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What is the built environment? It encompasses all the physical structures, spaces, and systems created or modified by human beings. This includes buildings, infrastructures such as roads, bridges, and water supply systems, as well as recreational spaces like parks and urban gardens.
The built environment involves examining how these structures and spaces impact the lives of individuals and communities, contributing to their overall wellbeing, social interaction, and economic prosperity.
One crucial aspect of the built environment is its relation to the natural environment. As human-made structures transform and redefine landscapes, they can also influence the ecosystems in which they are situated. Sustainable approaches to design and planning are necessary to minimise the adverse effects of development on the environment, promote efficient use of resources, and enhance quality of life for residents.
Moreover, thoughtful design choices regarding the built environment can foster social interaction, pedestrian mobility, and accessibility to essential amenities and services. Thereby, promoting healthier and more vibrant communities.
What is the Built Environment – Defined
The built environment refers to the made by humans’ surroundings that provide the setting for human activity, ranging from buildings and parks to neighbourhoods and cities. This environment can either be constructed or modified, and it consists of various elements such as buildings, infrastructure, land, architecture, and systems. It plays a significant role in how people work, live, and play in their daily lives.
Buildings
Buildings are the primary component of the built environment and include residential, commercial, industrial, and public structures. They provide spaces for people to live, work, and engage in various activities. Examples of buildings range from single-family homes and apartment complexes to office buildings, factories, and government facilities. The design, construction, and maintenance of buildings greatly influence energy consumption, environmental impact, and the well-being of their occupants.
Infrastructure
Infrastructure refers to the essential facilities and services that support the daily functioning of communities and cities. It includes transportation networks, such as roads, bridges, railways, and airports; public utilities, such as water supply, sewage treatment, and power distribution; and social infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, and recreational facilities. The quality, accessibility, and efficiency of infrastructure have a direct impact on the health, safety, and economic vitality of communities.
Land
Land is a vital component of the built environment as it provides the foundation for all human-made structures and development. It includes urban, suburban, and rural areas that have been altered or developed by human activity. The use and management of land, including zoning and planning, can shape the distribution, density, and diversity of land use patterns. Sustainable land use promotes environmental conservation, resource efficiency, and equitable distribution of amenities and services.
Architecture
Architecture is the art and science of designing and constructing buildings, spaces, and environments. It encompasses various styles, practices, materials, and technologies that contribute to the creation of the built environment. The architecture of a place can reflect its history, culture, and identity while addressing the functional, aesthetic, and environmental requirements of the people who inhabit it. Good architectural design enhances the quality of life, ensures efficient use of resources, and contributes to the overall coherence and attractiveness of the built environment.
Systems
Systems in the built environment refer to the interconnected and interdependent networks that support the functioning of buildings, infrastructure, and land. These systems include energy, water, waste management, telecommunications, and transportation. They are essential for providing the necessary services that enable people to work, live, and play comfortably and efficiently. Effective planning, design, and management of these systems can increase resource efficiency, resilience, and adaptability in the face of environmental, social, and economic challenges.
What is the Role of the Built Environment?
Urban Planning
Urban planning plays a crucial role in the built environment, dictating the arrangement of cities including roads, bridges, parks, and streets. Efficient urban planning minimises the distances between essential services, such as schools, healthcare facilities, and shopping centres. It also considers sustainable practices, aiming to reduce environmental impacts. For example, incorporating green spaces like parks within cities that serve both as recreational areas and ecological buffers.
Transportation Systems
Transportation systems are a key element of the built environment, as they facilitate the movement of people and goods within and between cities. Public transportation, such as buses, trains, and trams, contribute to reducing traffic congestion and promoting a cleaner environment by decreasing air pollution levels. Well-designed transportation networks connect residential, commercial, and recreational areas effectively, encouraging more people to use public transport and reducing the reliance on personal vehicles for commuting.
Housing
Housing plays a significant role in the built environment, providing shelter, safety, and comfort to individuals and families. It is essential for housing developments to be affordable, accessible, and sustainable. High-density housing designs, such as flats and apartment complexes, can help reduce urban sprawl and preserve natural environments outside city boundaries. Ensuring that housing meets various needs, including older and disabled individuals, is crucial for promoting social inclusion in the built environment.
Energy Management
In the context of the built environment, energy management concerns the efficient use and conservation of resources like water, electricity, and gas. Efficient energy management in cities can be achieved through the adoption of renewable energy sources, such as solar panels or wind turbines, and by implementing energy-efficient building designs that use natural light and ventilation. Additionally, proper water management infrastructure, including drainage systems and water treatment facilities, is vital to the long-term sustainability and quality of life in urban environments.
