarks to fully equip
a city in order to live sustainably.
REFERENCES
Balsas,
C.R.L. 2004. Measuring the livability of an urban centre: an exploratory study
of key performance indicators. Planning
Practice & Research, 19:1, 101-110.
ESRI.
2010. Best practices: GIS for Renewable Energy.
ESRI.
2008. GIS Best Practices: Essays on Geography and GIS.
EIU. A
Summary of the Liveability Ranking and Overview August 2015.
Khar Ee,
C.O. & Suet Leng, K. Issues and challenges of a liveable and creative city:
The case of Penang, Malaysia. 2014. Geografia Online: Malaysian Journal of
Society and Space 10 issue 3 (33-43) 33.
Population
Reference Bureau. 2014. World Population Data Sheet.
The
Habitat Agenda Goals and Principles, Commitments and the Global Plan of Action.
The
Philips Center for Health and Wellbeing. [Sa]. A livable and lovable city?
Insight Series on Livable Cities Nr. 1.
UNEP.
2007. Liveable Cities The Benefits Of Urban Environmental Planning A Cities
Alliance Study on Good Practices and Useful Tools.
United
Nations. 1996. The Habitat Agenda: Chapter IV: C. Sustainable human settlements
development in an urbanizing world.
