Impact of the Built Environment on Campus Walkability – G03.2
Charmaine Wee Shimin, Gerald Yap Jie Ge, Gong Chaeeun, Pearlyn Ee Su Yen, Wang An Jie
The relationship between the built environment and walking behavior is well-researched through several empirical studies (Erwing R, 2010), especially due to its significance for creating sustainable urban solutions. Our project assessed built-environment criteria such as amenities, shelter, connectivity, distance and aesthetics with students as the target group. This is because they have higher walking needs and frequencies than staff, and form the largest fraction of stakeholders on campus. We identified two routes for our study based on their student traffic numbers. Both quantitative and qualitative responses were obtained by means of online and on-site surveys.
Our results indicated that shelter was the most significant determinant, followed by the duration of walking and the presence of stairs. Among students who preferred the unsheltered routes, terrain and shorter travel distance were key criteria. Based on our findings, future campus improvements should assess student preference for shelter, level terrain and shorter walking distances for more impactful solutions.
Academic Advisor: Ms. Sadaf Ansari
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Investigating Student Perceptions and Use of Landscaped Spaces in NUS – G03.3
Jeevan Neralakere Somashekhar, Kong Zijin, Lee Wei Hao, Joel, Lin Xingting, Zhao Zichao
Research has established that campus landscapes can have significant psychological appeal and health benefits for students (Mascarelli 2009). The NUS Kent Ridge Campus is located amidst a dense urban setting and faces severe land constraints. Our project evaluated stakeholder use and values about the existing campus landscape to identify potential improvements. Using a literature survey, we narrowed the assessment criteria to three main factors: convenience of use, natural elements in the landscape and user-designer mismatch.
Primary data was collected from a convenience sample of students in a two-step user survey, with a selection of campus photographs for three case studies. The first survey gathered insights on students’ attitudes and use patterns. The second survey gathered targeted feedback on improvement options using results of the first survey and are framed as recommendations for campus planning. Future research chould explore differences across age, gender and field of study to develop a stratified understanding of stakeholder values.
Academic Advisor: Ms. Sadaf Ansari
Industry Advisor: UCI
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What Makes a Campus Walkable? A NUS Student Perspective – G06.1
Muhammad Redha Bin Ahmad Razif, Tan Chun Boon, V R Chandra, Valavan Rajarajan, Voleti Vyshnavi
Student requests for increased frequency of NUS shuttle-buses have been common in recent years, as evidenced in previously conducted GEQ projects. In line with NUS’s plans to create a sustainable campus, it is crucial to explore ‘greener’ alternatives to transportation, such as walking. Our project assessed the potential impact of improved connectivity and access to nature on increasing campus walkability.
Our research identified three key criteria; 1) student perception towards walking on campus, 2) key determinants for campus walkability, and 3) students’ preferences for walking in nature as compared to built spaces. Data was collated through an online survey targeted at a convenience sample of NUS students. The survey also mapped students’ preference for transport around campus, current walking habits and willingness to increase walking on campus. This data provided a comprehensive overview and one of our key findings was that improved pedestrian network connectivity predicted longer walking distances and an increased likelihood of walking as a means of transportation.
Academic Advisor: Ms. Sadaf Ansari
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Lovers’ Park, Useful Park – G06.2
Alyson Michelle Lee Zi-ying, Ho Mun Yee, Mindy, Lau Seow Boon Damien, Sia Chi Hon, Tan Ying Ling Cheryl Ann
The NUS campus has several high maintenance low-use landscaped areas. Our project, a case study of Lovers Park (CLB, NUS), was aimed at identifying key design elements that can assist in transforming such spaces to high-value landscapes that are more relevant to user needs. Our field work used timelapse videos, to identify and evaluate space use patterns. Our initial results indicated that the park is under-utilised, possibly due to location and limited flexibility in its use. This was corroborated in an interview with a long-serving staff in CLB.
