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Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Singapore Civics'
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1
Chen, Sin-lok Angela. "A comparison of citizenship education in Hong Kong and Singapore." Hong Kong : University of Hong Kong, 1998. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record.jsp?B2035373X.
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Chen, Sin-lok Angela, and 陳仙樂. "A comparison of citizenship education in Hong Kong and Singapore." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 1998. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B31951880.
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Velayutham, Selvaraj. "Responding to globalisation : nation, culture and identity in Singapore /." View thesis, 2003. http://library.uws.edu.au/adt-NUWS/public/adt-NUWS20050225.115206/index.html.
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Ch'ng, Teck-Huat Ronald. "Civil religion and shared values in Singapore." Thesis, University of Edinburgh, 1995. http://hdl.handle.net/1842/29662.
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The thesis looks at Singapore and asks in that nation's continuing process of nation-building which includes attempts to hold on to consistent economic growth, whether through the proposal to formulate a national ideology with a delineation of "shared values", a civil religion was also in the process of being constructed. There is a short summary of Singapore's history, with emphasis given to how the nation has developed and grown because of its awareness as a economic centre or "commercial emporium" in its geographical locality. Account is also given of the role of the ruling party, and government - the Peoples' Action Party - in terms of its policies in guiding the young nation to economic success. An examination of the ideology of the ruling party is then undertaken. This leads on to an account of the Singapore government's efforts to implement a National Ideology through a list of Shared Values and the reasons why this is thought necessary for the sake of the nation. The category or concept of civil religion is then introduced, with specific examples from the American situation. There is further discussion of the Shared Values to show clearly the ideological impulses and Confucianist influences behind them, and after due reference to what "Asian values" might mean, and how Confucian values may have influence on the economic success of East Asian countries, it is reaffirmed that the Singapore government was promoting what can be called a civil religion in the form of the National Ideology (which incorporated such Confucian values) to enhance and continue the economic growth that makes up so much of the perceived destiny of the nation. The concluding sections deal with the role (or lack of it) of Christians and the Church in the ongoing political, economic and social life of the nation. Does it matter if a Singaporean civil religion or a National Ideology may be in conflict with a Christian ideology? Does the Singapore Church care
5
Manns, Jeffrey David. "Limiting Leviathan : civil society and the state in Singapore." Thesis, University of Oxford, 2001. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.395228.
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Francesch, Maria. "A "disciplined governance" approach to government." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2005. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/67867325101140654219.
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Xiang, Yunke. "Dynamics of vehicle ownership in Singapore." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/87525.
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Thesis: S.M. in Transportation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2014.Thesis: M.C.P., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Urban Studies and Planning, 2014.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 59-63).
Cities around the world are trying out a wide range of transportation policy and investment alternatives to reduce car-induced externalities. However, without a solid understanding of how people behave within the constraints from these policies, it is hard to tell which of these policies are really doing the job and which may be inducing unintended problems. The focus of this paper is the determinants of vehicle ownership in the motorized city-state context of Singapore. Using survey data from 1997 to 2008, a discrete choice model of vehicle ownership suggests that income dominates the household vehicle ownership decision. Further modeling, attempting to detect preference change over the years, suggests that the dynamics of income's influence on vehicle ownership is changing, perhaps reflecting a combination of the nation's increasingly high ownership costs and expanding transit system. All income groups have become less likely to own cars over time, with households in the lowest income groups apparently being affected the most. For 2008, the distance to rail transit stations had a discernible relationship with households' likelihood of owning more than one car, and accessibility and relative travel costs also influenced vehicle ownership. Including these variables, however, had very modest influence on improving model fit.
by Yunke Xiang.
S.M. in Transportation
M.C.P.
8
Neo, Kai Ling. "Analysis of airside operations at Singapore Changi Airport." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2019. https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/123235.
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Thesis: S.M. in Transportation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2019Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 103-105).
Air travel demand has been on an upward trend in recent years, and airports have thus become increasingly congested. To alleviate airport congestion, building new infrastructure such as runways to improve capacity is an obvious solution but it is highly expensive and has a long lead time. In the short term, airport managers and operators have to learn to utilize current capacity more efficiently instead. This begins with the understanding of the current operations and then identifying areas for improvement to better utilize the available capacity. In this thesis, we present a data-driven approach to analyze airport surface operations. The methodology is presented using data from Singapore's Changi Airport, one of the busiest airports in the world and a major transportation hub for Southeast Asia. The current operations at the airport is characterized using multiple data sources to identify inefficiencies such as surface congestion and unsatisfactory runway occupancy times.
Using the airport characterization, we develop queuing models for the departure process to estimate congestion-related delays and taxi-out times. The taxi-out time estimates from the queuing models have the potential to improve predictability as well as aid in the decision making process to reduce congestion on the airport surface. In order to reduce congestion, many major airports around the world, including Changi Airport, are improving their capacity by adding additional runways. To better understand the impact of additional runways, we present a detailed capacity analysis with Changi Airport as a case study. Using empirical and theoretical capacity estimates, along with historical data on the impact of airport expansion from similar airports such as Charlotte Douglas International Airport, we estimate the short-term and long-term improvements in throughput at Changi Airport.
The analysis and models built in this thesis thus aim to aid Changi Airport's efforts in alleviating congestion in both the short term and the long term, by providing insights on areas for improvement for current operations and potential impacts of future operational decisions.
by Kai Ling Neo.
S.M. in Transportation
S.M.inTransportation Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
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Ritter, Halle (Halle Caitlan). "Nitrogen chemistry in an urban bioretention system in Singapore." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/82824.
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Thesis (M. Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2013.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 35-37).
An investigation into the nitrogen chemistry of the anoxic layer of an urban constructed wetland in Singapore was conducted. This pilot-scale wetland treats stormwater runoff from the Balam Estate housing development for several water quality parameters of concern, including nitrate. Earlier sampling in the wetland had indicated that the concentration of nitrate was lower in the outflow from the rain garden than in its inflow, but no research had been done on other nitrogen species or transformation pathways. Preliminary analyses suggest that, although the saturated layer is sufficiently anoxic and denitrification is occurring as per performance objectives, organic nitrogen is being added to the infiltrating water throughout this layer, causing a net export of total nitrogen from the anoxic zone. This organic nitrogen could be either re-released from reserves adsorbed onto organic material during previous storm events, or leached directly from the anoxic layer material which includes wood chips and sand. Readings at outflow pipes indicate that a percentage of this nitrogen is likely re-mineralizing to ammonia upon exposure to more oxygen-rich conditions in the outflow pipes. Further study in the Balam Rain Garden using isotope labeling to more clearly delineate nitrogen fate and transport is suggested.
by Halle Ritter.
M.Eng.
10
Artola, Javier 1981. "A solution to the braced excavation collapse in Singapore." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/31123.
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Thesis (M. Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2005.Numbering on leaves 52-86 handwritten.
Includes bibliographical references (leaf 51).
At about 3:30pm on April 20, 2004, a 30m deep excavation adjacent to Nicoll Highway in Singapore collapsed, resulting in four casualties and a delay of part of a US$4.14 billion subway project. This thesis examines the flaws in the original design of the bracing system, which have been cited as causes of the failure. The Author then proposes a revised design for the braced excavation system. The Plaxis finite element program was used to simulate the excavation process and compute forces on the major structural elements in the original design. Some pertinent background information on this program is provided throughout the thesis in order to better understand the significance of certain errors in the input data of the original model that ultimately led to the incorrect assumptions and calculations of the original design. A new model using this same program was regenerated with a corrected set of input assumptions, thereby leading to reasonable estimates of structural forces. These results were then used to propose a revised design of the excavation support system and compare this design to the original used in the excavation project. There are several lessons that could be learned from this structural failure, one being the need to acknowledge the limitations built in advanced analysis software systems, and another being the importance of ascertaining that the user understands every feature of the product. A cost estimation of the proposed design is given and compared to the original design in order to evaluate the viability of the proposed design in the construction bid. Finally, some important conclusions are drawn from this study that should be applied to future large-scale construction projects where public safety and welfare is at stake.
b y Javier Artola.
M.Eng.
11
Hin, Ada, and 禤雅儀. "A comparative study of the civil service of Hong Kong and Singapore." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2004. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B29518775.
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Shin, Eric Chong Kah. "An empirical model of public sector managerial competency in Singapore." Thesis, Henley Business School, 1997. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.362401.
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Hoff, Margaret A. (Margaret Ann). "Control of agricultural nonpoint source pollution in Kranji Catchment, Singapore." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/82712.
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Thesis (M. Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2013.This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections.
Cataloged from student-submitted PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 78-82).
