College of Architecture and Fine Arts
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Item Ogis-based mapping for monitoring land cover changes in Sitio Little Kibungan, La Trinidad, Benguet(2024-12) Par-ogan, Chelsea Niz M.Uncontrolled inflation of urbanization and its consequences brought perineal complications in the urban habitat of La Trinidad, Benguet, Philippines. The intensified augmentation of urban dynamics, soil disturbance caused by human activities increased land cover changes. This paper studied Sitio Little Kibungan, a residential settlement with a history of Landslide Disaster recorded in 20009. Before the catastrophe, greater part of the extent of study was immensely canopied with Benguet Pine trees and other plants native to the locale. This vegetation preserves the forest habitats and acts as support to retain flooding and soil erosion. In the heights of rural to urban migration, radical changes in the land covers of Sitio Little Kibungan took place. The area once populated by lush greenery was transformed into a concrete residential neighborhood. In order to ascertain that the calamity experienced in 2009 be avoided, there is a need to monitor how much are the changes in the land covers; forest covers, built up area, before 2009, during 2009, after 2009 and the current year 2024. Interviews and field documentation was observed for data collection. This study further utilized the QGIS application and High-Resolution Google Earth Images data to measure lang cover changes focusing on lang characteristics including vegetation type and soil properties and identify the solutions of the local government to the 2009 Landslide Pepeng, collected with fist-hand observation and qualitative interviews with methodology municipal officers such as the Municipal Planning Development office, Tax mapping Office, Municipal Engineering Office, Puguis barangay Office and resident of Sitio Kibungan to create Land cover maps considering the Residential and Forested Zones of Sitio Little Kibungan, La Trinidad, Benguet before the Landslide (2006), during the Landslide (2009), to present (2024), using QGIS application. According to the data gathered, the recorded build -up and paved land covers in 2006 was 17,350 square meters, this is 37.122 fraction of the overall areas of Sitio Little Kibungan. During the year 2009, when the typhoon Pepeng caused an unanticipated enormous landslide, the build-up and paved land covers was 15,384 square meters, it decreases by 1,966 square meters from year 2006. Presently, in 2024, the build-up and paved land covers was 31, 760 square meters, it increases by 14, 410 square meters from 2006. On the other hand, in the year 2006, the recorded forest land covers was 26,485 square meters , this is 56, 667 share of the total area of Sitio Little Kibungan. Within the year 2009, majority of the forest covers diminished in area with 12,883 square meters, it decreased by 13,366 square meters from year 2006. At present (2024), the forest land covers is 11,802 square meters, it decrease by 1,081 square meters from year 2009. From the year 2006 with 26,485 square meters forest land covers, it decreased by 14,683 square meters in the first quarter of the year 2024 (1st quarte ). For the open land covers, the recorded land cover in 2006 was 2,903 square meters; this was 6.21 proportion of the whole area of Sitio Little Kibungan. Throughout the year 2009, it expanded in area with 4,169 square meters; there is an increase of 1,266 square meters from year 2009. From the year 2006 with 2,903 square meters forest area, it shrank to 2,165 square meters in the first quarter of the year 2024(1st quarter).Item A gated community guide for the "new normal": A post covid study of Goldridge Estate, Bulacan, Philippines(2021-09) Vargas, Paul Nicole L.The Coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic limited people within their homes' confines, disrupting accustomed activities and routines as affected nations enforce policies to limit interactions (i.e., Iockdown and social distancing measures) to curb the virus transmission. These restrictions changed how people live, work, and spend leisure time, prompting designers, developers, planners, and decision-makers to reconsider community planning and design. Therefore, the "new normal" concept emerges, highlighting the significance of resiliency in adapting and recovering from stressful situations brought by the pandemic. The study aims to assess the impact of the pandemic and determine strategies and practices to help the gated community of Goldridge Estate in Bulacan, Philippines, adapt and recover with the new normal. As a response to the new normal," the study aims to determine the capacity of and eventually direct Goldridge Estate towards resilience. An online survey questionnaire participated by 105 residents aging 13 years old and above established information on the impact of the pandemic on their daily lives. Subsequently, the information provided baseline data to create a comparative analysis of their pre-and post-pandemic conditions. The survey questionnaire also obtained recommendations from residents on preferred community facilities to respond to the decongestion of commercial, institutional, and recreational spaces. Furthermore, interviews with the administrative personnel of the gated community provided an overview of the crisis management and protocols enforced as a response to residents getting infected by the virus, which strengthened residents' recommendations. Lastly, the study aims to review current planning guidelines and prescribe necessary changes in response to integrating public health in the design and plan of gated communities. With the enforcement of lockdowns and social distancing measures, residents were limited to the confines of their homes, causing decreased grocery trips, physical activities (limited use of courts and swimming pool), and social gatherings (e.g., religious gatherings). Furthermore, the congestion of healthcare facilities in the municipality prompted residents with mild symptoms of the virus to be quarantined in their homes. These scenarios instigated recommendations from participating residents to consider providing a community supermarket and health clinic. In light of the study's findings, facilities where the basic need for food and public health service can be located, are essential when planning resilient gated communities. A community supermarket may minimize the risk of virus transmission as a more controlled population can utilize the space. Furthermore, with COVID-19 cases increasing throughout the country, the need for more dispersed healthcare facilities to accommodate isolation areas for people infected becomes necessary. Thus, a community health clinic may provide ample isolation areas for residents who are manifesting mild symptoms. This facility may help ease decongestion in hospitals and designated isolation facilities. To address the decline of physical activities and probable adverse effects of long-term isolation, ensuring ample open spaces that may cater to activities following social-distancing rules is necessary. Residents may utilize sidewalks and existing community facilities to commence individual exercises like running, cycling, and walking. Hence, proper and efficient allocation of open areas is essential to allow safe exercise and socialization among residents. As private gated community planning and design depends on the discretion of private developers, the