Course-PM

BOM210 Urban space and functions lp3 VT20 (6 hp)

Course PM 2020 Final.pdf

Schedule 2020 Final.pdf

The course is offered by the department of Architecture and Civil Engineering

Contact details

Course leaders

Sebastien Rauch (Examiner), Professor, Water Environment Technology, sebastien.rauch@chalmers.se

Leonardo Rosado, Associate Professor, Water Environment Technology, rosado@chalmers.se

Course administrator

Alexandra Lavers Westin, PhD student, Water Environment Technology, alexandra.westin@chalmers.se

Additional teachers

Jorge Gil, Assistant Professor, Urban Design and Planning

Jesper Knutsson, Researcher, Water Environment Techonology

Anna Norén, PhD student, Water Environment Technology

Marie Abadikhah, PhD student, Water Environment Technology

Anna Kaczorowska, Researcher,Urban Design and Planning

Fia Börjeson, Senior Lecturer, Language and Communication

Carl Johan Carlsson, Senior Lecturer, Language and Communication

Course purpose

BOM210 is an introduction to the subject area Urban Planning and Infrastructure (samhällsplanering och infrastruktur) and the profile Infrastructure and Construction (Infrastruktur och anläggning). It aims therefore at providing the knowledge base in this area focusing especially on the built environment and technical systems in urban areas. It aims to give a professional-oriented insight on how socio-technical systems work and can be planned through a case study.

Schedule

TimeEdit

Course literature

Literature for this course will be provided. The following documents should be read to pass the written exam.

Compulsory reading
The following document should be read. Questions related to these documents maybe asked at the written examination.
Development strategy – Gothenburg 2035, Göteborg Stad (Pages 6-29)

Recommended complementary reading
The Planning and Building Act (PBL) provides detailed information on the planning legislation in Sweden.
The following website are potential sources of information

• Göteborg Stad. https://stadsutveckling.goteborg.se
  
• Göteborg Stad http://goteborg.se/wps/portal/start/byggande--lantmateri-och-planarbete/kommunens-planarbete/
  
• Boverket http://www.boverket.se/sv/
• Yes in my backyard forum http://gbg.yimby.se/

Course structure

The course is based on a problem-based learning progression that aims at providing a broader understanding of urban planning and systems. The course is designed as a case study with supporting lectures. The lectures aim to
provide basic knowledge relevant to urban planning and infrastructures in urban areas. The case study, which is performed in groups and based on an existing area in the Gothenburg region, will provide an opportunity to develop basic skills needed for the development and operation of urban infrastructure and systems. The course also provides an opportunity for students to familiarize themselves with planning and systems in Gothenburg.

Problem-based learning

Problem-based learning is a student-centered pedagogy in which students learn about a subject through the experience of solving an open-ended problem. Students learn both thinking strategies and domain knowledge. The goals of problem-based learning are to help students develop flexible knowledge, effective problem solving skills, self-directed learning, effective collaboration skills and intrinsic motivation. Problem-based learning is widely believed to result in improved learning and increased understanding.
Working in groups, students identify what they already know, what they need to know, and how and where to access new information that may lead to the resolution of the problem. Each group has a supervisor and the role of the supervisor is to facilitate learning by supporting, guiding, and monitoring the learning process.

Course Elements

Course introduction
The course introduction on 21/01 will provide general information on the course, including aims, learning elements, examination and schedule.

Lectures
A set of lectures designed to cover the areas of planning in urban areas and operation of relevant systems for service provision. The lectures include on-site lectures (Parts 1 and 2) and short inspirational films provided on Canvas (Part 3) .
The lectures (Parts 1,2,3), as well as provided reading materials, will be the basis of the intermediate written examination.
Part 1. Planning urban areas
a. Course introduction (Sebastien Rauch, Leonardo Rosado)
b. Urban planning 1
    - Urban development (Sebastien Rauch)
    - Comprehensive planning (Sebastien Rauch)
c. Urban Planning 2
    - Detailed development plan (Sebastien Rauch)
    - Stakeholder participation (Sebastien Rauch)
d. Acoustics Patrik Höstmad (in Swedish)
Part 2. Operation of urban systems
a. Urban Systems 1
    - Introduction (Sebastien Rauch, Leonardo Rosado)
    - Waste Management (Leonardo Rosado)
b. Urban Systems 2
    - Traffic planning (Axel Persson, Lennart Persson)
    - Energy (Leonardo Rosado)
c. Urban Systems 3
    - Urban Water (Sebastien Rauch, Zhenhua Sun)
Part 3. Inspirational lectures (online)
Building liveability: Copenhagen's sustainable urban development
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCYgajPrT64
7 principles for building better cities | Peter Calthorpe
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFjD3NMv6Kw
Complementary videos (online)
Älvstranden / River City
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bW3p5Y-fPq4
Kära Göteborg. Vart är du på Väg?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ha3VPkSKIZY
In addition, lectures on technical language, poster making and writing will be
provided.