Singapore's Kranji Reservoir is highly sensitive to nutrient and bacterial pollution, both of which can be directly traced to agricultural runoff. Water quality samples were collected along the main drainage channel in the Neo Tiew subcatchment, which drains to Kranji Reservoir, in an effort to determine the source and degree of agricultural nonpoint source pollution in the area. Grab samples collected from eight sampling locations along the reach of the drainage channel under wet- and dry-weather conditions were analyzed for nitrogen, phosphorus, and bacterial species, as well as total suspended solids. High nutrient and bacterial concentrations were observed at sampling locations in the upstream region of the subcatchment, with total nitrogen as high as 19.8 mg/L, total phosphorus as high as 2.12 mg/L, and a peak total coliform count over 1,000,000 MPN/100 mL. The peak concentration of most of the observed contaminants occurred directly downstream from an intensive row-cropping vegetable production operation. These observations indicate that this farming operation is a primary, though not sole, contributor to nonpoint source pollution in the area. A constructed free-water-surface treatment wetland was designed to treat runoff immediately downstream from the identified source. The designed wetland is projected to remove, depending on flow conditions, between 13 and 99% of influent total phosphorus, 51 to 99% of influent total nitrogen, greater than 99% of influent fecal coliform, and approximately 75% of influent total suspended solids. Agricultural management practices for mitigating runoff contamination are also recommended, including cyclic irrigation and crop rearrangement. It is evident that agricultural nonpoint source pollution is a significant water quality concern in the Neo Tiew subcatchment in particular and the Kranji catchment in general, but there are a number of promising and practical options to address this problem.
by Margaret A. Hoff.
M.Eng.
14
Nshimyimana, Jean Pierre. "Evaluating human fecal contamination sources in Kranji Reservoir Catchment, Singapore." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/60810.
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Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2010.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 120-132).
Singapore government through its Public Utilities Board is interested in opening Kranji Reservoir to recreational use. However, water courses within the Kranji Reservoir catchment contain human fecal indicator bacteria above recreational water quality criteria; their sources and distribution under dry and wet weather are also unknown. The goal of this study was to evaluate the distribution of E. coli under dry and wet weather, to determine the sources of the human fecal contamination, and to validate the use of human-specific 16S rRNA Bacteroides marker for human fecal source tracking in Singapore and tropical regions. Environmental water and DNA water samples (332) collected in the Kranji catchment in January and July 2009, and January 2010 were analyzed for E. coli using Hach m-ColiBlue24@ and IDEXX Colilert Quanti-Tray*/2000. Touchdown PCR and Nested-PCR HF183F assays were used to assess the absence or presence of the HF marker in Kranji catchment. Selected positive HF marker samples were sequenced and mapped using a phylogenetic tree to confirm their similarity in base order to the human factor identified in the temperate climate. The indicator bacteria (E. coli) results showed consistently high E. coli concentrations (geometric mean 3240 CFU/100 ml) in dry and wet weather in residential, horticultural and animal farming areas. The DNA analysis results showed that 94% of the 34 environmental DNA water samples collected in residential, horticultural and animal farming areas were positive to the HF marker. Generally, 74% and 94% of DNA samples respectively collected in dry and wet weather in the Kranji catchment were positive. The sequence and phylogenetic tree analysis confirmed that the HF marker identified was similar to the HF marker identified in temperate climates. Based on the results we conclude that human fecal contamination sources are widespread in the animal farming, horticultural and residential areas of Kranji catchment. The HF marker analysis validated its applicability as 16S rRNA gene of human-specific Bacteroides for human fecal source tracking in Singapore and elsewhere in tropical climates.
by Jean Pierre Nshimyimana.
S.M.
15
Zhang, Yangyue. "Water quality prediction for recreational use of Kranji Reservoir, Singapore." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/66848.
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Thesis (M. Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2011.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 52-57).
Singapore has been making efforts in relieving its water shortage problems and has been making great progress through its holistic water management. Via the Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters (ABC Waters) Programme, Singapore's Public Utilities Board (PUB) is now aiming to opening Kranji Reservoir for recreation. Considering the potential contamination of freshwater, particularly by fecal coliform, which threatens public health by causing water-borne diseases, a practical microbial water quality prediction program has been built up to evaluate the safety of the recreational use of Kranji Reservoir. E. coli bacteria concentrations within the reservoir were adopted as an indicator of recreational water quality. Dynamic fate-and-transport modeling of E. coli concentrations along the reservoir was carried out using the Water Quality Analysis Simulation Program (WASP). The model was constructed by specifying basic hydraulic parameters. E. coli loadings were indexed to the various land uses within the Kranji Catchment and the effective E. coli bacterial decay rates were derived from theoretical equations and verified by on-site attenuation studies carried out in Singapore. Simulation results from the WASP model are consistent with samples collected and analyzed for E. coli concentration in Kranji Reservoir in January 2011. The simulation results indicate potentially high risk in using the reservoir's three tributaries for water-contact recreation. The model also shows advective flow through the reservoir to be a big contributor to the concentration changes along the reservoir. A prototype of a practical early warning system for recreational use of Kranji Reservoir has been designed based on the implementation of the model.
by Yangyue Zhang.
M.Eng.
16
Ferrari, Alessia Alexandra. "A remedial approach to stabilize a deep excavation in Singapore." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/38581.
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Thesis (M. Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2007.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 82-84).
Ground improvement methods are commonly adopted in deep excavation to minimize wall deflection, wall bending moment and strut force. In this thesis a different approach to the application of ground improvement techniques is analyzed in the form of a parametric study developed with the use of a commercial finite element code. A new remedial ground improvement solution applied to an existing deep excavation located in Singapore and part of the Circle Line Project (CCL) for the construction of a new subway line is considered and computationally modeled. The soil profile in the site mainly consists of deep marine soft clay dated for the most part in the Holocene period, principally characterized by a normally to very low overconsolidation ratio, in some location even underconsolidated. The parametric analysis aims to evaluate short-term effects of the application of cementing agents to the lower portion of the marine clay externally to the excavation side. The effectiveness of the proposed ground improvement is examined using a finite element model corresponding to a key cross-section of CCL1 project.
(cont.) Parametric analyses are used to assess how the dimensions of the treatment zone and strength of soilcrete columns affect the computed wall deflections, bending moments and strut loads. The results demonstrate the validity of the proposed method in controlling the structural behavior of the excavation support system. The same method is then used to simulate the retrofit of the partially excavated section. The results show it is possible for an external ground treatment to control wall deflections and bending moments and reduce strut loads. The thesis finally discuss the practical advantages of the solution and its limitations.
by Alessia Alexandra Ferrari.
M.Eng.
17
Kellndorfer, Laurie. "A hydrologic calibration of the SWAT model in Kranji Catchment, Singapore." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/73790.
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Thesis (M. Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2012.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 50-51).
The Public Utilities Board (PUB) of Singapore wishes to expand recreational activities in Singapore's surface waters through the Active, Beautiful, and Clean Waters Program (ABC Waters). One area of concern with ABC Waters is microbial pollution. Pathogens pose an immediate and substantial risk to human health when humans come into contact with contaminated water. In order to open surface waters for public recreation, PUB must insure that these waterways are free of pathogens. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States and Nanyang Technological University in Singapore are working together on several water quality research projects related to ABC Waters. A surface runoff model for Kranji Catchment, located in northwest Singapore, was created in the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) by Granger (2010) and improved by Bossis (2011). The model incorporates hydrology, land use, weather, soil, and slope to calculate surface flows and water quality constituents. The model was originally created to be a prediction tool for bacteria concentrations in outflows throughout the Kranji Catchment. Earlier versions of the model, however, grossly underpredict flows. In an effort to improve the accuracy of the SWAT model, the surface hydrology was calibrated to flows measured at five stream gauge stations in Kranji Catchment. Precipitation within the SWAT model was changed to equal a rainfall record at one of the stream gauge stations. A sensitivity analysis was also conducted for surface flows. Surface flows were most sensitive to changes in six input parameters, and two of these parameters were changed in the final, calibrated model. The soil evaporation compensation factor (ESCO) was increased, and the curve number for moisture condition II (CN2) was decreased. These three changes in the model greatly improved the way the SWAT model predicts surface outflows, and with these changes, surface outflows predicted by the model match measured values very closely at all five stream gauge stations. While hydrologic calibration greatly improved surface flow calculations in the SWAT model, predictions of bacteria concentrations did not improve. The SWAT model still requires further calibration work to bring bacteria concentrations closer to measured values.
by Laurie Kellndorfer.
M.Eng.
18
Dixon, Cameron Chaffee. "Microbial risk assessment for recreational use of the Kranji Reservoir, Singapore." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/51567.
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Thesis (M. Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2009.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 69-72).