study recommends a thorough review of laws governing subdivision planning. The pandemic shifted prioritization towards open and communal spaces, which are considered as non-saleable areas in planning. The new normal or post-pandemic era demands ample and efficient community facilities and sites that provide residents with basic needs and services within walkable distances and safe spaces to accommodate recreational pursuits. Further research may focus on the quantified proportion of open space allocation per person or household for community dwellings.Item Pedestrianization: The road to Mahendra path vitalization(2021-09) Thapa, SudhirThe area studied is the Mahendra Path in Dharan. It is the busiest part of the city due to it being the main point of transit between the lowlands and the mountain regions. The roadside is lined with commercial establishments as well as residential dwellings. Because the path is mostly for vehicular access, the sidewalks provided are very narrow and there are no proper crossing lanes and traffic signals for the pedestrians. This condition does not allow much opportunity for economic growth; additionally, because of lack of greenery and the vehicular traffic, the area suffers from air and noise pollution; at the same time threatens the health of the pedestrians and residents of the area. The main objective of this study is to determine the viability of pedestrianizing the Mahendra Path to vitalize the area. To determine the viability of pedestrianizing Mahendra Path, the factors considered for the study are health, environment, and economy of the area. The advantages and disadvantages of pedestrianization relating to these factors were examined by observation and documentation. Similarly, the same method is used to determine the pressing problem to be encountered should Mahendra Path be pedestrianized. Finally, through a survey, the researcher was able to determine the social acceptability of pedestrianizing the path. A pedestrianization layout that will cater the pressing problem found was prepared after careful consideration of the findings. The findings of this research suggest that the economy of Mahendra Path, Dharan is at a disadvantageous situation majorly due to the dominance of automobile dependency in the area. Although there are shops lining the path, the generated income and revenue are less because motorists do not usually stop by to make sales transactions. In comparison, cities across the globe recorded increase in sales after converting areas into pedestrianized streets. Additionally, the vehicle-dependent mode of transport was proven to be harmful to both the health of the pedestrians and residents, and the environment. In addition to the health, economic, and environmental benefits of pedestrianization, it was further determined that pedestrianizing Mahendra Path may raise the economic standard of the area due to expected increase in property value and price of commodities. It was therefore treated as the pressing problem to be encountered in pedestrianizing the path. By the end of the research, it was concluded that by applying the Principles of Pedestrianization, diverting the vehicular traffic and converting Mahendra Path into a pedestrianized street is viable and will promote a healthy lifestyle for the pedestrians, cause micro-climatic improvement, and significantly increase the economic status of the city. These enhancements can catalyze the vitalization of Mahendra Path. For direction of future studies, it is recommended that further in-depth researches which concern the traffic impact of the migrated vehicular traffic, the design of alternative parking space, a thorough look on the cultural/heritage impact of pedestrianizing the Mahendra Path be conducted.Item Information and communications technology : an approach toward revitalizing Baguio Sunshine Park(2023-09) Sibayan, Rojayne Q.The use of technology is a rapidly growing and inevitable part of our lives. These technologies have impacted various aspects of our daily routines, including work, play, and interaction. Public parks and urban spaces have not been exempted from technological influence. This study aims to explore the role of information and communications tec (ICTs) in urban planning, particularly in designing public urban spaces in the information age. The study will focus on Sunshine park, located along Harrison Road, Baguio City, as it remains an open space for various activities but experiencing deterioration and obsolescence. The identification and analysis of ICT forms will aim to revitalize the urban park by using various ICT tools to regain its status as an attractive place. Furthermore, these ICT tools will cater to the changing needs of the community in the information age while still promoting social interaction and community engagement without promoting segregation among people.Item Climate urbanism: A climate-smart strategic development plan within the major corridors of the central business district in Baguio City(2021-09) Sanchez, Denmark J.The impact of global warming is experienced worldwide; from melting glaciers in the polar regions, extreme weather, ocean acidification, and sea-level rise. Climate change and its effects are already set in motion due to human activities, thus, there is a call to mitigate this global concern as reported by the International Panel for Climate Change (IPCC, 2021). The increasing trend in globally averaged temperature indicates that more places are warming than cooling. Since 1880, the total land and ocean temperature have risen at an average pace of 0.13 degrees Fahrenheit each decade. According to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 2020 Annual Climate Report; however, the average rate of increase since 1981 (0.18°C / 0.32°F) has been more than doubling that rate (Lindsey, R., Dahlman, L. 2021) Rapid urbanization is one of the factors driving urban developments to build more to accommodate various human activities while increasing deforestation and increasing carbon emissions released into the atmosphere. At present, 55% of the global population lives in urban areas and is expected to rise to 68% by 2050. A new study by the United Nations was the first to project that urbanization, increased settlement in urban areas of the human population, combined with the overall population growth world-wide, could add 2.5 billion people to urban areas by 2050 (United Nations, 2018). Further, more than one-third of global final energy consumption and almost 40% of CO2 emissions originate from buildings and building construction. The energy demand from buildings and building construction continues to rise, spurred by improved access to energy in developing countries, increased ownership and use of energy-consuming devices, and rapid growth in the global building area, Energy Information Administration, (IEA, 2020). As the economy of a particular country has evolved, many infrastructures continuously developed to meet the city's need for housing, offices, retail, education, malls, parks, entertainment, research, industries, and transportation. Unlawful environmental activities such as deforestation, mining, and pollution from car emissions contribute to the destruction of the ozone layer. It results in rapid temperature variations and sometimes weather anomalies. The study focused on Baguio City, known as the Summer Capital of the Philippines. The World-Wide Fund for Nature-Philippines (WWF) considered the City of Pines the most exposed