Helsingin kävelykeskustan suunnittelu ydinkeskustan kadunvarsiliikeyrittäjien näkökulmasta

Aiempien tutkimusten mukaan keskustayrittäjien kielteinen asenne on olennaisesti vaikeuttanut kävelykatujen toteuttamista kaupunkikeskustoissa. Yrittäjät pelkäävät ostokykyisten asiakkaiden kaikkoavan ja liikevaihtonsa pienenevän kävelykeskustauudistusten myötä. Yrittäjien kielteiset asenteet ovat usein myös painottuneet suuriin kaupunkeihin. Etenkin ydinkeskustassa sijaitsevat kadunvarsiliikeyrittäjät ovat kokeneet kävelykadut ongelmiksi. Tämän tutkimuksen tavoitteena on selvittää, mikä on ydinkeskustan kadunvarsiliikeyrittäjien näkemys Helsingin kävelykeskustan suunnittelusta, millaisena ydinkeskustan kadunvarsiliikeyrittäjät näkevät sijaintikatunsa kävelykeskustan suunnittelupäämäärien kautta tarkasteltuna, ja onko kävelykatuyrittäjien ja kävelykatujen ulkopuolella sijaitsevien yrittäjien näkemysten välillä eroja. Taustana tälle tarkastellaan Helsingin kävelykeskustaa pohjoismaisessa kontekstissa, ja käydään läpi Helsingin kävelykeskustan suunnittelun ja rakentumisen historiaa ja päämääriä. Tutkimuksen aineisto koostuu Helsingin ydinkeskustan kadunvarsiliikeyrittäjille tehdystä kyselystä, kävelykeskustoihin liittyvistä tutkimuksista ja selvityksistä, kaupunkisuunnitteluun ja -tutkimukseen liittyvästä tutkimuskirjallisuudesta, sanomalehtiartikkeleista, ydinkeskustassa tehdystä empiirisestä havainnoinnista ja kahdesta asiantuntijahaastattelusta. Kyselyaineistoa analysoidaan tutkimuksessa tilastollisten menetelmien avulla. Helsingin kävelykeskustan suunnittelu ja rakentuminen on ollut pitkällinen prosessi. Vuoden 1 989 kävelykeskustan periaatesuunnitelmasta on konkretisoitunut Kluuvikatu ja Mikonkatu. Keskustatunnelihanke on vaakalaudalla, minkä vuoksi kävelykeskustan uuden periaatesuunnitelman toteutuminen on epävarmaa. Kävelykeskustan rakentuminen kuitenkin etenee. Keskuskatu ja Kalevankadun itäpää muutetaan kävelykaduiksi ja ydinkeskustan jalankulkuympäristöä parannetaan ja kehitetään jatkuvasti. Tällä hetkellä kävelykeskustan suunnittelun painopiste on Aleksanterinkadun kortteleiden ympäristössä, ja suunnittelun tärkeimpiä päämääriä ovat viihtyisyyden, turvallisuuden, kaupallisen vetovoimaisuuden ja saavutettavuuden parantaminen. Kyselyyn vastanneiden yrittäjien mielestä kävelykeskustaa tulisi laajentaa, sillä laajemman kävelykeskustan nähdään kasvattavan liikevaihtoa ja lisäävän yleisesti ydinkeskustan vetovoimaa. Kävelykatuyrittäjien näkemykset kävelykeskustan suunnittelusta ja kehittämisestä olivat kävelykatujen ulkopuolisia yrittäjiä kielteisempiä. Em. yrittäjien asenteisiin vaikuttavat oletettavasti tutkituilla kävelykaduilla ilmenneet ongelmat. Kyse voi myös olla siitä, että uusien kävelykatujen rakentaminen haittaa kävelykatujen saavutettavuutta. Kadunvarsiliikeyrittäjien yleinen suhtautuminen kävelykeskustan kehittämiseen ja suunnittelupäämääriin on kuitenkin pääosin positiivista. Jatkotutkimuksen kannalta olisi kiinnostavaa selvittää, onko muiden ydinkeskustassa toimivien yritysten, kuten esimerkiksi tavaratalojen ja kauppakeskusten johdon ja kiinteistösijoittajien ja -omistajien suhtautuminen kävelykeskustan kehittämiseen myös positiivista. Tämän lisäksi olisi mielenkiintoista selvittää keskustan käyttäjien ja keskustassa asuvien asenteita kävelykeskustan suunnitteluun, ja verrata tuloksia tässä tutkimuksessa selvitettyihin kadunvarsiliikeyrittäjien näkemyksiin.