The Public Utilities Board of Singapore is responsible for management of the Kranji drinking water reservoir and wishes to open the reservoir for recreational water use as part of their "Active, Beautiful, and Clean Waters Programme". A field campaign was conducted at the Kranji Reservoir to determine the microbial water and sediment quality of the reservoir for use in a model that predicts the risk of gastrointestinal illness due to recreational use of the reservoir. Water samples were collected at seven locations throughout the reservoir and sediment samples were collected at two locations located near the shore. The samples were then analyzed for Enterococci concentrations using a most probable number method. The measured geometric mean concentrations found during the field campaign were 13.3 Enterococci colony forming units (CFU) per 100 ml water and 1400 Enterococci CFU per gram sediment. Based on the strengths and weaknesses of available statistics-based risk models, a model by Wiedenmann was chosen based on the flexibility of the model and the quality of the underlying epidemiological study. Using the model, no-observed-adverse-effect-level guideline concentrations of 25 Enterococci CFU per 100 ml for swimming, 51 Enterococci CFU per 100 ml for kayaking and 860 Enterococci CFU per gram sediment for wading were calculated. Based on all available bacterial measurements of the Kranji Reservoir, an interim geometric mean guideline of 25 Enterococci CFU per 100 ml water and 860 Enterococci CFU per gram sediment is suggested.
(cont.) Single-sample maximums for a monitoring program should be set to 96 Enterococci CFU per 100 ml water and 2,500 Enterococci CFU per gram sediment. These guidelines should be applied to the area of the reservoir open to recreation, which should be restricted to the northern main section of the reservoir. Entry and exit from the reservoir and wading should be restricted to a smaller area of shoreline until more sediment samples are taken to determine safe entry and exit areas. Final geometric mean and single-sample maximum guidelines should be based on a study of the pathogen-to-indicator-bacteria ratios in the Kranji Reservoir.
by Cameron Chaffee Dixon.
M.Eng.
19
Diagne, Ndeye Awa. "Evaluation of sewer leakage into the stormwater drainage system in Singapore." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/82810.
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Thesis (M. Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2013.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 61-64).
Singapore's Public Utilities Board (PUB) aspires to bring Singaporeans closer to their water bodies through recreational activities so that they may cherish them and be more conscious of water scarcity. However, there have been water quality concerns in the reservoirs and the stormwater drains feeding them. In order to protect public health, the point and non-point sources of contamination need to be identified. The purpose of this study was to determine if sewer leaks near building connections are a source of fecal contamination in the stormwater drainage system in Singapore. A two-step study was designed and implemented. First, water samples were collected from the downstream reaches of the stormwater drainage system to the upstream reaches in two high-density residential neighborhoods: Toa Payoh and Choa Chu Kang. The samples were analyzed for total coliform, Escherichia coli (E. coli), and enterococci to identify locations with high bacterial concentrations or hot spots. Then, a tracer study was conducted near a hot spot to determine if pathways exist between the sewer system and the stormwater drains. It was shown that sewers near building connections can leak into the stormwater drains, probably through preferential pathways such as concrete cracks or soil macropores. Sewage does not appear to be traveling through the soil porous medium. Further studies are needed to determine if groundwater is a medium of transport of exfiltrated sewage.
by Ndeye Awa Diagne.
M.Eng.
20
Park, Allison (Allison Minjung). "Microbial risk assessment for recreational use of the Kallang Basin, Singapore." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/90154.
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Thesis: M. Eng., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2014.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 68-72).
The water quality in the Kallang Basin, Singapore, was analyzed in order to determine how safe the waters are for recreational users, specifically focusing on dragon-boat racers. The Public Utilities Board of Singapore has been managing reservoirs under the "Active, Beautiful, and Clean Waters Programme" in order to help the public recognize the value of their scarce water sources. Therefore, microbial risk assessments were conducted on locations along the Kallang Basin to analyze any diurnal or spatial differences in probabilities of illness, and establish guideline geometric mean concentrations. Samples were collected at four different locations along the Kallang Basin every four hours during a 48-hour period. Samples were then analyzed for Enterococci and E. coli using most-probable-number methods. Adenovirus was analyzed by Liu (2014) using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Based on the Wiedenmann et al. (2006) statistics-based risk model, no-observed-adverse-risk levels or guideline geometric-mean levels were established at 128 colony forming units (CFU) / 100 mL for Enterococci and 697 CFU/ 100 mL for E. coli. Based on these guideline geometric-mean concentrations, all of the stations exceeded the tolerable illness level for indicator bacteria at certain times, with peak concentrations at 7:00 A.M. and 11:00 A.M. However, for adenovirus, the probabilities of illness did not exceed the tolerable level based on appropriate dragon-boat racer ingestion rates. Statistical analysis showed that a high correlation existed between adenovirus concentrations and E. coli concentrations. Future studies should analyze specific locations along the Kallang Basin that contribute to high concentrations of indicator bacteria and viruses.
by Allison Park.
M. Eng.
21
Kwa, Chin Soon. "Probabilistic assessment of engineering rock properties in Singapore for cavern feasibility." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/99604.
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Thesis: M. Eng., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2015.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 89-94).
Singapore conducted various cavern studies since the 1990s, and has since constructed two caverns. The study done in this thesis concentrates on an area of interest within South-Western Singapore, using four logged boreholes that are each 200 meters in depth. Through the use of the empirical methods, the RQD and Q-system, rock support can be estimated for different ground classes for an assumed cavern size. The cost per cubic meter of cavern construction, which includes excavation support using bolts and shotcrete, and grouting, is then estimated. To account for the variability of the ground in the area of interest, probabilistic analyses and assessments of the rock mass parameters derived from the boreholes were carried out. Discrete probabilities were obtained from observed frequencies, and and depth and spatial variability are assessed. Depth Selector Maps (DSM) are created to give planners an indication of the ideal location of a cavern, both in depth and spatially, by providing them with an indication of the variability of the ground so that planners can take the associated uncertainty into consideration when making decisions.
by Chin Soon Kwa.
M. Eng.
22
Ng, Philip C. T. (Philip Chee Tat). "The need for private sector-public sector collaborative planning in Singapore." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1985. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/78811.
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Thesis (M.C.P.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning and (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil Engineering, 1985.MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES, ROTCH AND ENGINEERING.
Bibliography: leaves 114-116.
by Philip C. T. Ng.
M.S.
M.C.P.
23
Song, Xiang Ph D. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "Scenarios discovery : robust transportation policy analysis in Singapore using microscopic traffic simulator." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/82852.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (S.M. in Transportation)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2013.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 99-101).
One of the main challenges of making strategic decisions in transportation is that we always face a set of possible future states due to deep uncertainty in traffic demand. This thesis focuses on exploring the application of model-based decision support techniques which characterize a set of future states that represent the vulnerabilities of the proposed policy. Vulnerabilities here are interpreted as states of the world where the proposed policy fails its performance goal or deviates significantly from the optimum policy due to deep uncertainty in the future. Based on existing literature and data mining techniques, a computational model-based approach known as scenario discovery is described and applied in an empirical problem. We investigated the application of this new approach in a case study based on a proposed transit policy implemented in Marina Bay district of Singapore. Our results showed that the scenario discovery approach performs well in finding the combinations of uncertain input variables that will result in policy failure.
by Xiang Song.
S.M.in Transportation
24
Angeles, Justin Victor V. (Justin Victor Velayo). "Water quality modelling for recreational use in the Kallang River Basin, Singapore." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/90006.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis: M. Eng., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2014.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 42-45).
Singapore's Active, Beautiful, and Clean Waters Programme (ABC) aims to provide functional use of its water bodies to the public. The Kallang River Basin, being part of the ABC Programme, will be used for recreational purposes such as dragon boating and other water sports. In order to provide safe recreational use for the public, the water quality of the Kallang River Basin needed to be determined and modeled. The water quality indicator chosen to be analyzed was Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria. A heuristic study was performed in order to determine the water quality and as well determine if water quality modeling was feasible for the Kallang River Basin. The study employed the United States Environmental Protection Agency WASP (Water Quality Analysis Simulation Program) model. Through WASP model simulations, it was found that certain parts of the Kallang River Basin were not suitable for recreational purposes and others parts were deemed suitable. E. coli concentrations predicted by the model were within the range of actual field data but diurnal variations were not captured by the model for lack of data with which to specify diurnally varying inputs. The WASP model created by this study suggests that water quality modeling for the Kallang River Basin is feasible but there are modifications that need to be made to accurately capture diurnal variations experienced by the Kallang River Basin. Future investigation into the diurnal variations would contribute to creating a more complete and accurate model for the Kallang River Basin.
by Justin Victor V. Angeles.
M. Eng.
25
Shin, Suejung. "An analysis of spatial and temporal variation in fecal indicator concentrations in Singapore." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/74416.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (M. Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2012.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 53-55).