Next, we quantitatively measured and analysed user perception of the park, and their receptiveness to alternative design solutions, through a survey. Results indicated weather variability, poor maintenance, and pests as key deterrents in the existing design. Our analysis also indicated that value-added functionality plays the determining role in the use of open spaces from a student perspective. We recommend that the design and purpose of outdoor spaces on campus should be re-directed flexibly to cater to evolving stakeholders needs.
Academic Advisor: Ms. Sadaf Ansari
Industry Advisor: UCI
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Sustainability and Walkability: A case study of thermal comfort – G06.3
Eng Keng Yu Ivan, Liu Jiawen, Tan Junjie, Yong Xin Shen, Zhou Kai Jing
For a tropical setting such as NUS, ‘Thermal Comfort’ is the most important criteria that impacts student behaviour and perception of walking on campus. Adopting a quantitative framework of assessment, we measured trends in the airflow, temperature and humidity for three different ‘design conditions’. Two of these conditions exist currently – the uncovered pedestrian pathways along roads and the sheltered Yellow Corridor. This data was compared to conditions along an elevated forested setting – measured at the Kent Ridge Forest on campus and at the Hort Park Tree Top Walk.
We analysed the data to determine trends – with a focus to ascertain if the tree canopy significantly mitigates/changes the pedestrian experience with respect to thermal comfort. Our results indicate some meaningful trends for temperature, while there were mixed results for humidity and wind speeds. Based on this, we recommend the undertaking of a broader study with greater variation in weather patterns to confirm our initial findings.
Academic Advisor: Ms. Sadaf Ansari
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Impacts of canopy cover density on regeneration of secondary forest plants – G10.1
Tan Yong Hao, Ju Yuting, Wang Yibo, Yoon Ki Hyun, Zhang Ziyu
Our research investigated the relationship between the density of the canopy cover and the recruitment of three secondary forest species in Singapore. We propose that the density of the canopy cover and the growth of secondary forest species is likely to be related, as the density of the canopy cover would affect the microclimatic variables of temperature and relative humidity, which in turn would affect the growth of the secondary forest species that we are interested in. We hypothesize that a denser canopy cover would result in a weaker understory regeneration of the secondary species. A better understanding of this research topic could be of significance to Singapore’s urban planners planning to incorporate natural growth and regeneration of secondary forest in new development and conservation plans.
Academic Advisor: Dr. Chua Siew Chin
Industry Advisor: Nparks
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Make Walking Cool Again: Measuring thermal comfort across NUS campus walking routes – G12.1
Marcia Lee Tjie Yi, Ong Jing Xiang, Tan Jia Yih Tiffany, Yeo Guo Hong, Zhang Ruichun
For thousands of pedestrians, undulating topography and less than ideal thermal conditions make walking along the roadside and sheltered walkways at NUS undesirable. Considering that the university is at a strategic phase in setting up a sustainable campus, increasing walkability would contribute significantly to that goal. Our project investigated thermal comfort on a variety of existing campus pathways.
We measured airflow, temperature and humidity along the vehicle route and the ‘yellow corridor’. We mapped and compared this data to conditions in the Kent Ridge Forest to ascertain if the tree canopy significantly mitigates/changes the pedestrian experience with respect to thermal comfort. In our assessment, the forested ridge located lengthwise across the campus could provide a viable alternative walking solution, allowing users to travel on a route that significantly reduces walking distance and commute time. Based on our findings, we recommend that campus improvements for walkability should explore this potential solution in greater detail.