Impact on Health and Quality of Life
Air Quality
The built environment has a significant impact on air quality which, in turn, affects human health. Urban structures and densely populated areas may lead to increased pollution levels, which can cause respiratory issues and other health problems. It is essential to consider factors such as proper ventilation, access to green spaces, and efficient public transportation systems to reduce harmful emissions and improve air quality in urban environments.
Physical Activity
An essential aspect of the built environment is how it encourages or discourages physical activity. Well-designed built environments can promote physical activity by incorporating pedestrian-friendly streets, cycling infrastructure, and easily accessible parks and recreational spaces. Studies show a positive impact on the quality of life when physical activity is supported by the surrounding built environment. By contrast, car-dependence can lead to sedentary lifestyles, increasing the risk of obesity and other health issues.
Human Health
The built environment can also directly affect human health through the buildings and infrastructure where people live, work, and socialise. Poorly designed or maintained buildings may increase the risk of exposure to harmful substances, such as mold, asbestos, or lead. Additionally, climate-responsive design can help mitigate the effects of extreme temperatures, reducing the risk of heat-related illnesses and improving overall well-being. Therefore, well-planned and maintained built environments can significantly contribute to improved health-related quality of life and better healthcare.
Sustainability and Climate Change
The built environment refers to human-made surroundings, including buildings, infrastructure, and land. Climate change and sustainability are increasingly important considerations in this context, as the built environment contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and resource consumption. In this section, we will discuss measures and strategies for reducing emissions, as well as adapting to the impacts of climate change in the built environment.
Measures and Strategies
A variety of measures and strategies can be employed to reduce the environmental impact of the built environment and improve its resilience to climate change. These include:
- Implementing sustainable design principles and green building standards
- Enhancing energy efficiency and using renewable energy sources
- Incorporating water conservation techniques, such as rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling
- Using environmentally friendly materials during construction and renovation processes
These approaches can help create buildings that are not only more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly, but also better suited to withstand the changing climate.
Reducing Emissions
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions within the built environment is crucial for mitigating climate change. Some key strategies include:
- Encouraging the use of public transportation or cycling and walking over private vehicles.
- Improving building insulation to reduce energy consumption for heating and cooling.
- Installing energy-efficient appliances and systems.
- Adopting low carbon operations, such as the use of natural ventilation in place of air conditioning.
If these steps are taken, the built environment can play a significant role in the global effort to reduce its carbon footprint and limit the impacts of climate change.
Adapting to Climate Change
Adapting the built environment to the challenges resulting from climate change is essential for maintaining its resilience and functionality. This can be achieved through strategies, such as:
- Building to withstand natural disasters and extreme weather.
- Implementing sustainable drainage systems to reduce the risk of flooding.
- Retrofitting existing buildings with green roofs or walls to moderate temperatures and filter pollutants.
- Planning urban areas with climate-resilient infrastructure, including an adequate number of green spaces and tree cover.
By implementing these strategies, the built environment can adapt better to the changing climate, ensuring its continued functionality and sustainability for future generations.
Economic Aspects
The built environment significantly contributes to the economy in various ways. It encompasses the human-made surroundings. And includes buildings, infrastructure, and spaces, that provide the setting for human activities. Understanding the economic aspects of the built environment is essential in evaluating its impacts on national and regional economies.
Influence of Growth
Economic growth is directly influenced by the built environment. It serves as a foundation for many industries and sectors. The construction of infrastructure and buildings stimulates economic activity by creating jobs, generating demand for materials, and fostering investments. Infrastructure projects, such as transportation systems and utilities, enable efficient movement. Moving people, goods, and services, enhances productivity and promotes economic development.
Effects of Labour Demands
Remuneration in the built environment depends on the skills, specialisations, and experience of the professionals engaged. Highly skilled jobs, such as architects and engineers, obviously command more pay compared to manual labourers. Nevertheless, the growth of the built environment can lead to an increase in remuneration across all occupations when the demand for their services is high.
New Industries
A thriving built environment also supports the production of products. It requires the use of a wide range of materials, technologies, and services. This then leads to the development of new industries and markets. Environmentally sustainable materials, renewable energy systems, and energy-efficient building technologies have emerged. And their prominence is due to the growing focus on sustainable development within the built environment.
In conclusion, the built environment plays a crucial role in fostering economic growth and prosperity through job creation, investments, infrastructure development, and the production and consumption of goods and services. A well-planned and sustainable built environment can greatly enhance the quality of life and contribute to long-term economic success.