This study used extensive measurements of indicator concentrations to describe spatial and temporal patterns of four fecal indicators: E. coli, enterococci, total coliform, and human factor. Twenty twelve-hour time series were examined, with indicator concentrations measured every hour from 8 am to 7 pm. Six stations in Singapore were evaluated, across three land-use categories (high-density residential, low-density residential, commercial), and two sewer-age categories (new, old). The distributions of E. coli, enterococci, and total coliform were roughly lognormally distributed, showing that bacterial indicator concentration distributions are described by the same statistical model in tropical climates as in temperate climates, even with a wide and varied data set. Human factor indicator, for which there is limited preceding literature, was found to be roughly lognormally distributed. There was no obvious time pattern in measured concentrations, except that one hour's concentration roughly correlated with the next 1 to 3 hours' concentrations. This differs from findings from a study by the Public Utilities Board of Singapore that reported a diurnal pattern in total coliform and enterococci concentrations at a single sampling station. This study found, for all indicators but total coliform, that older sewers had a significantly higher indicator concentration than newer sewers. This suggests that sewer leakage likely contributes to fecal contamination. Leaking sewers can explain some of the high indicator concentrations, but lack of diurnal pattern suggests there are more factors at play than just older sewers dispersing contaminants. There are mixed findings with regard to land use. For enterococci, low-density residential areas exhibit significantly different concentrations than high-density residential and commercial areas. For human factor, commercial areas exhibit significantly different concentrations than high-density and low-density residential areas. As human factor might be the best indicator of true pathogen concentrations, this suggests that land use plays a role in differences in concentrations, in agreement with previous studies.
by Suejung Shin.
M.Eng.
26
Bossis, Ryan Christopher. "Application of the SWAT Model to Bacterial Loading rates in Kranji Catchment, Singapore." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/66825.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (M. Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2011.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 89-92).
Despite its tropical climate and abundant rainfall, Singapore is classified as a water scarce country. To protect its limited freshwater resources for both consumption and recreation, Singapore's Public Utilities Board (PUB) has created the Active, Beautiful, and Clean (ABC) campaign. In light of this program, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore have partnered for various water quality research projects, including sampling of Choa Chu Kang, Bras Basah, Verde, and agricultural areas throughout Kranji Catchment in January 2011. Currently, bacterial levels in Kranji Reservoir are measured by sampling, which is labor intensive and delayed. As an alternative, a model of the surrounding watershed was constructed to estimate bacterial loading to the reservoir as driven by changing weather conditions. The watershed stream network was recreated using ArcSWAT, a version of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool used with geographic information system software. This model is based on a model previously created by Granger (2010). A major improvement is the specification of bacterial loading rates by land use and agriculture type. In order to estimate land-use-specific loading rates, numerous field samples were collected and analyzed for bacterial concentration in January 2011. Nonpoint source bacteria concentrations were estimated from field sample concentrations and applied to the land continuously in the model. Using weather data from January 2005 to February 2007, the model was run twice on a daily time step. The first run included only nonpoint sources, while the second included 23 sewage treatment plant point sources throughout the catchment. Simulated results were compared to independent samples taken in 2009 by Nshimyimana (2010) and indicate a general agreement of order of magnitude, with most measured values within the predicted range. The magnitudes of the nonpoint source run achieved a better fit with field data, although the point source run produced concentration frequency distributions that are approximately lognormal, a characteristic typical of environmental bacteria concentration distributions.
by Ryan Christopher Bossis.
M.Eng.
27
Burkhart, Tsung Hwa (Tsung Hwa Sophia). "Biofilms as sources of fecal bacteria contamination in the stormwater drainage system in Singapore." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/82805.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (M. Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2013.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 55-61).
A study was performed to examine a possible source of fecal bacteria contamination originating from within the stormwater drainage system in Singapore. The extent of fecal bacteria presence in storm drain biofilms was evaluated as a pathway for fecal bacteria contamination. In the research, biofilms were evaluated as reservoirs for fecal indicator bacteria (FIB), FIB concentrations were measured over time within biofilms and stormwater, and relationships between FIB in biofilms and FIB in stormwater were examined. The concentrations of three bacterial groups (total coliform, Escherichia coli, and enterococci) were used as indicators of fecal bacteria contamination. In the Singaporean districts of Choa Chu Kang and Toa Payoh, five locations within the storm drains were monitored once per week each between January 8, 2013 and January 22, 2013. Well-developed biofilms were observed and measured using concrete coupons in the storm drains at Choa Chu Kang Crescent, Verde View, Lorong 6 Toa Payoh, and two points at Lorong 8 Toa Payoh. An initial biofilm growth condition was observed for secondary research at Nanyang Technological University. The biofilms in the storm drains were observed to be reservoirs for FIB due to measured concentrations of each fecal indicator. The measured FIB concentrations fluctuated over time in the biofilms and the overlying storm drainage waters due to natural processes within the biofilms and the storm drain environments. Greater fluctuations in FIB concentrations in biofilms than in storm drainage waters indicate that the stormwater is more stable and has additional sources of FIB contributing to the contamination. FIB detachment from biofilms is a potential pathway for fecal bacteria contamination of stormwater.
by Tsung Hwa Burkhart.
M.Eng.
28
Ho, Genevieve Edine. "Analysis of wet & dry weather bacterial concentrations within Kranji & Marina Catchments, Singapore." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/66833.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (M. Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2011.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 75-79).
The Singaporean government's Public Utilities Board aims to open Kranji and Marina Reservoirs to the public for recreational use. Thus, the water bodies have to be safe from fecal contamination in order to protect the people's health during water-contact activities. Under the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) program, faculty and students from Nanyang Technological University and MIT have worked together to conduct bacteriological studies at both Kranji and Marina catchments and their reservoirs. Storm water, especially from urban landscapes, contains elevated concentrations of total coliform, . coli, and enterococci bacteria. The goal of this study was to review, classify, and evaluate wet- and dryweather bacteria samples dating back to 2005 with a focus on grab-samples collected by Nshimyimana (2010) in 2009 and samples collected during January 2011 field work at Choa Chu Kang Crescent, Bras Basah, and Verde. These bacteriological samples were collected from high density residential (HDR), low density residential, forested, and commercial areas. Evaluation of the relationship between concentration and flow showed a linear increase in bacteria concentrations with flow in storm water from mixed forested and HDR areas, a pattern that is consistent with nonpoint source runoff, while commercial areas exhibited peak concentrations during low and high, but not intermediate, flows indicating contributions from both nonpoint and point sources. Likely point sources are sanitary sewer leakage due to aging infrastructure in the commercial area. All measured concentrations exceeded Singapore and USEPA's recommended bacterial levels for recreational water. Hence, more wet-weather sampling is recommended in order to collect data on bacterial concentrations so that more robust statistical analyses can be performed in future studies. The elevated bacterial concentrations during wet weather from this study indicate that extra precaution should be taken to manage discharge of storm water into receiving waters before they are made accessible to the public.
by Genevieve Edine Ho.
M.Eng.
29
Fung, Dominic Chi Ho 1978. "Strategy for penetrating engineering & construction markets in Southeast Asia for Singapore through BOT contract." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/8161.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2002.Includes bibliographical references (p. 112-116).
Singapore's economy is currently making structural adjustments resulted by the Financial Crisis of 1997, the burst of the Internet bubble in 2000, and the emergency of different powers in the region. Its export-oriented manufacturing and trading model, which has served the city-state well in the last decades, has gradually added a new driver in services. Yet, Singapore still faces the problem of having much of its success dependent on its export-oriented manufacturing. At the same time, privatization of public infrastructures has just started to take shape in Southeast Asia. The concept of privatization will unlock an unlimited amount of engineering & construction business potential. Together, these two major economic forces present a special opportunity for Singapore to use Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) project delivery method to not only capture a solid share in the privatization market, but also secure a long-term demand for its engineering & construction services, and facilitate the city-state's dependence on manufacturing and trading. The goal of this paper is analyzing the prospect of this proposal, and to provide strategic planning that will maximize the gains for both Singapore and Southeast Asian countries, as well as minimize the risks they have to take.
by Dominic Chi Ho Fung.
S.M.
30
Seidahmed, Osama M. E. (Osama Mohamed Elmekki). "Observations and mechanistic modelling of the role of Aedes mosquitoes in dengue transmission in Singapore." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/113492.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis: Ph. D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2017.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 182-209).
