The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) is currently one of the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD)’s partners in the university’s new study on ‘Liveable Places: A Building Environment Modelling Approach for Dynamic Place Making’.
This study aims to develop a new design tool that helps planners optimise the design and layout of public spaces, services and amenities by using technologies such as sensors and smart-phone crowdsourcing. This will ultimately aid with improving connectivity, accessibility and convenience for people’s daily lives.
URA CEO Ng Lang said this at the opening of the joint SUTD- Future Cities Laboratory (FCL) exhibition, ‘RE:IMAGINING CITIES – Urban Design Research in Singapore’ on 12 September 2014 at URA Atrium.
The exhibition by the two research institutions highlights the importance of academic engagement and international knowhow to the planning of Singapore. It features research, planning and design projects for local sites such as Ophir-Rochor and Punggol, as well as Surabaya, Indonesia. The exhibition (pictured) ends on 8 October.
FCL and URA are also currently working together to establish a Walkability index for Singapore.
This involves extensive mapping of the different physical attributes, such as shading, noise and crowding, and gathering survey responses from pedestrians to better understand their decision of the routes they take.
“This will help us to better identify appropriate design interventions to enhance overall walking experience. We are also looking into areas such as cognitive science to improve people’s sense of way-finding and orientation in their urban environment,” Ng said.
Additionally, URA will be setting up a dedicated exhibition space at the URA Atrium to a platform to present impactful research projects.
Image source: Future Cities Laboratory
Muneerah Bee, Senior Journalist at PropertyGuru, wrote this story. To contact her about this or other stories email muneerah@propertyguru.com.sg