The Built Environment Energy Management
Efficient Electricity Use
Energy management in the built environment involves the efficient use of electricity to minimise energy consumption while maintaining the comfort and needs of occupants. This can be achieved by energy-efficient materials, such as insulation, and optimising the use of natural light and ventilation. Utilising energy-efficient appliances and lighting, like LED lights, can also contribute to energy savings in buildings.
Smart Buildings and Grids
Smart buildings incorporate technologies that allow for remote or automated control of energy systems, including heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC), lighting, and other systems. This enables efficient management of energy consumption through real-time monitoring of internal and external environmental factors, adjusting energy usage accordingly. Smart buildings can be integrated with smart grids to enable better energy distribution across connected buildings, thus reducing overall energy usage on a larger scale.
Cooling Systems
Cooling systems play a crucial role in energy management within the built environment. They regulate temperature and humidity, ensuring comfortable living and working conditions. To improve efficiency, cooling systems may incorporate advanced technologies, such as variable-speed compressors, heat recovery, and high-efficiency fan systems. Additionally, integrating natural ventilation techniques, like passive cooling, can further optimise energy usage and generate significant energy savings.
Distribution
Energy distribution within the built environment involves the efficient conveyance of electricity from generation sources to the connected systems and appliances within a building. This can be achieved using high-quality electrical wiring, transformers, and power management devices. Efficient energy distribution minimises losses and ensures that electricity is used effectively for its intended purpose. Thus resulting in an overall improvement in energy management in the built environment.
Policies, Regulations, and Standards
Design and Construction Guidelines
The built environment refers to the human-made surroundings. This includes buildings and infrastructure such as roads, parks, and utilities. It encompasses the design, construction, ownership, and management of these structures.
To ensure sustainable development, governments and regulatory bodies have introduced policies, standards, and guidelines for the built environment. These policies and regulations focus on aspects like designing, constructing, and retrofitting. And they preserve existing buildings, as well as new construction projects.
One of the key aspects of the built environment policies is the design and construction guidelines. The guidelines provide a framework for sustainable practices. They can be adopted by professionals during the design and construction of new buildings, as well as for retrofitting existing ones.
Guidelines aim to minimise environmental impact, reduce energy consumption, and maintain high levels of occupant comfort and well-being. Examples of design and construction guidelines include energy efficiency standards in China and the UK building regulations. They dictate various aspects of building design such as insulation, ventilation, and safety.
Decarbonisation Conference
Decarbonisation is another major concern for the built environment. The construction industry globally, contributes too much to greenhouse gas emissions. To address this issue, international conferences have been organised to discuss policies and strategies for decarbonising the built environment.
Preservation and Retrofitting
Preservation and retrofitting existing buildings is an essential aspect of the built environment. It helps optimise resource use and minimise waste generated from demolishing the old and constructing new structures.
Policies and regulations in this domain focus on aspects such as the adaptive reuse of;
- existing buildings,
- historic preservation, and
- retrofitting existing structures,
to improve energy efficiency, safety, and accessibility.
Several countries have established guidelines for the preservation and retrofitting of their built environment. For instance, historic preservation policies for sustainable built environment, ensure heritage buildings are protected and adapted to meet modern-day requirements without compromising their historical significance.
Overall, the policies, regulations, and standards discussed in this section form an essential part of the built environment. They promote sustainable practices during the design, construction, ownership, and management of buildings. And focus on aspects like;
- energy efficiency,
- decarbonisation,
- preservation, and
- retrofitting.
Organisations and Associations
ASHRAE
ASHRAE, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, is an international organisation. It is focused on the improvement of indoor air quality and energy efficiency within the built environment. And it plays a significant role in setting industry standards.
AHRAE provides education, and conducts research in;
- HVAC&R engineering,
- building services,
- energy conservation, and
- indoor air quality management.
American Institute of Architects
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is a professional body representing architects and allied professionals in the United States. It promotes the value of architecture and provides resources for its members, such as;
- professional development,
- advocacy, and
- community engagement.
The AIA also establishes standards for the architectural profession, and fosters collaboration among professionals in the design and construction of the built environment.
International Facility Management Association
The International Facility Management Association (IFMA) is a global organisation focused on promoting facility management as a recognised and valued profession. It offers educational programs, certifications, and networking opportunities for facility management professionals. IFMA’s primary goal is to improve facility management practices, foster collaboration within the industry, and enhance strategies associated with the built environment.
APPA
APPA is an association dedicated to the maintenance and optimisation of educational facilities worldwide. It provides training and development opportunities, such as conferences, research publications, and certification programs, to educational facility professionals and their organisations. By promoting best practices and offering a range of resources, APPA assists professionals in achieving excellence in the operational aspects of the built environment within educational institutions.
