Dylan Loh, Channel NewsAsia 14 Sep 09;
SINGAPORE: The National University of Singapore (NUS) plans to use its Kent Ridge campus as a living laboratory for research to find solutions for the problems posed by climate change and rapid urbanisation.
By using the campus as a test-bed, NUS will conduct studies on how work from different fields of research can be integrated to produce practical solutions to transform urban environments and raise the quality of life in Singapore and other Asian countries.
Explaining the need for this initiative, NUS President Professor Tan Chorh Chuan said: "Cities will require a range of solutions to become "smarter", more ecologically sound and resource efficient. These solutions should be applicable at different scales in the built environment - from products to buildings and whole cities."
The NUS School of Design and Environment (SDE) is developing urban architecture for the tropical environment that is climatically responsive and energy-efficient, as well as creative urban spaces that feature intensive greenery.
The school is also a test-bed for the applications of solar panels in reducing energy costs and is looking into the use of plants to insulate buildings from heat.
In addition, the school has conducted a study of the micro-climate of Kent Ridge Campus for NUS planners to better understand the environmental impacts of future developments.
NUS will team up with government agencies and research institutions like Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) to promote Singapore as a model for urban development that is environmentally sustainable.
According to the United Nations, two billion more people will be living in the world's cities by 2030. And this will put a huge strain on the quality and efficiency of urban infrastructure, especially related to energy, water and transportation.
- CNA/sc