city because it manifested extreme weather and climate conditions compared to other major regional cities in the Philippines. As a result, Baguio City is also the most exposed area to climate change, with rain being the main threat. Currently, storms caused floods and landslides that isolated Baguio City from economic activities. Consequently, it is hard for the metropolis to respond to the changes due to rapid urbanization and high population density. Baguio City exceeded its carrying capacity, and it is more than 300,000 in population. Growing at 2.5% yearly caused strain on its resources. The research focused on the four (4) main corridors in the Central Business District of Baguio City: Session Road, Governor Pack Road, Harrison Road, and Magsaysay Avenue. These are the places where major commercial activities are found. It is also the most populous and busiest area in Baguio City, where tourists and residents come together. This study aims to analyze the annual climate mean air temperature of Baguio City from 1989 to 2019 to establish a climate timeline. It attempted to prove that the urban development factors in terms of urban growth affect the increase in the overall climate mean air temperature of the city by analyzing the population trend, growth rate, in-migration, population-related activities, and the built environment, specifically the building structures. This paper created a climate-smart strategic development framework solution that will help reduce carbon emissions in the transportation and building sectors, adapt to the effects of climate change, and encourage climate resiliency through the climate urbanism approach. The historical climate data provided by the PAGASA, when analyzed, showed an increasing trend in the mean air temperature of Baguio City. The study focused on the urban development factors affecting the mean air temperature, population growth, density and growth rate, the built environment (buildings), and transportation. There was a total of one hundred twenty-six (126) respondents who participated in the survey, ranging from 18-80 years of age. The population of Baguio City is continuously increasing through the population growth rate is decreasing, suggestive of high in-migration according to (Gonzales, 2018). The need for housing, food, and shelter to support the growing population puts pressure on Baguio City's resources, resulting in urban sprawl and vegetation loss. On the other hand, the built environment (buildings) is another story; after the 1991 earthquake, many people, according to the survey, had changed their perception of tall buildings regarding their safety. Few years after the building height restrictions had been lifted, new building constructions started to sprout within the Central Business District of Baguio City. The mean air temperature timeline shows that there is a spike in the mean air temperature for every new building development. In addition, the transportation aspect is directly related to the anthropogenic heat activities, wherein Baguio City primarily relies on private vehicle transportation to move around the city. Heavy vehicular traffic movement within the Central Business District is primarily caused by the strategic links, national and provincial, including the continuously increasing number of fossil-fueled motorized vehicles in the city. Overall, several factors are affecting the climate mean air temperature of Baguio City: 1. Increase in population and density 2. Increase in land use and changes 3. The building materials, unbalanced geometry, and orientation of building structures 4. The decrease in vegetation 5. The continuous growth in the built-environment footprint 6. The dominance of private vehicle transportation. We built our cities driven by the economy. Now, it is time to shape our cities more on climate-driven. In the past decades, the climate mean air temperature values of Baguio City were considered cold weather. Based on the findings, there are many factors contributing to the increase of the climate mean air temperature in the city especially within the CBD. The key factor of urban growth is the increase in residency, and many tourists visit the city primarily due to its cold temperature which differs from other areas of the country with higher humidity levels. However, it was shown that as the population increases over time, climate mean air temperature started t o rise. According to the analysis on the annual climate mean air temperature in Baguio Synoptic Station, there was an increasing trend. The City of Baguio is highly urbanized and has a high transient population and in-migration (Gonzales, 2018). In-migration pushes people to move to cities, including the promise of jobs and prosperity. Urban sprawl and increasing density contribute to poor air and water quality, waste disposal, and high energy consumption due to poor air and water quality, insufficient water availability, and high energy demand. Pollutant levels in urban air are elevated as a result of automobile exhaust. Environmental hazards such as flash flooding can be amplified by urban development. Loss of urban tree cover is exacerbated by pollution and physical barriers to root growth. (Leen, n.d.). For that reason, there has been some effect on its climate in the form of urban warming and potential change in phenology due to the progressive physical development of the city and continuous urban growth in the built environment; it resulted in a strain on natural resources that caused various negative impacts on the environment, city facilities, and the quality of life of the residents, (Estoque & Murayama, 201 I ). There is already a shortage in water in Baguio; as reported by (Alejandro N. Ci et al. 2015), Baguio Water District has failed to comply with its mandate of providing adequate and potable water at an affordable price to all consumers. So, if the population of Baguio continuously increases, there will be much more shortage in the supply. The majority of the large and tall building structures in Baguio City are found along the major corridors of the Central Business District. Most of them are made out of concrete, aluminum cladding, and glass walls which are high in thermal mass, according to (Sharaf 2020). It is also observed that the roofs of most buildings within the CDB and in the city are painted dark green and red, absorbing more heat than reflecting it. (Sharaf, 2020). As stated in the (Purdue University, 2021) report, painting the roof of houses, buildings, and other structures with ultra-white paint - barium sulfate, helps reflect 99% of the sun's energy into the atmosphere while maintaining the surface as cool as possible. According to the World Resources Institute, buildings account for nearly 40% of global carbon dioxide emissions related to energy use, far more than the entire transportation sector. Reducing emissions through building construction is the most effective means of reducing greenhouse gases. Buildings usually have an average lifespan of 40 to 100 years, so their emissions tend to be locked in longer than those from most vehicles, power plants, or other forms of heavy infrastructure. It makes zero-carbon buildings even more crucial. (Stewart Pogh, & Jordan, 2019). The right and appropriate choice of building materials are very important, especially if dealing with the climate. The government should control the building heights, materials, finishes, technology, and the method of construction, which are crucial in