Eco- and Smart Cities
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| ABEE4083 | Department of Architecture and Built Environment | 4 | 20 | Autumn China |
- Code
- ABEE4083
- School
- Department of Architecture and Built Environment
- Level
- 4
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Autumn China
Summary
To provide students with the advanced understanding of the complexity of urban sustainability challenges and the different approaches and technologies for promoting eco- and smart- cities. More in detail, the module:
• introduces the concept of sustainable development and the roles of planning and governance in achieving urban economic viability, social justice and environmental sustainability;
• introduces the concepts and existing practices of ‘eco-city’ and ‘smart city’, as well as other urban innovation/experimentations towards sustainability, such as sponge city, low-carbon city, and nature-based solutions.
• provides an introduction and an overview of social science research methods and how research is framed, with an emphasis on planning and urban studies.
• develops students’ critical understanding of urban design, planning, and governance.
Target Students
Master students
Classes
- One 2-hour seminar each week for 2 weeks
- One 2-hour lecture each week for 12 weeks
Assessment
- 100% Coursework 1: Illustrated research essay (Individual submission)---4,000 words illustrated
Assessed by end of autumn semester
Educational Aims
This module aims to develop students’ critical understanding of sustainable urbanism and how urban planning and governance, combined with eco- and smart- thinking and approaches, can promote the achievement of urban sustainability. Through the module, students will also learn how to conduct urban studies through qualitative and/or quantitative methods.Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module, students will demonstrate an understanding of:
1. cities as complex social-ecological-technical systems;
2. the difficulties and challenges of urban sustainable planning and governance;
3. the variety of urban sustainability innovation like eco-city and smart city based on theoretical concepts, policies and in-depth study of case examples;
4. the interactions between key actors in the delivery of eco- and smart- city developments.
An ability to:
1. explore and investigate the various types of urban eco-/smart-experiments towards sustainability;
2. critically evaluate urban policies and practices in terms of their claimed goals and real impacts on environment and society;
3. provide context-specific and systemic solutions that integrate latest digital technologies for addressing multiple urban sustainability challenges;
4. produce report and presentation, which are clear, analytical and logical covering a range of urban sustainability issues;
5. interpret, manage, and communicate complex and interrelated information in a manner that is appropriate, rigorous, creative and legible
6. organize group/team work and to manage time carefully.
Conveners
- Dr Linjun Xie