Algal Photosynthetic Dynamics in Urban Lakes under Stress Conditions

Urban lakes form vital ecosystems supporting livelihood with social, economic and aesthetic benefits that are essential for quality life. This depends on the biotic and abiotic components in an ecosystem. The structure of an ecosystem forms a decisive factor in sustaining its functional abilities which include nutrient cycling, oxygen production, etc. A community assemblage of primary producers (algae) plays a crucial role in maintaining the balance as they form the base of energy pyramid in the ecosystem. Algae assimilate carbon in the environment via photosynthetic activities and releases oxygen for the next level of biotic elements in an ecosystem. Besides these, algal cells rich in protein serve as food and feed, used as manure and for production of biofuels. Understanding algal photosynthetic dynamics helps in assessing the level of dissolved oxygen (DO), food (fish, etc.), waste assimilation, etc. Algal chlorophyll content, algal biomass, primary productivity and algal photosynthetic quotient are some of the parameters that help in assessing the status of urban lakes. Chlorophyll content gives a measure of the growth, spread and quantity of algae. Unplanned rapid urbanization in Bangalore in recent times has resulted in either disappearance of lake ecosystems or deteriorated the lake water quality impairing the ecological processes. This paper computes algal growth, community structure, primary productivity and composition for three major lakes (T G Halli, Bellandur and Varthur lakes) under contrast levels of anthropogenic influences.

Biofuel Prospects of Microalgal Community in Urban Wetlands

Microalgae are emerging as one of the most promising sources of biofuel because of their high photosynthetic efficiency and faster replication as compared to any other energy crops. Although, the concept of using microalgal lipid as a source of fuel is very mature, its approach in benefiting both environmental and energy-related is a frontier research area today. Algal community for the production of lipid depends on the physical, chemical as well as biological variables of aquatic ecosystems. This communication focuses on achieving the lipid haracterization of the microalgal community collected from four wetlands and one agricultural field of Bangalore, Karnataka with a wide range of environmental characteristics. Results reveal significant change in lipid component with change in algal community and chlorophyll content which was explained by community structure analysis and chlorophyll estimation. The presence of Triacyl glycerol (TAG) was examined through thin layer chromatography (TLC). The profile of TAG was further confirmed through Gas chromatography – mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). This study confirms the potential of algal community towards meeting growing demand for alternate sustainable fuel.

Population crunch in India: is it urban or still rural?

The article attempts to present analysis based on the provisional results of the Census 2011. While there is no doubt that the human social organization of the country is undergoing a transition, the nature of growth however is subject to the lens through which this is viewed. Noting the dichotomy of urban and rural definitions, we question the rationality of the ‘urban’ definition and its relevance.

A new species of Raorchestes (Amphibia: Anura: Rhacophoridae) from mid-elevation evergreen forests of the southern Western Ghats, India

A new species of the shrub frog genus Raorchestes Biju, Souche, Dubois, Dutta and Bossuyt is described as Raorchestes kakachi sp. nov. from Agastyamalai hill region in the southern Western Ghats, India. The small sized Raorchestes (male: 24.7–25.8 mm, n = 3 and female: 24.3–34.1 mm, n = 3) is distinguished from all other known congeners by the following suite of characters. Snout oval in dorsal view; tympanum indistinct; head wider than long; moderate webbing in feet; colour on dorsum varying from ivory to brown, blotches of dark brown on flanks, brown mottling on throat reducing towards vent; inner and outer surface of thigh, inner surface of shank and inner surface of tarsus with a distinct dark brown horizontal band which extends upto first three toes on upper surface. A detailed description, advertisement call features, ecology, natural history notes and comparison with closely related species are provided for the new species.

Water treatment potential in relation to phytoplankton dynamics in tropical sewage-fed urban water bodies

Urban water bodies frequently receive untreated sewage and water levels in such water bodies are maintained by daily inputs of sewage. They function as “variable-zone” anaerobic-aerobic lagoons suffering several macrophyte, biotic and abiotic stresses. We have studied two such lakes in Bangalore (Bellandur-360 ha and Varthur-220 ha) to understand whether such an occurrence could be made beneficial (maintaining water levels as well as treatment). Such hypertrophic water body receives sewage at 180-250mg/L and is discharged at 25-80mg/L COD/BOD in different seasons. In an earlier study we reported macrophyte altering the purification function of the water body. In this paper we studied the impact of phytoplankton dynamics and macrophyte cover on the functions such as organic load removal. Algal community analysis, algal biomass, macrophyte cover, water quality, nutrient status was studied seasonally during 2009-2010. Oxygen deficiency and sometimes anoxia, recorded from surface samples resulted in high quantities of NH4+-N (30-40mg/L) and phosphate (0.5-4mg/L)-characteristics of anoxic hypertrophic urban lakes. The productiveness favoured high phytoplanktonic community characterized by small cells (<10μm; Chlorella sp. - highest numbers). The lake could be clearly demarcated into an initial anaerobic zone (40% area), a facultative zone (20%) and an aerobic zone (40%) based on redox values and GIS/bathymetry. During summer the lake is covered by floating macrophytes converting the lake into an anoxic/anaerobic water pool subduing the water purification function as well as aesthetics. When macrophytes are controlled such sewage fed water bodies can be used for treating urban wastewater while also maintaining water sustainability in these semi-arid ecosystems. This paper reports the community dynamics of phytoplankton, their function and competition with macrophytes.

