"Wisdom begins in wonder" – Socrates
Category: Urban Systems
Designated Water-Holding Zones for Floods
10/02/23
“How can we designate water-holding zones for floods?”
The advent of climate change is making floods worse and worse. Some areas are bound to be flooded periodically. While many efforts have gone into holding water back, what if we were to instead allow it to flow into certain areas? By creating Designated Water-Holding Zones for Floods we can save people from water damage without wasting too many resources.
Why Understanding Casteism is Critical in Understanding India’s Informal Settlement Structure
10/01/23
“Why is understanding casteism critical in understanding India’s informal settlement structure?”
Tens of millions of people live in informal settlements in India. Often cut off from basic infrastructure systems, these people live at the margins of societal power, working strenuous hours for meager wages to support their livelihoods. But how did they end up in such a situation? Well, India has a rigid Caste system going back millennia that delineates a person’s hierarchical standing at birth. People viewed as the lowest worth, called Dalits, could not own land and had to labor in slave-like conditions for higher castes. This means that they were very poor, and the only places they could afford were in informal settlements. Rigid caste discrimination keeps opportunities out of their reach to this day, so they are often forced to stay in informal settlements. This is Why Understanding Casteism is Critical in Understanding India’s Informal Settlement Structure.
Why Consumer Surplus in Economics Should Take Externalities into Account
09/30/23
“Why should consumer surplus in economics take externalities into account?”
Consumer surplus in economics is often based on how much consumers “gain” from purchasing a product at a price lower than their maximum possible price. However, this may not include externalities such as pollution resulting from the creation of the product. This gives an inaccurate picture, which can be corrected by including externalities. This is Why Consumer Surplus in Economics Should Take Externalities into Account.
Why Urban Planners Should Have a Good Understanding of Floodplains
09/29/23
“Why should urban planners have a good understanding of how floodplains work?”
Floodplains are flat pieces of land next to a stream or river that periodically flood. Oftentimes times portions of cities and towns are built right next to floodplains and experience regular inundation. As such, urban planners need to have solid knowledge of how to deal with such events. This is Why Urban Planners Should Have a Good Understanding of Floodplains.
Why Teaching Visualization Skills to Civilians Can Help With Evacuation Plans
09/26/23
“Why does teaching visualization skills to civilians help with evacuation plans?”
Learning visualization skills provides numerous benefits in life. This can include navigation through space or reading a map. A lot of these activities make following evacuation plans more effective. This is Why Teaching Visualization Skills to Civilians Can Help With Evacuation Plans.
Using GIS to Visualize Watersheds
09/24/23
“Why do we use GIS to visualize watersheds?”
Knowing watershed locations is a vital part of urban governance. With the advent of computational technology, it’s become even easier to do so. GIS allows people to upload topology maps and deduct watershed locations based on the results. This is why Using GIS to Visualize Watersheds is so useful.
Why Coloring Contour Lines by Elevation Makes Topographic Maps Much Easier to Read
09/23/23
“Why does coloring contour lines by elevation make topographic maps much easier to read?”
Contour lines let readers know where different elevations lie on a topographic map. However, they can be hard to distinguish, making them especially difficult to read in dense mountainous areas. But if we color them based on elevation, then it becomes much clearer where the different elevation features are on the map. This is Why Coloring Contour Lines by Elevation Makes Topographic Maps Much Easier to Read.
Why Civil Engineers Should Learn About Urban Planning
09/22/23
“Why should Civil Engineers learn about urban planning?”
Civil Engineers work with public infrastructure. Often times this intersects with plans laid out for a municipality. Since this is the domain of urban planning, it’s easy to see Why Civil Engineers Should Learn About Urban Planning.
Why Teaching Design Skills is Fundamental to Planning Education
09/21/23
“Why is teaching design skills fundamental to planning education?”
Urban Planning is focused on the design and policy around land use, urban form, and human infrastructure. Much of this involves understanding and creating designs of plans to be implemented. If urban planning students are able to master design skills, then they’ll have a much better command over the field. This is Why Teaching Design Skills is Fundamental to Planning Education.