Building Owners and Managers Association
The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) is an international body representing the owners, managers, developers, and operators of commercial properties. BOMA provides valuable resources and support by offering networking opportunities, industry research, advocacy, and training. Its primary objectives include promoting successful property management strategies and enhancing the quality and economic performance of commercial buildings within the built environment.
Future Trends
Smart Cities
Smart cities are set to revolutionise the way urban environments function. Through the adoption of advanced technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), they aim to improve the efficiency of core urban functions. Smart cities are characterised by:
- Connected infrastructure: Enabling real-time data collection, analysis, and improvement of services such as energy, transport, and waste management.
- Intelligent mobility: Encouraging the use of electric and autonomous vehicles, as well as efficient mass transit options.
- Resource management: Reducing consumption and waste through efficient resource distribution.
Industry executives, city planners, and scholars frequently discuss smart city solutions at high-profile decarbonisation conferences and cleantech seminars. These discussions provide opportunities for meaningful connections and knowledge-sharing through panels, keynote sessions, and presentations of groundbreaking research.
Decarbonisation Initiatives
Decarbonisation of the built environment is a crucial element in mitigating climate change. Such initiatives include:
- Energy-efficient building technologies: Retrofitting older buildings and employing cutting-edge construction techniques in new developments to reduce energy consumption.
- Renewable energy integration: Increasing the use and integration of renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and solar district heating within the built environment.
- Emission reduction targets: Imposing strict regulations and monitoring mechanisms to ensure emissions reduction in line with national and international commitments.
Decarbonisation initiatives are a prominent topic in cleantech circles and are extensively discussed at seminars and industry events attended by executives, policy-makers, and academics.
Climate Crisis Resilience
As climate-related events become more prevalent and threatening, developing climate-resilient built environments has become imperative. Key aspects of climate crisis resilience include:
- Adaptation measures: Incorporating nature-based solutions, such as green spaces, into urban design to combat heatwaves, floods, and droughts.
- Infrastructure resilience: Ensuring that critical infrastructure systems are designed to withstand extreme weather events, thereby minimising their impact.
- Community resilience: Strengthening social cohesion and the capacity of communities to respond and recover from climate-induced disruptions.
Research on built environment resilience in response to the climate crisis provides valuable insights into mitigation and adaptation strategies. Experts in this field regularly convene at panels, workshops, and conferences to share their findings and discuss innovative solutions to enhance the resilience of urban environments.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are common examples of the built environment?
The built environment is surroundings set for human living. It ranges from the large-scale civic surroundings to personal dwellings. Examples include buildings, parks, streets, infrastructure like roads and bridges, and public spaces. These elements work together to create a unique atmosphere and identity for a particular place.
How does the built environment relate to construction?
Construction is the process of creating or altering the built environment. From the initial design and planning stages to the final construction and maintenance, construction plays a crucial role in shaping the built environment. It influences the appearance and functionality of buildings, infrastructure, and public spaces, impacting how people interact with their surroundings.
What are the different types of built environments?
Built environments can be broadly classified into urban, suburban, and rural settings. Urban environments are characterised by high population densities and a diverse mix of land uses, including commercial, residential, and industrial areas. Suburban environments, on the other hand, typically have lower population densities and a more significant emphasis on residential areas. Rural environments have the lowest population density and are often dominated by agricultural land uses or natural landscapes.
What is the built environment as studied in human geography?
In human geography, the built environment is studied as an essential component of the spatial organisation of human activity. It can influence social, economic, and environmental outcomes in various ways, including affecting access to resources, shaping behaviour, and impacting life experiences. Researchers use a range of qualitative and quantitative methods to explore these relationships and understand the complexities of the built environment.
What role does engineering play in the built environment?
Engineering plays a critical role in the design, construction, and maintenance of the built environment. It involves the application of scientific principles and problem-solving techniques to create and maintain functional, safe, and sustainable structures, infrastructure, and public spaces. Engineers work collaboratively with architects, planners, and other professionals to ensure that the built environment meets the needs and expectations of the people who inhabit it.
How do built environments differ from natural environments?
Built environments are human-made landscapes that have been intentionally designed and constructed to support human activity. They are characterised by the presence of buildings, infrastructure, and public spaces, which can be altered or modified by human intervention. In contrast, natural environments are formed by ecological processes and are not directly shaped by human activity. They consist of elements like rivers, forests, and mountains, exhibiting ecosystems and natural habitats that function independently of human influence.
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