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SINGAPORE: For the first time, four government agencies are working together with the National University of Singapore (NUS) to build a greener and more liveable Singapore.
Seven million dollars will be used to fund seven research projects such as designing buildings and common areas to maximise space usage.
New landscapes such as the Marina Bay and the Jurong Lake district, as well as both mature and new housing estates like Punggol, will be examined in detail.
Six of the projects will be carried out concurrently over three years.
One of the agencies involved is the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA).
Its CEO, Mrs Cheong Koon Hean, said: "These projects will be very interesting because we're really exploring more into how to make Singapore an even more liveable city, particularly one that's in the tropics and one that's high density.
"So, for example, if we study more into urban greenery, we can understand how greenery can help to cool the city, where it's located - whether it's in the ground or the sky or where we can have sky-rise greenery."
Mrs Cheong cited another example. "When we look at climatic studies, we're actually trying to understand how the wind blows in the city, and I think by locating the buildings in the right position, or by having open spaces, we hope to be able to channel some of these breezes throughout the city and again, it can help to cool the city.
"If we can understand more about some of these issues and incorporate them into city planning, we will get to enjoy the benefits."
The research, however, is not without its challenges. Dr Malone Lee, director of the Centre for Sustainable Asian Cities at NUS, explained: "I think we're looking at a built-up environment and with a built-up environment where you've existing population and economic activities, it's not always easy to introduce new and innovative solutions with regards to environment sustainability.
"So the real challenge is in these environments where it's more of a retrofitting existing built-up situation - with housing, with employment, with industries - and the way spaces are really configured."
The other agencies involved are the Housing and Development Board (HDB), Land Transport Authority (LTA) and the National Parks Board (NParks).
The research studies will pave the way for sustainable development in other cities with similar living conditions.
The studies are part of Singapore's Blueprint for Sustainability and is funded by the Ministry of National Development Research Fund. The fund was established in January 2007 to raise the quality of physical and living environment in Singapore.
- 938LIVE/ir
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