Academic Advisor: Ms. Sadaf Ansari
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Meta-Analysis of Student-Implemented Sustainability Projects – G12.2
Andrew Tan Jin Shen, Cao Jiahui, Kang Yuxing, Lim Li Ting, Teo Wei Zheng
Recent research (Cairo, A. 2011; Mcmillin, J., & Dyball, R. 2009) shows that student-participation in driving campus sustainability endeavours leads to dynamic projects and increases overall campus commitment towards sustainability. Our team decided to verify if these findings were applicable to the context of the RVRC module GEQ1917. We explored past and current student projects for the module to identify key advantages and constraints faced by the students in the implementation of their sustainability projects. We constructed survey questions based on research literature regarding this topic, and deployed them to both students and industry advisors involved in GEQ1917 projects. We analyzed the results to obtain an overview of these projects, as well as chart trends in student commitment towards sustainability and key benefits and constraints within student implemented sustainability projects. Overall, our secondary research and primary data both corroborated that the main advantage of student involvement in sustainability projects is increased awareness towards sustainability, while the constraints of these projects ranged from a lack of interest to time limitations. We also noted that most projects led to an increase in overall student sustainable behaviour and commitment.
Academic Advisor: Ms. Sadaf Ansari
Industry Advisor: UCI
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Bridge Across the Ridge – G12.3
Chen Juan, Hubert Halim, James Yong Jun Wei, Melina Jingting Binti Laimon
The sprawling NUS campus can be traversed using a combination of internal shuttle buses, bicycles and covered walkways. However, the steep forested ridge cutting lengthwise across the NUS campus increases travel time for pedestrian movement. Our project explored this limitation as an opportunity for a creative pedestrian solution by proposing a Canopy Walk across the ridge.
Of the many variables that needed to be evaluated, we chose to focus on three – existing terrain, tree distribution and minimising disturbance to the ecology. We began work with generating a detailed terrain map for the campus using the Quantum Geographic Information System (QGIS). This was coupled with field visits to confirm the accuracy of the topography model as well as the tree locations and sizes. Using secondary data to extrapolate our findings, we finalised one potential route for the elevated pathway, and represented it using a physical model. Our design also assessed inevitable ecological/practical challenges, which would benefit from a more detailed study.
Academic Advisor: Ms. Sadaf Ansari
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Walk The Ridge – G18.1
Chua Wei Ting, Hung Ding Liang, Javis Liu, Leong Jin Kai, Pu Ren Wei
Travelling on the NUS campus can involve riding shuttle buses, walking, cycling etc. However, these options are coupled with the challenges of long distances, uneven terrain and tropical climate variability. Our project aims to study the feasibility of an alternative walking option, an elevated Forest Canopy Walk, around the ridge to promote walking and reduce transporation burden. In particular, our project focuses on determining the most viable access points for such a pedestrian link.
Our methodology included field work to measure existing pedestrian travel times, analysis of campus topography and a visual inspection of the proposed access points for the loop. Student willingness to walk was a key criteria that we assessed, and substantiated from the work of our collaborating teams. Our feasibility study ended with positive results and we propose Science Building 4 (S4), Computing Centre 1 (Com 1), Central Library (CLB) and Ridge View Residential College (RVRC) as the four most viable access points for the elevated pedestrian loop.
Academic Advisor: Ms. Sadaf Ansari
Industry Advisor: UCI
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A Nudge Theory – A Step Closer Towards a Sustainable Landscape – G18.3
Melisa Lukito, Ng Kai Cong, Ong Yan Zhi, Ooi Jun Wei
Empowering campus communities to participate in and influence decision-making processes that ultimately affect their lives is critical for sustainability (Cervoni et al. 2008). As NUS is at a strategic phase in setting up a sustainable campus, student input can and should be incorporated in meaningful ways. Our project explored stakeholders’ perception and awareness of ‘WaterSmart’ and sustainable landscapes to test a systematic approach for participatory design solutions on campus.
Using the RVRC landscape as our case study, we conducted a quantitative survey to examine residents’ perception and awareness of ‘water smart landscapes’ as a sustainable alternative. Our results highlighted that staff prioritised functionality while students prioritised aesthetics. Sustainability was not a high priority for either stakeholder group. The respondents also scored low on awareness of sustainable alternatives. We recommend information sharing as a key component of the particiatory design process for the successful implementation of campus infrastructure improvements.
Academic Advisor: Ms. Sadaf Ansari
Industry Advisor: UCI