Dengue is the most prevalent human arboviral disease in the world with an estimate of 390 million cases per year. The disease is mainly transmitted by two mosquitoes: Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus. Despite the continuous efforts to curb the spread of the disease in Singapore, there is an upsurge in dengue epidemics. In this thesis, the role of Aedes mosquitoes in shaping the spatiotemporal patterns of dengue transmission in Singapore is investigated. Field surveys are carried out to study the effect of monsoons on the disease vectors; the impact of urban housing on spatial patterns of dengue transmission is explored; and mechanistic models are developed to simulate the seasonality of dengue occurrence in the city. The role of monsoons in shaping the seasonal pattern of dengue is investigated. Singapore has no pronounced dry season, while dengue cases decrease every year after a very wet monsoon. A preliminary survey documents that Aedes mosquitoes breed in drains close to houses. A hypothesis that the very wet monsoon results in a strong reduction of outdoor breeding of Aedes is tested using field data. A one-year entomological survey confirms the hypothesis and shows that a monsoonal sequence of flushing-drying conditions in the drains shapes the seasonal abundance of Aedes in Singapore. This finding can be used to optimize vector control efforts and to better understand dengue transmission in the context of climate change. The influence of urban housing on the distribution of dengue at neighborhood and country scales is studied. Dengue incidence, vector abundance, and drainage network density are found to be higher in a subarea of low-rise housing in Geylang. Further, a holistic analysis at the country-scale confirms the role of urban housing in shaping spatial patterns of dengue. Dengue incidence is found to be proportional to the fraction of the area (or population) of low-rise housing. This finding suggests that affording public housing in agglomerations of high-rise buildings would have a positive impact on dengue control if this urban housing develops at the expense of low-rise areas. A mechanistic model is developed to investigate the role of drainage networks in the outdoor breeding of Aedes and transmission of dengue virus. The HYDRology, Entomology and DEngue Transmission Simulator (HYDREDETS) consists of three coupled dynamic models, with an explicit representation of the spatial domain. The model is calibrated using field observations to study rainfall-effects on flushing/drying of aquatic stages and re-inoculation by dormant eggs. Dengue vertical transmission and the role of human movements are incorporated in the model. HYDREDETS is capable of simulating patterns of dengue transmission in Singapore, however with reduced seasonality. This finding supports the hypothesis that dengue seasonality in Singapore can be attributed to a significant degree, to flushing-drying sequence in outdoor breeding habitats. Based on the conclusions of this thesis, spatiotemporal patterns of dengue in Singapore are shaped by climate and urban ecology which influence the ecology of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus. HYDREDETS is a new modeling tool tailored to the study of vector-borne diseases related to urban hydrology. Dengue vector control can be optimized using these new tools and the improved understanding of the disease ecology.
by Osama M. E. Seidahmed.
Ph. D.
31
Sadoway, David. "From associations to info-sociations : civic environmentalism and information communication technologies in three Asian tiger cities." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10722/193516.
Full textAbstract:
This multi-year, multi-city investigation seeks to examine how and why civic associations are employing information communication technologies (ICTs) in their work and the extent to which these uses are transforming urban ‘civic space.’ Rather than being passive non-state actors shaped by technologies in the ‘networked city,’ civic environmental associations are treated in this study as co-evolving ‘actor-networks’ that are both shaping and shaped by their ICT practices. This study systematically examines how ICT-linked tools or platforms are reconfiguring civic associations and civic space in the three ‘tiger city’ settings of Hong Kong, Singapore and Taipei.
This investigation employs grounded theory, case study methods, and actor-network theory to examine the co-evolution of ICTs and civic environmental associations. The concept of info-sociations (ICT-associations) is employed in constructing a socio-technical model for analysis of the fast-evolving ICT practices of civic associations. Such an approach suggests that diverse forms of ICT-linked praxis—where civic ideals and knowledge are being put into practice—involves multimodal digital practices; alongside blended or multiplexed physical and virtual practices; and multiscalar practices. The info-sociational model compares ICT-linked organizational, participatory and spatial practices at the associational level by examining digitally-linked: internal and external organizational change; reconfigurations in the public sphere and cyberactivism; scalar transformations and associational alliance formations. Analyses of city-specific ‘civic space’ storylines; alongside a discussion of the problems and potentialities of ICT-linked practices also contributes to an integrated info-sociational model. An info-sociational approach therefore serves to examine transformations in knowledge, power and space as civic environmentalists employ ICTs.
The info-sociational model supports an analysis of three pairs of age-distinct civic environmental associations in Hong Kong, Singapore and Taipei. These six cases (as units of analysis) were selected for their diverse civic environmental activities; their differences in age; and their variety of ICT-linked practices, including uses for: public deliberations, and mobilizing activism; networked alliance formations; identifying environmental and spatial issues in city regions; and creating alternative green media.
Employing the info-sociational model in analyses of the six civic environmental associations led to the observations that: ‘externally-oriented’ ICT-linked practices were of greater importance than ‘internal practices’ amongst civic associations; that groups prioritized ‘digital green public sphere’ practices compared to ‘cyberactivism’; and these associations employed ICTs more frequently for ‘alliance-building’ than for ‘spatial transformations.’ Several of the cases illustrated how ICTs can enhance or augment existing alliances and potentially support new types of civic-cyber formations.
By touching on questions of knowledge, power and space an info-sociational approach therefore can contribute to integrated explanations of how and why civic associations are using and (re)shaping ICTs in pursuit of their diverse aims for more livable and just cities.published_or_final_version
Urban Planning and Design
Doctoral
Doctor of Philosophy
32
Han, Christine Mui Neo. "Education for citizenship in a plural society : with special application to Singapore." Thesis, University of Oxford, 1997. http://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:7f4b512c-f457-46fa-8980-f5d5e80feb45.
Full textAbstract:
The thesis aims to suggest directions towards a defensible conception of citizenship and approach to citizenship education in Singapore. In recent years, citizenship in Singapore has centred around the themes of identity and participation. Among educationists in general, there is a recognition that citizens need to be prepared for involvement in the political process. In plural societies, however, there is no one set of values which can guide deliberation and resolve differences. Consequently, there are questions as to the values which could be advocated in citizenship education. The approach in this thesis is to analyse the concept of citizenship, with due consideration given to the values and assumptions of Singapore society, and its social, political and economic circumstances. This analysis is carried out in the light of the research and theorising on citizenship and citizenship education in England and Wales. Controversial issues exist on which there is no agreement on which society is divided. The neutral approach, which is sometimes suggested as being appropriate for handling such issues, is examined. The larger question of state neutrality is also discussed, and a case is made for state perfectionism. In addition, it is argued that there are legitimate variations in moral judgement, and an account is presented of the nature of moral thinking that admits of such variations. It is suggested that a common culture is important in a plural society because this provides the grounds for policy decisions, particularly where state perfectionism is espoused; it also allows for the development of a national identity. Developing this common culture requires public deliberation in exploring the values and issues concerning a society. Finally, the arguments that have been presented are related to citizenship and citizenship education in Singapore, and recommendations made.
33
Nazerali, Nasruddin A. "Sustainable water resources development in Kuwait : an integrated approach with comparative analysis of the case of Singapore." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/39265.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (M. Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2007.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 52-55).
This thesis assesses the water resource status of Kuwait and Singapore, both countries considered as water scarce. The institutional aspect of Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) efforts in both countries is closely examined at international, regional, national and administrative levels. Aspects of the institutional framework which have contributed to the successful water management scenario in Singapore are identified in order to draw lessons for the case of Kuwait. Although complete emulation of the national and administrative bodies of Singapore may not be justified, specific activities, methodologies and structures are recommended for the institutional capacity building of Kuwaiti water management. Artificial surface aquifers are proposed as a suitable solution for enhancement of water storage capacity in Kuwait, one of the main aspects of sustainable water resources development for the country. The drainage depressions of Rawdhatain and Umm Al-Ahish, locations of water and oil resource development and the surrounding area are assessed for suitable sites. Impacts on the land use, land cover and natural drainage pattern are assessed. A specific design is recommended for the artificial surface aquifers and the storage capacity is computed.
(cont.) Storage of up to 70% of the 2010 projected water budget is found to be possible. However, a similar analysis using a digital elevation map with better spatial resolution and extensive site surveys on the ground should precede further feasibility studies in order to decrease the margin of error on the computed water storage capacities.
by Nasruddin A. Nazerali.
M.Eng.
34
Doshi, Janhvi (Janhvi Manoj). "An investigation of leaky sewers as a source of fecal contamination in the stormwater drainage system in Singapore." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/73786.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (M. Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2012.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 47-49).
A preliminary investigation was conducted into possible pathways for fecal contamination to enter stormwater drains from leaky underground sewer lines in Singapore. The island's drainage channels flow into catchment reservoirs that are used to store water for future supply needs. Singapore's Public Utilities Board wishes to open up the reservoirs for recreational purposes and requires the water quality in the reservoirs to meet certain standards. Findings were assembled from the literature on sewer-groundwater interaction and Singapore's geology, the history and current state of Singapore's sewer infrastructure, the results of a groundwater model, field observations, and GIS data on the sewer and drainage network layout. It was found that sewer pipe connections between buildings and the sewer network are particularly susceptible to damage, and that high-flow-rate pathways are likely to exist between a sewer leak near a building and the small drains typically laid along the building periphery. These drains flow into a network of larger drains that eventually flow into a reservoir. Hence, sewer leaks near building connections may be a significant source of fecal contamination in the stormwater system and are worth investigating further.
by Janhvi Doshi.
M.Eng.
35
Mendez, Sagel Adriana (Adriana Raquel). "Water quality studies in Kranji Catchment, Singapore : use of organic tracer and PEDs for identifying potential sewage sources." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/60776.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (M. Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2010.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references.