Algal biofuel from urban wastewater in India: Scope and challenges

Rapidly depleting stocks of fossil fuels and increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have necessitated the exploration of cost effective sustainable energy sources focussing on biofuels through algae. Abundant wastewaters generated in urban localities every day provide the nourishment to nurture algae for biofuel generation. The present communication focuses on the lipid prospects of algae grown in wastewater systems. Euglena sp., Spirogyra sp. and Phormidium sp. were collected from selected locations of sewage fed urban lakes and sewage treatment plants of Bangalore and Mysore. The total lipid content of Euglena sp. was higher (24.6%) compared to Spirogyra sp. (18.4%) followed by Phormidium sp. (8.8%) and their annual lipid yield potential was 6.52, 1.94 and 2.856 t/ha/year, respectively. These species showed higher content of fatty acids (palmitate, stearate followed by oleic and linoleic acids) with the desirable biofuel properties. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Design and administration of activity-travel diaries: a case study from Bengaluru city in India

Studies on travel survey instrument design and administration in the context of Indian cities are limited despite the fact that these aspects of travel survey face unique challenges here when compared to the cities in the developed world. Here we report results of a pilot survey conducted for evaluating the performances, alternative diary formats and survey administration techniques in Bengaluru city, India. The study proposes two diary formats. `Diary-1' is in day-planner format and is a variant of the one reported earlier in the literature. `Diary-2' is derived as a combination of `Diary-1' and the trip-based diaries widely applied in Indian cities. `Face-to-face', and `drop-off and pick-up' methods of survey administration are considered for retrieving the activity-travel information of individuals. Evidence appears to be strong that diary-2 is preferable to diary-1 for collecting the travel details of individuals. The comparison of the retrieval methods suggests that the face-to-face method of instrument administration is superior to the drop-off and pick-up method in terms of higher response rates and minimum recording errors.

Criterios y parametros de desarrollo sostenible aplicables al planeamiento urbano y su ejecución

[ES]Todo aquello, real o conceptual, que podamos imaginar aparece una vez que tiene un soporte físico. La insostenibilidad proviene del uso desaforado de los recursos naturales para satisfacer los deseos del presente, que lleva a una menor disponibilidad de los mismos en el largo plazo. Esto ocurre porque los flujos de materia y energía se modifican y también lo hacen los agentes que en ellos participan. La hoja de ruta para alcanzar la sostenibilidad es, por una parte, ir promoviendo un cambio de conciencia en el seno de la sociedad y a la vez, aplicar soluciones técnicas que lleven el sello de la sostenibilidad. Este cambio, es una actuación conjunta y necesita de la participación de todos los seres humanos para tener esperanzas de éxito. La ciudad, ecológicamente, es un agujero negro e incluye no sólo lo que es, sino también lo que necesita para mantenerse tal y como es. La planificación urbana ecológica intenta aunar lo urbano y lo sostenible, ya que tiene como propósito proponer áreas donde los asentamientos humanos sean favorables y produzcan menos repercusiones negativas en el entorno. Para lograrlo, energía, materiales constructivos, agua, residuos, zonas verdes, comunidad y la incidencia en la legislación son ámbitos en los que el planeamiento urbano sostenible debe actuar. Los seres humanos somos los poseedores de nuestro destino. Los resultados son consecuencia de las acciones. Si algo ocurre es porque nuestras acciones han sido las elegidas para que así sea.

A contribuição de melhoria como instrumento de política urbana

Com o crescimento desordenado das cidades, surgiu a necessidade de um planejamento urbano adequado, que garantisse a dignidade da pessoa humana e o respeito aos direitos fundamentais. Em um sistema tributário inchado, com reformas desastrosas e o colapso financeiro de Municípios, alternativas de solução para o problema do crescimento das cidades são essenciais. A contribuição de melhoria, tributo pioneiramente previsto na Constituição Federal de 1934, é uma dessas alternativas, na medida em que pode representar importante e justo meio de obtenção de recursos públicos que financiem políticas urbanas. Ademais, o tributo em questão atende aos princípios jurídicos, como o da capacidade contributiva e aquele que veda o enriquecimento sem causa. A contribuição de melhoria, inspirada particularmente no special assessment do direito norte-americano e na betterment tax inglesa, também é uma expressiva forma de consagração da função social da propriedade. A depender de vontade política e de iniciativas administrativas, a contribuição de melhoria pode gerar resultados inusitados para a ordenação do crescimento das cidades no Brasil, para o atendimento da função social da propriedade e para o respeito aos direitos fundamentais, daí dever-se reconhecer seu caráter de relevante instrumento de política urbana.