making buildings more sustainable and with less carbon footprint. The transportation aspect concerning the population activities is a significant area of change wherein the immediate positive outcome is expected. Reduction in car dependency and increase on the environmentally sustainable mode of public transportation and micro-mobility, Baguio City could have new tourist attractions while forming a cohesive climate response to climate change and urban warming. According to ALMEC Corp., JAICA, & DOTC. (2015), In support of national progress and development, the Philippines is committed to identifying, promoting, and implementing Environmentally Sustainable Transport (EST) strategies and initiatives. The Philippines has undertaken numerous programs and activities toward sustainable development and addressing climate change since signing the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Agreement in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. Almost 30 ago, we are still far from firmly establishing environmentally sustainable transportation within cities and urban areas of the country. For this reason, the study incorporated different types of environmentally sustainable transportation such as bikes, trams, SkyWay, Cable Cars, and Funiculars, appropriate for the natural terrain of Baguio City. These, if applied, will significantly and positively impact the environment in a very positive way. ALMEC Corp., JAICA, & DOTC. (2015) Today’s world is highly digitalized. Despite dealing with the issues and challenges posed by climate change, sustainable connect-tech offers new opportunities for changing how services are delivered to citizens within cities to make them more efficient, cost-effective and improve city planning and management. The digital infrastructure can also fuel the digital economy. (Kim KG, 2017). Based on the findings, planning a climate-smart strategic development approach is an excellent way to enhance the Baguio residents’ quality of life and reduce negative impacts caused by rapid urbanization. Therefore, it is concluded that urban development growth affects the climate mean air temperature of Baguio. It is possible to address the locality’s urban warming and prepare for the effects of climate change by establishing a climate-smart strategic development framework plan. In the concept of “climate-smart,” the smart part refers to the technology employed to achieve this goal. The study’s findings and conclusion illustrate that climate change is posing a threat and that it will have negative impacts on the Cordillera region. It proposed a foundation for the climate and environmental sustainability of the city, which is presented in Climate Urbanism: A climate-smart strategic development plan within the major corridors of the central business district in Baguio City. As a result of this, the following recommendations are presented. 1. Detailed research on Anthropogenic Heat in Baguio City. 2. Detailed Building Survey and Analysis in terms of physical aspect and performance of the building is crucial to achieving more accurate research. 3. Other studies may be related to; the methods of construction, building insulations, urban landscape, rain shelters, and Burnham Park as a rainwater reservoir that will be treated for the city’s use. 4. Tailor-fitted building code for the City of Baguio. 5. Apply Biophilic City Concept to Baguio City. 6. Policies and Regulations on In-Migration, Development Control Regulations for each plot or zones and use of cars. 7. Furthermore last, Waste to Energy Plants as an alternative energy source while addressing solid waste issues in the city.Item An assessment of the Bicycle facilities of Discovery Gardens Community in Dubai, UAE(2021-10) Peralta, Adrian Philip H.The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic forced authorities to impose restrictions through lockdowns to mitigate the spread of the virus. Urban mobility shifted to solitary or unaccompanied transportation modes such as walking and cycling to lessen contact with others, further minimizing infection risk. In Dubai, the study's locale, to maintain well-being and health, a conscious effort among citizens encouraged outdoor activities, mainly recreational cycling. This study attempts to assess the adequacy of Discovery Gardens Community's existing bicycle facilities based on the Roads and Transportation Authority (RTA) requirements following the factors of attractiveness, comfort, and safety. In line with this intention, several methods of inquiry and evaluation were conducted: 1) an interview with an expert on the planning cycling tracks for Dubai to determine the planning and design process supplemented by a review of the RTA guidelines; 2) survey questionnaires to evaluate satisfaction and obtain recommendations from users of the study; and 3) review of relevant case studies for comparison. The study suggests that the bicycle facilities constructed in the Discovery Gardens, although most of the respondents find it satisfactory, can be improved by rigorously implementing the guidelines stipulated by RTA, especially in fulfilling the requirements of attractiveness, comfort, and safety. An interview with an industry professional who worked with Dubai Municipality revealed that the planning process uses a combination of existing international and local design guidelines adapted to fit Dubai roads. A series of surveys were conducted the first survey suggests that the bicycle facilities constructed in the Discovery Gardens, although most of the respondents find it satisfactory, can be improved by rigorously implementing the guidelines stipulated by RTA, especially in fulfilling the requirements of attractiveness, comfort, and safety. While the second survey to help determine what would help them create a modal shift from recreational cycling to transportation cycling. The survey was designed based on the RTA's questionnaire that asks the question regarding which feature/s the respondent would like the RTA to enhance. Following the Roads and Transport Authority assessment tool based on Dubai Pedestrian and Cyclist's Design Manual, probable areas that may pose threat to cyclists and pedestrians were identified. The design of the bicycle path in Discovery Gardens is a two-way segregated cycle path shared with pedestrians. Based on the RTA's Dubai's Pedestrian and Cyclist's Design Manual, for a two-way cycling path, the minimum width should be 2.0 meters while the preferred width is at 2.5 meters. When measured, the bicycle facility in the study's locale is at 1.6 meters wide. By analyzing the study results, the researcher concluded that the bicycle facility in Discovery Gardens along Ibn Battuta Road has inadequacies. Based on the survey, 44% of the respondents felt that the cycling pathway is inefficient. Following the assessment tool, the width of the two-way cycling pathway is below the required minimum and preferred measurement. Dismounting points on every motor vehicle and pedestrian crossings either lack traffic calming features or need improvement to promote safer encounters for pedestrians, cyclists, and cars. Moreover, other factors that needs to be considered is the hazards in cycling path include obstacles such as: protruding signages, infrastructure columns, utility holes, and pedestrian mix. Lastly, there are limited locations concerning bicycle parking facilities and only available at metro stations that can only accommodate a small number. With this assessment, the study