The objective of this study was to identify organic compounds that could serve as indicators of potential human fecal contamination sources to the Kranji Reservoir in Singapore that could be used as confirmation indicators along with bacteria indicators. The compounds chosen as potential tracers were nonylphenol and nonylphenol ethoxyltes (NPEOs), as these are indicative of sewage and have been found at measurable concentrations in rivers and streams elsewhere in Asia. Polyethylene devices (PEDs) were used as passive samplers to measure NPEOs in stormwater drains in Kranji catchment. Fieldwork was conducted in the month of January 2010. PEDs were deployed in different land use areas in order to obtain an overview of concentration ranges across the Kranji catchment and thus provide an indication of where and why this family of compounds could be found. Storm drains vary in design and since experience with PEDs in storm drains was limited, different types of drains were selected for deployment. The PED deployment design changed depending on the type of drain and the available tools and local conditions that were found. Subsequent chemical analysis of the PEDs was done at MIT. PED deployment times in Kranji were not long enough for mass transfer equilibrium between the water and the PED to be reached, and thus a model for kinetic sampling was used to estimate concentrations in the water. The results of fieldwork done for this study showed that survival of the PEDs was highly dependent on type of drains and flow intensity. The results of the laboratory analysis showed that NPEOs were present in non-residential areas of the catchment. The kinetic sampling model produced results that, although highly uncertain, give an indication of potentially risky concentrations in the water. These analysis lead to the recommendation that PEDs should be deployed pre-loaded with tracers to better model equilibrium in stormwater drains. Deployment should be considered at or near sites where human DNA factors and/or E. coli have been found. More information is needed on household detergent ingredients in Singapore to further evaluate using NPEOs as sewage indicators. Future studies should be done to confirm estimated NPEOs concentrations in Kranji water to verify if there is a risk to the ecosystem's health.
by Adriana Mendez Sagel.
M.Eng.
36
Nobre, André Maia. "Short-term solar irradiance forecasting and photovoltaic systems performance in a tropical climate in Singapore." reponame:Repositório Institucional da UFSC, 2015. https://repositorio.ufsc.br/xmlui/handle/123456789/169480.
Full textAbstract:
Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro Tecnológico, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia Civil, Florianópolis, 2015.Made available in DSpace on 2016-10-19T12:59:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 338190.pdf: 9968372 bytes, checksum: e1c28dfcf84e191f0457a82aa5715399 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015
A humanidade usou e continua consumindo em grande quantidade os recursos não-renováveis do planeta como petróleo, gás natural e carvão mineral para suprir suas necessidades energéticas. Somente nas últimas duas décadas que outras fontes de energia renováveis, como a solar fotovoltaica e a eólica, passaram a se tornar relevantes na geração de energia elétrica em nível mundial. Instalações de sistemas fotovoltaicos ao redor do mundo atingiram crescimento da ordem de 40% durante os últimos quinze anos. Entretanto, a grande maioria destes sistemas, (acima de 90%), estão localizados em regiões onde o recurso solar não é tão abundante, ou seja, fora da região dos trópicos do planeta. Devido a este fato, ao tentar incorporar a energia solar fotovoltaica às redes elétricas, uma pergunta que sempre surge está relacionada a variação desta forma de geração de energia elétrica com a produção alternante durante o dia devido ao movimento das nuvens e total ausência no período noturno. Mesmo assim, em alguns países, já se atinge percentuais em torno de 5 a 10% de contribuição da energia elétrica proveniente de energia solar fotovoltaica. Passa a ser desafiador a inserção dessa fonte de energia à rede, de maneira intensiva, em paralelo com os recursos já existentes (em sua maioria ainda de origem fóssil). Nesta tese, foi avaliada a previsão do recurso solar em curtíssimo prazo (como 15-min, 30-min e uma hora) para uma região tropical do planeta, neste caso em Cingapura, ilha que se localiza próxima à linha do equador, no Sudeste Asiático. Esta tese foca em métodos existentes de previsão de irradiância, mas também explora uma nova proposta híbrida, adaptada a uma localidade tropical. Além das previsões de irradiação solar, simulações de sistemas fotovoltaicos e o cálculo de seu desempenho foram estudados e avaliados de modo a se prever quanto de energia elétrica é produzida com a mesma antecedência dada nos produtos de previsão do recurso solar. A influência da gaze de queimada foi um fenômeno particular, comum na Cingapura de hoje, que afeta o desempenho de sistemas fotovoltaicos e que foi investigado em detalhe. Todo o trabalho foi validado por redes detalhadas de estações meteorológicas em solo e também através de monitoramento de sistemas fotovoltaicos por toda Cingapura.
Abstract : Humanity has used and continues to consume in great proportion non-renewable energy resources of the planet such as oil, natural gas and coal in order to fulfil its energy needs. It was only during the past two decades that other sources of renewable energy such as solar photovoltaics (PV) and wind energy became somewhat relevant towards electricity generation in the world. PV installations worldwide have reached a compound annual growth rate of ~40% for the last fifteen years. However, the great majority of these systems (over 90% of them) are located where the solar energy resource is not the most abundant - outside of the tropical regions of the planet. While trying to incorporate solar energy PV into electrical power grids, one common question which arises is related to the variable aspect of this form of energy generation - with alternating production during the day due to cloud motion, and total absence during night time. Nonetheless, in some countries, contribution ratios of 5 to 10% of electrical energy from solar PV have been achieved. It becomes then challenging to integrate this source of energy into grids in a professional way, in parallel with existing resources (mostly still fossil-fuel-based). In this thesis, short-term forecasting (for time horizons such as 15-min, 30-min and 1-hour) of the solar resource was investigated in a tropical region of the world - in Singapore, 1° North of the Equator, in Southeast Asia. This thesis focuses on existing methods for irradiance forecasting, but also explores a novel Hybrid proposal, tailored to the tropical environment at hand. Beyond the forecast of the solar energy irradiance ahead of time, PV system simulation and performance assessment were studied and evaluated with the goal of predicting how much electricity is produced in the same time frame given by the solar irradiance forecasting products. The influence of haze was a particular phenomenon, common in today?s Singapore, which affects PV system performance and which was investigated in detail. All work has been validated by a comprehensive network of ground-based meteorological stations, as well as by various PV system monitoring sites throughout Singapore.
37
Liu, Tina Y. "Enteric adenovirus and coliphage as microbial indicators in Singapore's Kallang Basin." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/90024.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis: M. Eng., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2014.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 36-38).
E. coli, Enterococci, and other fecal indicator bacteria have been the gold standard for assessing and regulating water quality. However, the presence of these water quality indicators often do not reflect the presence of viral pathogens, such as human enteric viruses, posing significant health risks to the general population. Furthermore, high concentrations of E. coli are often found in tropical environments with no apparent source of fecal contamination. In order to gain comprehensive insight on the recreational water quality of Kallang Basin in Singapore, it is important to establish an understanding of the interactions between pathogens and other microorganisms within the environment. This study focuses on enteric adenovirus and coliphage (F' male-specific and somatic) as potential alternative indicators of fecal contamination. Adenovirus and coliphage concentrations from water samples collected over a 48-hour period were quantified using qPCR assay and cell culture methods, respectively, and analyzed for trends. The presence of viruses was compared to that of E. coli and Enterococci from the same samples. The results from this study suggest significant fecal contamination originating from the tributaries that flow into the Kallang Basin. E. coli and Enterococci concentrations at each station exceeded U.S. EPA regulation standards, however, neither correlated with the presence of adenovirus. Additionally, there was an overall trend of higher concentrations of microorganisms during the first 24-hours of sampling than the second, potentially due to rainfall prior to sampling. The findings from this study emphasize the need for further investigation of pathogenic microorganism to establish effective indices for recreational water quality monitoring in the Kallang Basin.
by Tina Y. Liu.
M. Eng.
38
Nobre, André Maia. "Short-term solar irradiance forecasting and photovoltaic systems performance in a tropical climate in Singapore." reponame:Repositório Institucional da UFSC, 2015. https://repositorio.ufsc.br/xmlui/handle/123456789/162682.