Governança urbana no município de Niterói-RJ: a emergência de territorialidades e conflitos em Camboinhas

Este trabalho apresenta uma análise sobre as singularidades das políticas urbanas atuais e os reflexos dos novos modelos de planejamento urbano na manutenção e reprodução dos espaços de segregação da elite e da classe média alta na cidade de Niterói - RJ. Para isso, discutiremos a produção do espaço urbano em tempos de globalização, sobretudo no que tange ao advento de políticas públicas pautadas no modelo de empreendedorismo urbano e no consequente aprofundamento da fragmentação socioespacial. Demonstramos assim, o estabelecimento de uma multiplicidade de pólos de iniciativa e decisão nas cidades, envolvendo atores públicos, semi-públicos, não-governamentais e privados. Através do estudo de caso de Camboinhas no município de Niterói RJ e da associação que realiza a gestão deste espaço, a Sociedade Pró-Preservação Urbanística e Ecológica de Camboinhas SOPRECAM, buscamos compreender a formação de um território, e a territorialização dos agentes envolvidos como estratégia que reflete a nova dinâmica de produção do espaço urbano e dos enclaves territoriais denominados espaços de auto-segregação. A premissa apresentada é que, em tempos de globalização, com o advento da governança urbana, a cidade torna-se uma arena onde novos e diferentes atores exercem diferentes e divergentes apropriações/domínios, acentuando os conflitos/tensões no espaço urbano. Nesta perspectiva, os conceitos de território e territorialidade são fundamentais para compreensão das estratégias de apropriação dos espaços da cidade e defesa dos interesses privados desses novos atores, refletindo e ampliando a dualização/fragmentação urbana.

A análise ambiental integrada para o estudo de fragilidade turística: um estudo de caso para o município de Duas Barras (RJ)

O turismo na natureza é uma das modalidades de turismo que mais tem crescido no Brasil, sendo visto como alternativa econômica para municípios de médio e pequeno porte que possuem Unidades de Conservação em seus territórios ou áreas com remanescentes florestais ou ainda áreas de interesse geológico, geomorfológico, concentração hídrica que possam atrair o turista. A preocupação quanto ao sustento da atividade turística desta categoria ocorre, quando o ambiente natural na qual se pretende instalar os empreendimentos turísticos não possui estudos pretéritos sobre o meio físico e nem instrumento legal de planejamento ambiental que apoie a tomada de decisão. Neste contexto, esta dissertação versa sobre o estudo da fragilidade turística do município de Duas Barras Rio de Janeiro com objetivos de balizar os resultados obtidos, com estudos pretéritos sobre potencialidades turísticas da região, assim como os empreendimentos turísticos já instalados e verificando se há conformidade entre o ambiente explorado e a atividade turística em curso. Como metodologia, a presente pesquisa utilizou técnicas de fragilidade ambiental desenvolvida de Ross (2010), a análise da fragilidade turística teve adaptações com base em Costa (2009), o modelo de indicadores turísticos de Barbosa (2009) e os dados sobre a potencialidade turística local foram extraídos de Goes (2007). Utilização de técnicas de geoprocessamento foram fundamentais para desenvolvimento de análises espaciais, geográficas e a visão integrada dos dados. Como resultados, foram gerados mapas temáticos do meio físico, socioeconomia e a avaliação das atuais instalações turísticas na região.

The Retail Market for Bednets in Kenya: How Well Is It Working?

Background Achieving the goals set by Roll Back Malaria and the Government of Kenya for use of insecticide treated bednets (ITNs) will require that the private retail market for nets and insecticide treatments grow substantially. This paper applies some basic concepts of market structure and pricing to a set of recently-collected retail price data from Kenya in order to answer the question, “How well are Kenyan retail markets for ITNs working?” Methods Data on the availability and prices of ITNs at a wide range of retail outlets throughout Kenya were collected in January 2002, and vendors and manufacturers were interviewed regarding market structure. Findings Untreated nets are manufactured in Kenya by a number of companies and are widely available in large and medium-sized towns. Availability in smaller villages is limited. There is relatively little geographic price variation, and nets can be found at competitive prices in towns and cities. Marketing margins on prices appear to be within normal ranges. No finished nets are imported. Few pre-treated nets or net+treatment combinations are available, with the exception of the subsidized Supanet/Power Tab combination marketed by a donor-funded social marketing project. Conclusions Retail markets for untreated nets in Kenya are well established and appear to be competitive. Markets for treated nets and insecticide treatment kits are not well established. The role of subsidized ITN marketing projects should be monitored to ensure that these projects support, rather than hinder, the development of retail markets.