recommends a reworking of the cycling facility located along Ibn Battuta Road in the Discovery Gardens Community. The new design should consider user needs, incorporating the context of the local culture and associated behaviors. As such, the following recommendations below may help improve the bicycle facility in terms of attractiveness, comfort, and safety criteria.Item A mitigating strategy through green-blue infrastructure along Lower Session and Harrison Road, Baguio city(2023-04) Manabat, Julie Ann E.Stormwater management in Baguio City’s urban areas is a pressing concern with profound implications for public safety infrastructure integrity, and environmental sustainability. Despite its reputation as the “City of Pines”, Baguio faces distinct challenges in effectively managing stormwater. This thesis investigates innovative solutions to address these challenges within the Central Business District, with a specific focus on Lower Session Road and Harrison Road. By incorporating the principles of Green-Blue infrastructure (GBI), this research aims to mitigate flooding risks, enhance water quality, and bolster urban resilience while preserving the city’s natural allure. The study employs sensory analysis, comparative examination, and interviews with local authorities, supplemented by a comprehensive analysis of pertinent laws and regulations, to evaluate the effectiveness of the existing stormwater infrastructure/ This research also underscores the potential of green spaces within the urban landscape, recognizing Baguio’s unique identity as the “City of Pines.” It explores how green spaces can contribute to stormwater management, mitigating flooding and augmenting overall urban aesthetics. To address the looming risk of water scarcity, the study proposes a phased approach, beginning with the development of green infrastructure and subsequently integrating blue infrastructure components. Drawing guidance from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) guidelines for urban green spaces, the research advocated for native plants, permeable pavements, rain gardens, and green roofs to enhance stormwater management. Ultimately, this thesis seeks to offer a comprehensive and sustainable stormwater management solution for Baguio City, emphasizing the pivotal role of Green-Blue Infrastructure in reducing flooding risks and advancing urban resilience. Its findings and recommendations provide valuable insights for urban planners, policymakers, and environmental advocates, facilitating the creation of a more resilient and sustainable urban environment.Item Marine conservation and promotion of tourism: An approach on marine and coastal planning at CAT Island, Muscat, Oman(2021-09) Evangelista, Maria Lourdes V.Oman is home to over 530 sqm of coral reefs. With the abundant coral species and reef fish, it became a popular destination for tourists. The economy also increases because of the leading fishing industry that serves as a point of export to nearby countries. Additionally, the capital Muscat is one of the top tourist spots for increasing water activities. Despite their unique biogeographic setting and obvious importance to biodiversity and economics, Oman's coral reefs are among the least studied in the region, accounting for less than 4% of regional reef-related publications (Burt, 2013; Vaughan and Burt, 2015). In the past decade, the unforgettable cyclone Gonu destroyed the beautiful sea habitat, one of the environmental stressors for the marine ecosystem. Moreover, the anthropogenic stressor is obvious, like berthing, scuba diving, and overfishing, resulting in decreased natural coral reefs. Cat Island, known to be one of the famous tourist spots in Muscat, is also faced with vulnerability to coral reef declination. This research focused on determining the most relevant present condition affecting marine habitat in terms of environmental condition in relation to natural coral reef and human activities such as berthing practice, scuba diving practice and fishing practice. It also assesses the most important aspect in relation to natural and artificial coral reef to promote tourism thru environmental policy and ecotourism policy. At the end of this paper, the researcher recommended the most adaptable sustainable marine conservation and promotion of tourism approach that can be used in marine and coastal planning in Cat Island, Muscat, Oman. The Oman reefs are home to over 100 coral species and 579 reef fish species (Claereboudt, 2006; Grandcourt, 2012), as well as one of the region's largest fisheries economies (USD 522 million in 2013; FAO, 2013). One of the most visited areas in Muscat, Oman, is Cat Island. For water activities and other tourists, this spot is a place to reunite with the underwater world—a place where one can go diving, snorkeling, and fishing. Unforeseen environmental conditions, climate change, and physical activities such as unregulated diving activities and overfishing results in coral reef degradation and the decline of tourism & business opportunities. As mentioned by Al-Hasni (2021), with decreased revenue and lower occupancy rates, service providers in the Oman's tourism industry were not able to sustain large number of staff. Coral reefs degradation is due to the natural and anthropogenic stressors. Oman has enacted ample national legislation to support marine conservation with Royal Decrees that are backed up by Ministerial Decisions that pertain to marine environmental protection issues. The extensive degeneration of the coral reef in Oman is mainly due to fishing activities, coastal construction, recreational activities, oil pollution, and eutrophication. There were studies of the physical status of the coral reefs performed to identify the stressor of coral reef degradation. The researcher established a survey, phone and personal interviews, and distributed questionnaire form to assess the site's character and understand the marine habitat from the primary user's awareness. Photographic documentation shows how abundant the marine ecosystem in Cat Island. Several soft and hard corals and different types of fish can be seen. However, due to the natural stressors experienced by the marine ecosystem natural and anthropogenic stressors occurred. Common coral declination is the natural cause of climate change. Previous research and studies have rarely addressed the community-wide impacts from severely anchor damage (Flynn & Forrester, 2019). boat anchoring is one of the indications of increasing human visitation that may contribute to reef degradation. Previous studies in the reefs of Oman and information from the government and non-government units were collected. Oman has enacted ample national legislation to support marine conservation with currently over eight Royal Decrees that are backed up by Ministerial Decisions that pertain in some way to marine environmental protection issues. Natural and anthropogenic stressors surrounding marine habitat can be reduced if all the community members will be conscious of the environment and be responsible for protecting the sea use. Coral reefs provide several ecosystem goods and services but are susceptible to multiple environmental and anthropogenic stressors resulting in significant and widespread degradation. Management of boat anchoring, diving practice, and fishing should promote reef resilience while at the same time allowing continued sustainable tourism and recreation. The legislation related to the coral reef in Oman