Full textAbstract:
Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro Tecnológico, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia Civil, Florianópolis, 2015.Made available in DSpace on 2016-05-24T17:37:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 338190.pdf: 9968372 bytes, checksum: e1c28dfcf84e191f0457a82aa5715399 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015
A humanidade usou e continua consumindo em grande quantidade os recursos não-renováveis do planeta como petróleo, gás natural e carvão mineral para suprir suas necessidades energéticas. Somente nas últimas duas décadas que outras fontes de energia renováveis, como a solar fotovoltaica e a eólica, passaram a se tornar relevantes na geração de energia elétrica em nÃvel mundial. Instalações de sistemas fotovoltaicos ao redor do mundo atingiram crescimento da ordem de 40% durante os últimos quinze anos. Entretanto, a grande maioria destes sistemas, (acima de 90%), estão localizados em regiões onde o recurso solar não é tão abundante, ou seja, fora da região dos trópicos do planeta. Devido a este fato, ao tentar incorporar a energia solar fotovoltaica à s redes elétricas, uma pergunta que sempre surge está relacionada a variação desta forma de geração de energia elétrica com a produção alternante durante o dia devido ao movimento das nuvens e total ausência no perÃodo noturno. Mesmo assim, em alguns paÃses, já se atinge percentuais em torno de 5 a 10% de contribuição da energia elétrica proveniente de energia solar fotovoltaica. Passa a ser desafiador a inserção dessa fonte de energia à rede, de maneira intensiva, em paralelo com os recursos já existentes (em sua maioria ainda de origem fóssil). Nesta tese, foi avaliada a previsão do recurso solar em curtÃssimo prazo (como 15-min, 30-min e uma hora) para uma região tropical do planeta, neste caso em Cingapura, ilha que se localiza próxima à linha do equador, no Sudeste Asiático. Esta tese foca em métodos existentes de previsão de irradiância, mas também explora uma nova proposta hÃbrida, adaptada a uma localidade tropical. Além das previsões de irradiação solar, simulações de sistemas fotovoltaicos e o cálculo de seu desempenho foram estudados e avaliados de modo a se prever quanto de energia elétrica é produzida com a mesma antecedência dada nos produtos de previsão do recurso solar. A influência da gaze de queimada foi um fenômeno particular, comum na Cingapura de hoje, que afeta o desempenho de sistemas fotovoltaicos e que foi investigado em detalhe. Todo o trabalho foi validado por redes detalhadas de estações meteorológicas em solo e também através de monitoramento de sistemas fotovoltaicos por toda Cingapura.
Abstract : Humanity has used and continues to consume in great proportion non-renewable energy resources of the planet such as oil, natural gas and coal in order to fulfil its energy needs. It was only during the past two decades that other sources of renewable energy such as solar photovoltaics (PV) and wind energy became somewhat relevant towards electricity generation in the world. PV installations worldwide have reached a compound annual growth rate of ~40% for the last fifteen years. However, the great majority of these systems (over 90% of them) are located where the solar energy resource is not the most abundant - outside of the tropical regions of the planet. While trying to incorporate solar energy PV into electrical power grids, one common question which arises is related to the variable aspect of this form of energy generation - with alternating production during the day due to cloud motion, and total absence during night time. Nonetheless, in some countries, contribution ratios of 5 to 10% of electrical energy from solar PV have been achieved. It becomes then challenging to integrate this source of energy into grids in a professional way, in parallel with existing resources (mostly still fossil-fuel-based). In this thesis, short-term forecasting (for time horizons such as 15-min, 30-min and 1-hour) of the solar resource was investigated in a tropical region of the world - in Singapore, 1° North of the Equator, in Southeast Asia. This thesis focuses on existing methods for irradiance forecasting, but also explores a novel Hybrid proposal, tailored to the tropical environment at hand. Beyond the forecast of the solar energy irradiance ahead of time, PV system simulation and performance assessment were studied and evaluated with the goal of predicting how much electricity is produced in the same time frame given by the solar irradiance forecasting products. The influence of haze was a particular phenomenon, common in today?s Singapore, which affects PV system performance and which was investigated in detail. All work has been validated by a comprehensive network of ground-based meteorological stations, as well as by various PV system monitoring sites throughout Singapore.
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Chong, Wanling. "Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) performance in Singapore's Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/82809.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (M. Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2013.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 86-87).
Singapore's Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) network is one of the largest public works projects undertaken by the Singapore government. This thesis summarizes and evaluates the performance of Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) construction in Singapore's MRT network. Surface settlement induced by the tunneling process can cause damage to underground utilities and foundations and buildings and/or disrupt daily life by damaging roads and pavements, and is used in this thesis as a measure of performance. The influence of encountered geology and adopted construction methods (referring to the type of TBM used) on settlement is discussed. The dominant construction method on all four existing MRT lines involved the use of shield TBMs, with the main difference being the method of face support adopted. The North-South East-West (NS-EW) line employed largely compressed air as face support, while a move towards greater use of Earth Pressure Balance (EPB) was observed on the North-East line (NEL) and Circle Line (CCL). The use of EPB on the NEL resulted in 22 incidences of large, localized ground losses, which were of two types; 1. subsurface voids, or voids which formed above the tunnel face but were grouted before they could migrate to the surface, 2. surface sinkholes, or local depressions which were found by visual inspection to appear over the tunnels as the machine advanced. These large, localized ground losses usually occurred when tunneling through different weathering grades within a single formation or through mixed faces of different geological formations. The variability in ground conditions which resulted from these mixed weathering grades and mixed faces is a direct result of extensive tropical weathering of Singapore's soils, and poses a challenge to the performance of EPB machines during construction. The employment of slurry machines on the CCL was intended to mitigate some of the difficulties faced by EPB machines on the NEL, though with limited success. The use of slurry machines on the CCL resulted in the additional problem of slurry discharging to the surface and disrupting traffic. Given Singapore's plans to double the length of her rail network by 2030, the need to understand the impact of construction projects on adjacent structures and surface activities remains just as important, if not more so.
by Wanling Chong.
M.Eng.
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Ho, Chin Ning. "Singapore's public and private transport modes : an economic comparison and policy implications." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/47764.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2008.Includes bibliographical references (p. 129-133).
Frequently, public decisions on transportation are based on cost benefit analyses that do not take into account the costs that private individuals are eventually led to spend in order to use these systems, even though these expenditures are sizeable. For FY2006-2007 in Singapore, we estimate that more than 90% of the S$34.4 billion to S$34.9 billion spent on the private automobile system were borne by private individuals. In contrast, only about 65% of the S$1.66 billion spent on the public transport system were borne by private individuals. The inclusion of private expenditures shows that the private automobile transport system costs society at least 20.7 times as much as the public transport system, even though 64% of all morning peak hour trips were made with public transport in 2004. Excluding time costs, private automobile trips cost S$2.05 per passenger-kilometer, or 14 times as much as public transport trips, which cost S$0.143 per passenger-km. Applying derived economic and time cost functions to each trip from the 2004 home travel survey data, we compared trips made among each of the 82 postal sectors of Singapore, and found that the economic costs to society for private car driver trips far exceed those made with public transport for all of the 1,906 postal sector combinations analyzed. Although the time costs for private car driver trips were substantially lower than those of public transport trips for almost all of the origin-destination pairs, these were not sufficient to offset the far higher economic costs to society. We have highlighted particular zonal combinations for which differences in economic, time, and total costs between private car driver trips and public transport trips were very pronounced, as these promise the largest potential benefits to society if the differences between public and private modes were bridged.
(cont.) Therefore policies should be pursued to increase the share of variable automobile costs as a percentage of total costs. In parallel, other policy measures should include improvements of Rapid Transit System coverage specially along the corridors identified in this thesis, increases in road pricing, and actions to shift the burden of parking costs to private motorists.
by Chin Ning Ho.
S.M.
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Foley, Kevin John. "Wastewater treatment and energy : an analysis on the feasibility of using renewable energy to power wastewater treatment plants in Singapore." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/60765.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (M. Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2010.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 59-62).
Wastewater treatment is a very energy intensive industry. Singapore has a state-of-the-art wastewater treatment system that uses a number of sustainable techniques that greatly improve its overall efficiency. The centralized Changi Water Reclamation Plant is one of the most advanced treatment facilities in the world. However, there are smaller, less efficient wastewater treatment plants still in use in Singapore. One of those is located in the Kranji Catchment region adjacent to the Lim Chu Kang Air Force Base. Called BJ725, this facility consists of a primary settler and a trickling filter. The purpose of this study is to determine the feasibility of using wind power, solar power, or methane gas combustion to meet the treatment facility's energy requirement. As the first part of this feasibility study, BJ725's energy requirement was analyzed. Additionally, wind and solar output was computed given historical meteorological conditions in Singapore, and the amount of power produced during methane gas combustion was computed given sludge output at BJ725. The outcome of these calculations showed mixed results. There was not one day of wind strong enough to produce usable energy in the 33-year meteorological dataset analyzed. Thus, there is essentially no potential for wind energy to be used in Singapore. Solar energy proved to be economically viable, but only with at least a 63 percent rebate. Sludge digestion and methane gas combustion proved to be by far the most economically viable option for wastewater treatment plants in Singapore. In the case of BJ725, approximately S$8,000 of yearly income can be generated if sludge digestion and methane gas combustion is utilized. Overall, sludge digestion seems to be the best option for wastewater treatment plants throughout the rest of the world. However, the three options studied are site specific and should be analyzed on a location-specific basis.
by Kevin John Foley.
M.Eng.
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Lee, Yi Hua, and 李怡樺. "National Identity and Multicultural Society: The Case of Civic and Moral Education (CME) for Primary School in Singapore." Thesis, 2006. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/59193772369418659657.
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Chen, Chien-Chu, and 陳建助. "Triangular Relationship among State、Economic Market and Civil Society of Singapore: A View from Globalization." Thesis, 2003. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/22502714985824483866.