Project work
The project work deals with the planning and design of actual building projects in Gothenburg. Groups of ca. 6 students will be given the task to study a topic (e.g. energy, water) for a specific construction project and will be asked to make suggestions. The final presentation is in the form of posters. In addition, each student is expected to provide an individual assignment.
Detailed information will be provided at the Group Project Introduction on 04/02. The groups, as well as the topic and project for each group, are selected by the teaching team.

Learning objectives

Learning objectives:

•  Describe the objects, systems and actors relevant to urban planning, including the most important infrastructures (energy, transportation, water and wastewater, waste management and the urban environment).
•  Describe the planning, construction and operation of urban developments and technical systems, as well as the most important rules, norms, laws and policies applicable in urban planning, infrastructure development and environment.
• Describe the different types of urban typologies, and explain how urban sprawl and densification affect infrastructure planning.
• Describe the need for sustainable infrastructures considering ecological, social and economic aspects, and use indicators to assess the effectiveness and sustainability of cities and infrastructures.
• Plan for temporal and spatial changes in socio-technical systems, and explain the significance of this for the sustainability of the built environment.
• Understand how the various technical and environmental characteristics of urban environments (e.g. air, soil, rock, groundwater, surface water) provide different conditions and requirements for construction.
• Describe the hydrological cycle in the urban environment and the need to avoid contamination of surface and ground water.
• Describe in general terms the city's water and wastewater systems and explain how to plan sustainable water supply and sewerage systems in the built environment.
• Describe in general terms how to plan mobility and transport in the city, and explain how different choices of transport infrastructure affects mobility and access to services.
• Understand traffic noise and ground vibrations from transportation, their effects on human health and well-being and their implications for urban planning.
• Motivate the importance of reducing CO2 emissions and suggest climate adaptation measures for the built environment.
• Consider general ethical issues in urban planning and construction, e.g. cost vs. sustainable technologies.
• Read and use technical texts and scholarly articles in a conscious, critical and effective manner.
• Sift through, collate and summarize the information gathered, and explain and describe the subject content.
• Know the basic communication factors in English and adapt these to oral and written communication situations.
• Introduce and clearly explain in English a subject in a way which is adapted to the communication situation.
  Sustainable development is a central aspect of city planning and a motivation for
  change; it is therefore also an important part of the course.

Examination and grading

The entire course corresponds to 6.0 credits, including 3.0 credits for an intermediate exam (Part 1) and 3.0 credits for project work (Part 2). The final grade is F (fail), 3, 4, 5 with 5 being the highest grade. The final grade for the entire course is calculated using the actual, non-rounded grade for Part 1 and Part 2.

Requirements for passing the course

To pass Part 1, students are required to attend the lectures, pass the intermediate written examination and complete the word list. The intermediate examination, which takes place on 19/02 (course week 5), comprises multiple choice questions (60% of the grade) and open questions (40% of the grade). The examination in course week 5 covers knowledge provided in all lectures as well as the compulsory literature. Exams from previous years will be provided before the actual exam. In addition, students are expected to complete a word list assignment; the word list is graded pass/fail and does not contribute to the grade for Part 1.
To pass Part 2, students are required to participate in the presentation of the group work, as well as provide an individual report concerning the group project. You are expected to actively participate and contribute in the group work. The grade for Part 2 is based on the project for the poster presentation; the individual report will be graded pass/fail. We intend to provide a single grade for all students in a group, but keep the possibility to grade or fail students individually if issues arise in the group work.