has minimal information and guidance looking after natural reefs, especially in terms of artificial coral reefs. A policy reform initiative should commence protecting the marine habitat, whether it is natural or artificial reef. There are a lot of rules against destroying the reef. It just needs to be strictly implemented and provide adherence to policy. Current management strategies have proven ineffective and insufficient in protecting reefs and other marine ecosystems in the region. A review of the policies related to protecting reefs and other marine ecosystems should be reviewed and enhanced. The use of controlled zoning is an effective tool in preserving the natural reef in Cat Island. With this controlled zoning, sustainable marine conservation and promotion of tourism can be achieved. Additionally, sustainable marine conservation and tourism promotion can be obtained through the promotion of artificial reefs as a new habitat for the marine ecosystem. In turn, with this approach, this conception can be a baseline to be followed in another marine habitat in Muscat, Oman, which requires thorough study and future improvement.Item STARTING F.R.E.S.H. A system approach on revitalization of the community center in Barangay Coral, Mapandan Pangasinan(2021-09) Ele, Fortunato F. Jr.As the office of the smallest political and administrative government in the Philippines, the barangay hall is considered as the heart of the community. As a community center, it is sometimes adjacent to a day care nursery, health center and multi-purpose complex thus becoming a social venue not only for administration but also for education, health, and recreation activities. Although much of these roles are dependent on a Community Center, the planning and design of this structure and its ancillaries are overlooked, if not totally neglected, most of the time. Various issues and environmental challenges tend to inhibit the function of these facilities which in turn limits its capacity to serve the community to its full extent. Problems like improper site allocation, poor space planning, lack of formal character, and even worse, is the fact that building standards are sometimes compromised. These are just some of the physical problems, not to mention "insufficient" funding and environmental challenges the barangay complex is facing throughout its building cycle. A community center essentially caters to its people and is a network of spaces that accommodates the community's ever-changing needs. A new systems approach would be valuable in its planning and design, as it requires different functional and responsive facets to be more accurate in solving and addressing the problems of the community. To support this, an analysis of similar cases locally and internationally was conducted, as well as getting the expert opinion of key individuals from urban planning and local government units was also established. In addition to these methods, a survey was also conducted in Coral which will serve as the "pilot barangay" in order to identify and assess the needs of the community. And by using these data we can generalize, as well as to pinpoint the issues of the community center. Overall, the barangay hall lacks functionality, identity, and a targeted approach on the community's needs. This is reflected through the case study, survey results, and interviews. The systems approach enables the researcher to holistically tackle the specific needs of the barangay constituents, especially when there is a variety of what should be addressed in their community. As the results reflect the aforementioned conditions, trends, and practices of the barangay hall, one must note that these are overlapping aspects that a holistic approach could address. Through this, a set of guidelines would be created so that it may be used for other barangay complexes with similar overarching issues. It is evident from the data that there is a pressing need for the Coral Barangay Hall's revitalization on two levels:(1) design and appearance, and (2) facilities and functionality_ What barangay Coral has is good - but if could be better! An improved and standardized set of guidelines would be the best way to approach this, as the required coordination between the LGU and its people would make the design and plan more targeted to the needs of the community members. The researcher recommends and proposes an all-new approach/guideline in the form of the F.R.E.S.H. acronym: a Functional, Responsive, Earth-friendly, social vibe, and a Healthy + safe community center. These considerations would be important in the establishment of these infrastructures to better future-proof and cater to the needs of the community's members. Because successful community centers result from the right combination of a number of inter-woven factors that reflect the needs and circumstances of their local community. And these guidelines highlight that there is no single or simple recipe for success, but rather a variety of approaches which need to be assessed in planning for and delivering community centers. The researcher hope that these guidelines provide useful criteria for evaluating these options and help to ensure that future community centers can achieve best practice outcomes.Item Green Connections: Linking Corniche Park and Al Gurm Corniche Park, Abu Dhabi through pedestrian and bike trails(2021-09) Dimaculangan, Wendell I.Regular physical activity is the cheapest way to protect anyone from serious diseases. Walking and biking are the easiest form of exercise that a person can get that improve personal and mental health as well as energy. The reasons why many countries, including the UAE, adapt walking and cycling in their initiatives for an active and healthy community. The United Arab Emirates and other Arab countries, particularly members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, have historically adopted the vehicle-centric approach to road design, which contributes to increased congestion and travel delays, lower levels of safety, poorer public health, and more significant environmental impacts. These do not encourage alternative modes of transport such as public transport, cycling, or walking. Fortunately, design policies began to change recently in the region. The late President and ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheik Zayed preferred the master plan to have straight lines to get to a place as quickly as possible thus contributed to Abu Dhabi's linear plan composed of grid patterns. The grid patterns were later called Sectors (city blocks) surrounded by main roads that separate each sector. Throughout the years, Abu Dhabi has been continuously promoting walking and cycling in the emirate slowly shifting its street design priorities from vehicle orientation to other street users such as pedestrians, transit users, and cyclists. The government has mandated the Urban Street Design Manual (USDM) which explicitly provides guidelines for the new standard related to street design in Abu Dhabi. The USDM explicitly sets out design specifications for street components such as carriageways, medians, and pedestrian realms based on land use and road capacity. And with the launch of the Walking and Cycling Master Plan (WCMP) in 2014, walking and cycling facilities were planned to help lessen the reliance on private vehicle usage. The government has been actively developing walking and cycle paths in a bid to encourage people to practice cycling as a sport but also