Full textAbstract:
碩士國立成功大學
政治經濟學研究所
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This thesis deals with the issue of globalization in Singapore with the historical-structural approach. Globalization is treated on the independent variable, which is used to examine the dependent at the triangular relationship among state、market and civil society in Singapore. Meanwhile, it is necessary to study and compare how globalization affects triangular relationship of three actors before and after Asian Financial Crisis. In the interaction view of State and market, it is suitable to the transformationalist thesis of globalization in Singapore, rather than to use the hyperglobalist thesis. Up to now, its situation is more likely what the transformationalist thesis predicts, namely globalization is producing a transformation strength in Singapore, and state instructs the path of economic development continually, further it also consolidates the legitimacy of Singaporean state by increasing economic stability. In the interaction view of market and civil society, the market plays the part of information supply role for civil society, at the same time, civil society had encountered the so-called "Asian Value" effect to prosper economy, People''s Action Party has conducted rebellious force from economics to politics, and it also let Singapore become the lightest Financial-Crisis country. But it is not a widespread acceptance value, it is only a special example. In the interaction view of state and civil society, state plays a role of surveillant toward civil society. In addition, civil society become more powerful against the state action by the diversification of social structure; simultaneously, it also consolidates the autonomy and capacity of Singaporean state.
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Han, Yong Qiang. "When West meets East: Thinking big in Singapore over good faith in commercial contract law." 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/10454/17802.
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noSingapore commercial contract law has taken an Asian perspective in respect of express terms of good faith in the negotiation of contract. In general, however, it adheres to the English contract law orthodoxy regarding good faith. More specifically, Singapore, like England, does not recognize a general duty or principle of good faith and it is reluctant to imply a duty of good faith into a contract. However, as a hub of international trade and a rising forum for commercial dispute resolution, Singapore will have a stronger need to reconcile the differences in good faith in contract law between the English/Commonwealth and the European-Asian legal traditions. Conventional wisdom and international commercial law instruments in this respect are not as helpful as one would expect for such a need. Instead, to an enlightening but limited extent, the “organizing principle” approach in Bhasin v Hrynew could be useful for setting up a framework for reconciling the differences. This framework could consist of an organising principle of (honouring) reasonable expectations, a duty of honesty, and a duty of fair dealing. The framework realistically concretises good faith into the three components, all of which are essentially objective and ascertainable in specific factual matrix and are well-recognised in both common law and civil law.
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(6564809), Elisabeth Krueger. "Dynamics of Coupled Natural-Human-Engineered Systems: An Urban Water Perspective on the Sustainable Management of Security and Resilience." Thesis, 2019.
Find full textAbstract:
The security, resilience and sustainability of water supply in urban areas are of major concern in cities around the world. Their dynamics and long-term trajectories result from external change processes, as well as adaptive and maladaptive management practices aiming to secure urban livelihoods. This dissertation examines the dynamics of urban water systems from a social-ecological-technical systems perspective, in which infrastructure and institutions mediate the human-water-ecosystem relationship.
The three concepts of security, resilience and sustainability are often used interchangeably, making the achievement of goals addressing such challenges somewhat elusive. This becomes evident in the international policy arena, with the UN Sustainable Development Goals being the most prominent example, in which aspirations for achieving the different goals for different sectors lead to conflicting objectives. Similarly, the scientific literature remains inconclusive on characterizations and quantifiable metrics. These and other urban water challenges facing the global urban community are discussed, and research questions and objectives are introduced in Section 1.
In Section 2, I suggest distinct definitions of urban water security, resilience and sustainability: Security refers to the state of system functioning regarding water services; resilience refers to ability to absorb shocks, to adapt and transform, and therefore describes the dynamic, short- to medium-term system behavior in response to shocks and disturbances; sustainability aims to balance the needs in terms of ecology and society (humans and the economic systems they build) of today without compromising the ability to meet the needs of future generations. Therefore, sustainability refers to current and long-term impacts on nature and society of maintaining system functions, and therefore affects system trajectories. I suggest that sustainability should include not only local effects, but consider impacts across scales and sectors. I propose methods for the quantification of urban water security, resilience and sustainability, an approach for modeling dynamic water system behavior, as well as an integrated framework combining the three dimensions for a holistic assessment of urban water supply systems. The framework integrates natural, human and engineered system components (“Capital Portfolio Approach”) and is applied to a range of case study cities selected from a broad range of hydro-climatic and socio-economic regions on four continents. Data on urban water infrastructure and services were collected from utilities in two cities (Amman, Jordan; Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia), key stakeholder interviews and a household survey conducted in Amman. Publicly available, empirical utility data and globally accessible datasets were used to support these and additional case studies.
The data show that community adaptation significantly contributes to urban water security and resilience, but the ability to adapt is highly heterogeneous across and within cities, leading to large inequality of water security. In cities with high levels of water security and resilience, adaptive capacity remains latent (inactive), while water-insecure cities rely on community adaptation for the self-provision of services. The framework is applied for assessing individual urban water systems, as well as for cross-city comparison for different types of cities. Results show that cities fall along a continuous gradient, ranging from water insecure and non-resilient cities with inadequate service provision prone to failure in response to extant shock regimes, to water secure and resilient systems with high levels of services and immediate recovery after shocks. Although limited by diverse constraints, the analyses show that urban water security and resilience tend to co-evolve, whereas sustainability, which considers local and global sustainable management, shows highly variable results across cities. I propose that the management of urban water systems should maintain a balance of security, resilience and sustainability.
The focus in Section 3 is on intra-city patterns and mechanisms, which contribute to urban water security, resilience and sustainability. In spite of engineering design and planning, and against common expectations, intra-city patterns emerge from self-organizing processes similar to those found in nature. These are related to growth processes following the principle of preferential attachment and functional efficiency considerations, which lead to Pareto power-law probability distributions characteristic of scale-free-like structures. Results presented here show that such structures are also present in urban water distribution and sanitary sewer networks, and how deviation from such specific patterns can result in vulnerability towards cascading failures. In addition, unbounded growth, unmanaged demand and unregulated water markets can lead to large inequality, which increases failure vulnerability.
The introduction of infrastructure and institutions for providing urban water services intercedes and mediates the human-water relationship. Complexity of infrastructural and institutional setups, growth patterns, management strategies and practices result in different levels of disconnects between citizens and the ecosystems providing freshwater resources. “Invisibility” of services to citizens results from maximized water system performance. It can lead to a lack of awareness about the effort and underlying infrastructure and institutions that operate for delivering services. Data for the seven cities illustrate different portfolios of complexity, invisibility and disconnection. Empirical data gathered in a household survey and key stakeholder interviews in Amman reveals that a misalignment of stakeholder perceptions resulting from the lack of information flow between citizens and urban managers can be misguiding and can constrain the decision-making space. Unsustainable practices are fostered by invisibility and disconnection and exacerbate the threats to urban water security and resilience. Such challenges are investigated in the context of urban water system traps: the poverty and the rigidity trap. Results indicate that urban water poverty is associated with local unsustainability, while rigidity traps combined with urban demand growth gravitate towards global unsustainability.
Returning to the city-level in Section 4, I investigate urban water system evolution. The question how the trajectories of urban water security, resilience and sustainability can be managed is examined using insights from hydrological and social-ecological systems research. I propose an “Urban Budyko Landscape”, which compares urban water supply systems to hydrological catchments and highlights the different roles of supply- and demand-management of water and water-related urban services. A global assessment of 38 cities around the world puts the seven case studies in perspective, emphasizing the relevance of the proposed framework and the representative, archetypal character of the selected case studies.
Furthermore, I examine how managing for the different dimensions of the CPA (capital availability, robustness, risk and sustainable management) determines the trajectories of urban water systems. This is done by integrating the CPA with the components of social-ecological system resilience, which explain how control of the different components determines the movement of systems through states of security and resilience in a stability landscape. Finally, potential feedbacks resulting from the global environment are investigated with respect to the role that globally sustainable local and regional water management can play in determining the trajectories of urban water systems. These assessments demonstrate how the impact of supply-oriented strategies reach beyond local, regional and into global boundaries for meeting a growing urban demand, and come at the cost of global sustainability and communities elsewhere.
Despite stark differences between individual cities and large heterogeneities within cities, convergent trends and patterns emerge across systems and are revealed through application of the proposed concepts and frameworks. The implications of these findings are discussed in Section 5, and are summarized here as follows:
1) The management of urban water systems needs to move beyond the security and resilience paradigms, which focus on current system functioning and short-term behavior. Sustaining a growing global, urban population will require addressing the long-term, cross-scale and inter-sector impacts of achieving and maintaining urban water security and resilience.
2) Emergent spatial patterns are driven by optimization for the objective functions. Avoiding traps, cascading failure, extreme inequality and maintaining global urban livability requires a balance of supply- and demand-management, consideration of system complexity, size and reach (i.e., footprint), as well as internal structures and management strategies (connectedness and modularity).
3) Urban water security and resilience are threatened by long-term decline, which necessitates the transformation to urban sustainability. The key to sustainability lies in experimentation, modularization and the incorporation of interdependencies across scales, systems and sectors.