The Human Development Index and Ecological Footprint are used to measure the sustainability performance of human populations. The type and amount of waste produced by populations is a significant contributor to ecological footprints and it is therefore important to understand … Continue reading Sustainable Waste Streams
There is an increasing awareness that current measures to address climate change are insufficient (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2014, Sheppard et al, 2011; Hamin and Gurran, 2009; Stern, 2006). Urgent measures that not only slow down, or reduce the … Continue reading Urban Resilience Assessment Framework
In 1960 Africa was the least urbanised continent, with an urban population of less than 20% (United Nations Environment Programme, 1999). Urban growth rates of 4.87% led to rapid change and by 2010 over 40 % of the population lived … Continue reading Applying the Sustainable Building Assessment Tool to Evaluate Pilot Housing in Zambia
There is increasing consensus that neighbourhoods will be a key factor in achieving improved urban sustainability (Choguill, 2008; Gibberd, 2013; Williams, 2007). Neighbourhoods which provide support for sustainable living and working patterns in the form of local access to education, … Continue reading Applying the Built Environment Sustainability Tool to Assess and Improve Neighbourhoods
Many aspects of housing and neighbourhood design have not changed significantly in South Africa in the last 20 years and have lagged behind developments in other fields. During this time there have also been significant shifts in housing policy and … Continue reading Innovations that are changing housing and neighborhood design
Short article for Earthworks magazine. As a conservative industry, the understanding of sustainability within the construction and built environment tends to lag behind other industries and research. Within the built environment, sustainability is often referred to in vague terms related … Continue reading Capability for Change
Paper presented at Smart and Sustainable Built Environments, Pretoria, 9-11 December 2015. Appropriate, comprehensive and effective policy, guidance, regulations, standards, and capacity have been identified as a major factor in the development of more sustainable built environments (Simmons, 2015; Melchert, … Continue reading Instruments and Capacity for Sustainability
The transition to more sustainable cities is likely to be slow and hampered by dependencies on existing technologies, user practices and lifestyles (Ahman and Nilsson, 2008; Safarzynska and van den Bergh, 2010; Unruh, 2000). These dependencies have been entrenched in … Continue reading Urban Transformative Capacity
Presentation on Sustainable Food Environments at the CIB World Building Congress 2016, May 30 – June 3, 2016, Tampere, Finland. The paper covered the following areas: What is the relationship between food and sustainability? Are there sustainable food production and … Continue reading Sustainable Food Environments
Presentation on Responsive School Built Environments at the International Forum of Educational Infrastructure co-organised by the Mexico UNESCO Office and the National Institute for Education Infrastructure in Mexico [INIFED]. The event took place on 12-13 June 2017, in Mexico City. … Continue reading Responsive School Built Environments
Presented paper on Social Resilience in Urban Areas at the ASOCSA 11th Built Environment Conference, 6-8 August 2017, Durban. The paper covered: Climate change predictions for South Africa Social vulnerability and resilience Supporting social resilience through urban characteristics and configuration … Continue reading Social Resilience In Urban Areas
Presented paper on Water Resilience in Urban Areas at the ASOCSA 11th Built Environment Conference 6-8 August 2017, Durban. The paper covered: Climate change predictions for South Africa Climate change predictions for South Africa Urban water systems Water Resilience Assessment … Continue reading Water Resilience in Urban Areas
Presentation on Delivering Smarter Infrastructure at the Smart Buildings and Infrastructure, Africa Summit 2017, 23 – 24 May 2017, Gallagher Estate, Midrand, South Africa. The SMART Buildings and Infrastructure series of summits provide key insights into emerging trends, confront the … Continue reading Delivering Smarter Infrastructure
Presentation at Re-imagining Africa’s Smart Buildings Landscape, Adopting Smart Practices for a Better Africa, Cape Town Convention Centre, 11 – 12 August 2016 Definitions. The presentation covered: Defining smart and sustainable built environments – improving sustainability performance through holistic approaches, … Continue reading Adopting Smart Practices for a Better Africa
New maps from Statistics South Africa show racial diversity and segregation in South African cities. These indicate that while some areas have become more integrated, others remain highly segregated. Patterns picked up in the maps include: Central business districts (CBDs) … Continue reading Mapping Diversity
Scientists have claimed that 2015 was the warmest year on record. By using climate data from Accuweather, the New York Times have charted the range of actual city temperatures experienced for 2015 relative to normal the normal range. You can … Continue reading Is your city getting warmer?
Light pollution levels, resulting in brighter night skies, have been plotted using data from the Suomi NPP satellite. This shows areas with no light pollution as black (such as over oceans) to areas where there are high levels of light … Continue reading A New World Atlas of Artificial Sky Brightness
