The methods by which we envision, plan, develop and redevelop our built environment will have a lasting effect on both current and future generations. Often we, as a society, fail to realize the full extent of the impact of the built environment on our social, natural and economic systems. We are now faced with enormous challenges related to:
Urban planning/design and economic development
Urban and economic development strategies must be synchronized and comprehensive, to link energy and infrastructure elements with measures to ensure healthy urban environments that promote social well-being, economic progress and environmental responsibility.
The speed and volume of population growth, and production of specific goods and services, has generally overwhelmed the potential to incorporate efficiency and innovation in urban planning. By focusing solely on the efficient delivery of goods and services, regions and municipalities have tended to miss opportunities to holistically address the challenges of creating a truly sustainable urban environment.
Other elements to consider include:
- Recognizing that the distribution of physical impacts from economic development and related activities are not limited to local areas, and must be understood and considered in a geographically broad planning and policy formation context.
- The value of creative re-use: integrating innovation and technological advancements into a society built around obsolete practices.
Energy production and usage
Addressing energy issues on a large scale can appear at first glance to be a daunting task. However, recently we have seen a host of initiatives that aim to increase energy efficiency and reduce the amount of energy produced from non-renewable resources. The challenges of cleaner energy are not limited to technological improvements, but include changes in consumption patterns, coordination of energy-consuming demands, and the like.
Infrastructure
While infrastructure includes nearly every facet of the built environment, we will narrow our focus for purposes of this discussion to include the distribution of essential services (i.e. energy, water, wastewater, etc) and transportation. Coordinated efforts will be required at local, regional and national levels to embrace technological innovations and create proactive policies that promote a more sustainable future. The distribution of essential services will need to become more efficient, while simultaneously increasing capacity to ensure access to potable water, renewable energy sources and effective disposal or reuse of wastewater. Whiile transportation modes can be improved by use of alternative fuels and by providing sustainable alternative transport options at all scales (i.e. regional/national rail systems, light rail, bus systems, etc), efficient urban design will probably yield the most efficient returns in transportation efficiency.
These elements all have a role in achieving a more harmonious built environment, and this discussion will focus on identifying concepts, approaches and practices that can be utilized to strengthen our built foundation and help create a more prosperous future.