as an alternate mode of transportation and to promote an active and healthy lifestyle for the residents of Abu Dhabi. Under the accelerator program Ghadan 21, which was launched in 2019, the community initiative called "For Abu Dhabi" was introduced to create, enhance and protect urban spaces and nature sites across the Emirate for a more attractive, joyful, and vibrant place to live in. Small and large-scale projects ranging from new parks, playgrounds for children, bike lanes, sports facilities, and contemporary artwork in public places are being rolled out across the emirate. There are many parks in Abu Dhabi, but the two longest and prominent ones are Corniche Park and Al Gurm Corniche Park. Both sit along a waterfront, thus the "Corniche" name. Corniche Park in Abu Dhabi is one of the famous go-to parks in the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Corniche road is eight-kilometer long. It is a landscaped promenade along the waterfront that includes children's play areas, bicycle, and pedestrian pathways, cafes, restaurants, and the Corniche beach. Al Gurm Corniche Park is a newly refurbished park that has opened in Abu Dhabi as part of the Ghadan 21 initiative. The 3.5km park offers picturesque views of the Eastern mangroves and new walkways and bike lanes, doubling as an eco-tourist destination featuring water-themed education stations where you can spot local wildlife and learn about the local ecosystem. The Corniche Park and the Al Gurm Corniche Park are approximately 7.5 km away from each other. These two parks are great places for walking and biking with both having dedicated bike lanes waterfront views stretching the entirety of each park. The Abu Dhabi government had started enhancing pedestrian paths with dedicated bike lanes and has long-term plans on providing a connected network of bike paths along the perimeter of most of the sectors throughout the city. But bike paths along the sector's perimeter will mean that you will have to stop for every intersection and patiently wait for your turn to cross each one of them thus lessening the impact of the joy of biking. This viability study shall attempt to fill the gap of providing a continuous, and safer direct route that will link Corniche Park and Al Gurm Corniche Park with pedestrian and bike trails that will traverse inside strategic sectors of Abu Dhabi. Based on the survey result, actual observation on-site, GIS data, and an expert's interview; Linking Comiche Park and Al Gurm Corniche Park through Pedestrian and Bike trails is a good idea. The government of Abu Dhabi already knows that its citizens and residents will be benefited physically by having an active lifestyle while walking or biking, and mentally by having a vast area to walk or cycle near their neighborhood. The direct pedestrian and bike route will also bring more people to Corniche Park and Al Gurm Corniche Park. Currently, this is only traversed by people through paths that are not continuous and travels interrupted by intersections designed for vehicular traffic. Strategic Sectors identified by the researcher, namely Sectors E19-02, E18-02, E4-02, and E3, are all equipped with existing pedestrian underpasses with ramps that can be used as uninterrupted links between sectors for an enjoyable walk or bike ride. These sectors together with Sectors E8 and E7 can be linked with Sector E25. It has the newly built Pedestrian and Bike paths as part of the "For Abu Dhabi" community initiative. The majority of the bike lanes constructed and planned by the government are located in the periphery of the sectors. As observed, the idea of locating the pedestrian and bike paths inside the sectors will be safer because the roads inside the sectors are not as busy compared to the main road. This will encourage the people near these paths to walk and bike more often because if is near their homes and has a direct route to Corniche Park and Al Gurm Corniche Park. The respondents also confirmed the fact that walking and biking will result in a healthy and active lifestyle for the community. During the actual physical survey, it was determined that the adequacy of existing facilities such as underpasses, sidewalks, pedestrian walkways, bike lanes, and safety features such as bollards, safety buffers between the street and sidewalks for pedestrians and bicyclists at the Corniche and Al Gurm Corniche Park and throughout the study area were found to be very satisfactory in terms of quality and quantity. Paved Sidewalks from an average of three to nine meters wide were available in the study area, but some sidewalks in Sector E3 were too narrow at one meter-wide. Adequate street lighting was also available at night. Several underpasses were connecting the sectors in the area of study. Inside the sectors, every intersection was fitted with speed humps to force the vehicles to slow down whenever they reached every intersection for the safety of other vehicles and pedestrians as well. The most relevant man-made features that affect pedestrian and bike mobility would be the street design (ie. travel lanes, sidewalks, on-street parking, and pedestrian crossings), and the pedestrian underpasses in the area of study. The street design is one of the most relevant man-made features affecting pedestrian and bicycle mobility, proper street design connects and enhances people's mobility by providing continuous access for pedestrians, bicyclists, and other modes of transportation. The typical street designs in the area of study were wide enough to make room for the dedicated bike lanes. Some streets were narrower and some have perpendicular on-street parking. Perpendicular parking took a lot of space from the sidewalk, this was a result of a car-oriented street design that the government is trying to improve. Some sidewalks have uneven levels which were dangerous for those not watching where they were going as some were 3 steps higher than the sidewalk. Some sidewalks don't have curb ramps, forcing cyclists to go down the bike and cross the street to the next sidewalk to bike again. These hassles were forcing cyclists to prefer to ride on the road because the frequent change of levels from the sidewalk to the road and vice versa, disrupt their continuous cycling. The typical problems found in the area of study were the parked cars on the pavements in front of the villas in both Sectors E4_02 and E18_02. These were the most relevant problems, as they directly blocked mobility in the public realm where the dedicated bike lanes were to be placed. The most effective safety feature in the area of study was the surveillance system, both natural and active systems. Natural surveillance means that the users of space have "eyes on the street" that act as a deterrent to crime and abuse of the space. Natural surveillance techniques increase the potential for witnesses by making it easier for people to naturally see into an area during their normal daily activities, which creates an increased risk of detection for potential criminals. Active surveillance systems were put in place in areas that are more prone to crime and misuse. The system will help control roads by monitoring traffic violations such as the use of hard shoulders, illegal parking, and misuse of roads and help deal with live traffic accidents. A survey was conducted with 93 respondents to get the perceptions when linking the two parks. A few years back residents' perceptions of walking and biking were very poor - there were no dedicated bike