"Collaborative Solutions for Wicked Problems in Modern Cities: A Comprehensive Case Study"
"Collaborative Solutions for Wicked Problems in Modern Cities: A Comprehensive Case Study"
Mohammed Ashraf Hasanain(TP078045)
Introduction and Problem Definition:-
There are several great complex and interconnected challenges that urbanites experience in modern society and they are known as wicked problems. The problems are quite unspecific and their solving is rather complicated since all the spheres are connected and many people are engaged. From our user surveys and interviews, several key problems emerged: delayed traffic, and poor quality of cheap houses, environmental pollution, and equality. (Head,2022)
Hailing from this fellowship traffic congestion is viewed as a major frustration and seeing people spending a lot of time on the roads thus causing high pollution levels. The scarcity of housing hardships for tenure compels low-wage workers to dwell in distant neighborhoods; as a result, exacerbating the inequality and quality of health services. Standard of living, use of energy, and freedom are limited due to the high carbon footprint and scarcity of green coverage.
These are problems that cannot be solved alone because they involve various components of urban life and are experienced by many – policymakers, businessmen, and civilians. Solving the wicked problems needs innovative approaches and practices involving the application of technology, citizens’ engagement, and policy interventions. (Peters, 2017)
Abdel Rahman Ashraf Hasanain(TP077708)
User Personal Development:-
To obtain a broader picture of what the inhabitants of the city might encounter, we developed the persona based on the survey and interview results. Here is Jane, 35 35-year-old employee working in a company situated in the urban area and who is very busy. Jane is single and does not have any dependents; at the moment, she lives in an urban area and rents a one-room flat; and the mentioned amounts of rent are quite high in comparison with the incomes.
The woman goes to work exposed to traffic jams or crowded popular means of transport for more than one hour. This aspect is evident when Jane is concerned about nature and considers the advantages and disadvantages of living in a city but believes she cannot make a difference. Because Jane works for many hours and she has to cover large distances to get to work she hardly gets any time for social activities and so she is lonely.
It is difficult for her to divide such important activities as sports and games or mere communication with friends and relatives. Standard living is also disguised as a threat to Jane, particularly with an emphasis on her health status, which would compel her to seek quality healthcare services that cannot afford. Episodes like those mentioned in Jane’s lifestyle are regarded as those of thousands of inhabitants of large cities, who try to figure out how they can change their lives for the better and, simultaneously, cope with problems that stem from the system of values and organization of megacities. (Picard, 2023)
Mohammad Abdelrahman(TP073489)
Storyboard Creation:-
Scene 1: Morning Routine
Jane wakes early because she has planned for a day’s work. She experiences stress of time as she spends so many hours on the road an issue that affects the way she manages her time. The stress of being unable to afford payment for a decent house leaves her to be forced to live in a distant area from her place of work thus causing her daily stress.
Scene 2: Commute
Jane gets to the bus stop; there are many people all around already on their way to their workplaces. The bus comes much later and is packed, hence being an unpleasant ride. The traffic jams make it worse, and Jane reports at work more tired.
Scene 3: Workday
During her working hours, Jane keeps a check on time as she does not want to be on the road during rush hour in the evening. It is evident that she loses time and feels stressed as a result of commuting which impacts her job satisfaction.
Scene 4: Lunch Break
While having lunch, Jane is again stressed although she does not know why this continues to be so. Due to poor eating habits and poor diet most of the time, she is always in a worry about getting sick. She also suffers from a lack of social interaction as she hardly has time to socialize due to her tight schedule.
Scene 5: Evening Commute
Homebound, Jane feels she dislikes going through the doors of her workplace. They also support the stress of commuting in the evening by having over-packed buses and a lot of traffic congestion. By the time she gets home, she is so exhausted that she has neither the energy to go out, nor to indulge in any hobbies.
Scene 6: Night Routine
Jane spends evenings alone with no companions, most of the time she is left with the feeling that she is not connected with society. The pressure and feeling of loneliness affect her psychologically, there is a lack of rest and relaxation for the next day's work. She dreams of a more balanced life as well as adequate support from the environment.
(Onyia,2023)
Adel Zeinab(TP078282)
Solution Development:-
Delayed Traffic:
- Smart Traffic Management Systems: Applying ITS systems utilizing real time information creating more efficient traffic flow. They can control traffic lights according to the current traffic flow so as to prevent traffic build up and congestion (Chen, 2020).
- Public Transportation Enhancements: Promoting use of better and well-connected public transport like buses, metro, trams, etc to get rid of many personal vehicles on roads (Voege, 2017). Giving an encouragement of the use of public transport is also another way of reducing traffic jams.
Lack of Quality Low Cost Houses:
- Regulatory Reforms and Incentives: S effective policies and legislation that enable developers construct houses for low income earner to access houses that have quality attributes and features at an affordable price. Examples include tax incentives, grants and expediting approvals for development of low income housing (Schuetz, 2018).
- Public-Private Partnerships: Promoting partnership with government/ minister of health and other players in the private
Environmental Pollution:
- Green Infrastructure: Green areas implementation, green roofs and urban forests, the application of green infrastructure into the cities in order to increase air stench and decrease the urban heat island. These places may also add to the establishment of biological diversity and could serve as a playground for the people dwelling in the community (Creutzig,2019).
- Sustainable Transportation Policies: raising awareness for electric vehicles and the establishment of more Charge station to decrease transportation emissions. Furthermore, there is evidence to show that successful low-emission zones will selectively decrease air pollution (Creutzig, 2019).
Hana Okamura(TP074493)
Conclusion and Recommendations:-
We need some big solutions for our complex city problems. An approach that combines urban planning, technology, and community will be the key to solving them. For instance, technology is being used in urban areas to improve or augment many public services and functions, besides the workplace and personal life. Smart cities are meant to provide access to services, use energy more efficiently, and so on.
Autonomous vehicles for example are changing transportation in smart cities for those who can’t drive. (reducing traffic, improving safety, and increasing efficiency). However, safety and job losses need to be addressed too. （Shushany, 2023)
Autonomous vehicles for example are changing transportation in smart cities for those who can’t drive. (reducing traffic, improving safety, and increasing efficiency). However, safety and job losses need to be addressed too. （Shushany, 2023)
By taking a comprehensive approach that combines urban planning, tech and community initiatives, cities can create a better living environment for their people.
As they do that they can address the root of the problems of city dwellers. These are key to a better life in modern cities. Policy makers, urban planners and community leaders must focus on this and apply these strategies well to turn cities into more livable, equitable and fun places to live.
Comments
Post a Comment