lanes, the weather was too hot, people's dreams of owning and driving a car, vehicle-oriented street designs, confiscation of bikes parked illegally on the street, news stories about cyclists being hit by vehicles - gave the impression that walking and biking would not do them any good. But the perceptions slowly started shifting positively when the government started promoting the Abu Dhabi Walking and Cycling Masterplan and started building pedestrian and bike lanes throughout Abu Dhabi. Slowly shifting from vehicle-oriented street design to pedestrian-friendly concepts. In sum, the respondents agree that the hypothesized benefits asked in the survey would accrue when implemented. It is a good sign when it comes to the materialization of this idea, as the public seems to support given that they generally agree about it. Inferences tables of learnings from the case studies and related literature were analyzed for recommendations. The adequacy of man-made and safety features for pedestrians and bicycle lanes in Corniche Park and Al Gurm Corniche Park and the area of study, the existing man-made and safety features in Corniche Park and Al Gurm Corniche Park, and the area of study as far as adequacy was concerned, were found to be more than adequate to justify the possibility of retrofitting the streets in the area of study to provide dedicated bike lanes on the sidewalks and not let the cyclist ride together with the cars on the roads. The roads and sidewalks were wide and well maintained, the street design provides good natural surveillance with clear sightlines, where no one with ill intentions can hide and attack anyone, and adequate lighting at night that makes everyone everywhere feel safe. Active surveillance systems have been installed in other areas as needed for added protection and as a means of preventing crime, reducing traffic accidents, and responding quickly to incidents even before they are reported. One of the most relevant man-made features that affect pedestrian and bike mobility in the study area when linking Corniche Park and Al Gurm Corniche Park was the street design being vehicle-oriented. Although sidewalks width were adequate at 10-meter at the most, cyclists were not using it as most sidewalks in the area of study were missing curb ramps. Without the curb ramps, the sidewalk as a bike path was not continuous and the cyclist had to go down the sidewalk, cross the road, and then go up again to the sidewalk to continue cycling, which was a tedious task, say the least. Some driveways also disrupt the continuous walking and cycling experience, this forced the cyclist to ride together with the cars even though it’s accident-prone. This discontinued path problem could be solved by introducing a speed table, which is the same level as the sidewalk acting as pedestrian and cyclist crossing, at the same time forcing the cars to slow down in these areas of the street. Bollards can also be introduced as barriers to prevent cars from accidentally driving through the sidewalks. For the longer sidewalks that cyclist enjoyed using, the lack of dedicated bike lanes makes it dangerous for the pedestrian to walk to and being hit by the cyclist that rides anywhere on the sidewalk and vice versa with the pedestrian walking anywhere without their dedicated space to walk to, ending up being hit also. The addition of a dedicated bike lane will segregate the pedestrians to the cyclist for their safety. And seats with bike racks could be provided for those who want to rest for a while and continue walking or cycling later on. The perpendicular parking lessens the width of the sidewalks and it is considered a challenge inside the sectors along with the parked cars on the sidewalks in front of the local’s villas. But according to the expert’s interview, the government can convert this perpendicular parking area to a parallel parking area to make way for a wider sidewalk. Other sidewalks fronting the Emirati Villas were found to have semi-permanent shading structures built on top of the sidewalk, acting as their carport. These parking spaces provided for the Emirati villas can be relocated to a mor suitable site near the villas especially those that don’t have a permit to occupy the sidewalk fronting their property. This compensates for the lost area that will be transformed into a pedestrian and bike lane on the sidewalk. The pedestrian underpasses were the 2nd most relevant man-made feature that affects pedestrian and bike mobility when linking Corniche Park and Al Gurm Corniche Park. These well-maintained underpasses equipped with ramps and monitored with CCTV were linking most of the sectors in the area of study providing uninterruptible walking and cycling experience. The most effective safety feature, the surveillance system (natural and active), needs no further improvement as there were already enough installed active, and natural surveillance implemented to the design of streets and communities throughout the whole Emirate. On the significant difference between pedestrians’ and bicyclists’ perceptions of the connection of Corniche Park and Al Gurm Corniche Park, the results of the survey were in favor of the proposed connection of the two parks. To attract those who are not yet convinced of the benefits of walking and cycling, the new path can be further developed. The direct route linking the pedestrian and bike trails inside the sectors could be further enhanced with a better urban landscape in the area of study. Walking and biking in a cemented area on a hot Abu Dhabi summer day will be tormenting to anyone. The paths can be enhanced with plants and trees to shade the route and at the same time will bring in more fresh air into the area. Street furniture like benches, garbage bins, fancy lamp posts can give character to the trails. This is to emphasize the direct route between the two parks. Strategically located parklets/pocket parks and other facilities like cafes, baqalas, supermarkets, restrooms, and other facilities throughout the trails could be built that could attract the population and help enliven the area. As a new proposal in comparison to the existing bike lanes and planned network within Abu Dhabi, the bike lanes could be built using photovoltaic panels prefabricated in concrete and covered by an upper layer of tempered glass, under which the photovoltaic cells are placed. The electricity generated by the solar panels could be used for the light poles along the trails. Another technology alternative to solar panels that could be used is piezoelectric energy. Pedestrian paths and bike lanes could be built with the pressure-sensitive pavement that can generate electrical energy through the friction of bicycle tires. The sidewalks could have 3d street art illusions to attract those social media influencers. Some sidewalks could have glow-in-the-dark treatment to the pavings for more attractive effects at night. Bike-sharing facilities just like the ones in Corniche Park could be made available throughout the length of the trails for those residents who does not have their bicycles. Another way of encouraging residents to try walking and cycling is by incentivizing the physical activities along the trails. An app could be created that users can use, that can track their activities by GPS to record their accomplishments and be rewarded with points accordingly that can be used in exchange for a cold drink in a vending machine or for use with the bike-sharing facility along the trail.