The Effect of Diminishing Urban Green Spaces on Environmental Quality in Kisumu City (Published)

Green spaces contribute to aesthetics and environmental quality of life in urban areas. Kisumu City, the study area, has been experiencing demographic, environmental, economic, socio-spatial and institutional challenges leading to loss of green spaces. The main problem addressed by the study was dysfunctional use of green spaces leading to their loss, aesthetic value and low environmental quality. The study objective was to determine the effect of spatial change of urban green spaces on environmental quality. Data were both qualitative and quantitative and were collected through observation, interviews, questionnaires, photography, remote sensing and Geographic Positioning System (GPS). Qualitative research focused on site-specific analysis of urban and peri-urban neighbourhoods in Milimani and Nyalenda, respectively, which were purposively sampled. Results showed that area under green in 2005 was 44.8% while in 2004 it was 24.87% showing  a decrease of 55.5%. However, in 2010, there was a temporary increase of green space of 51.82% due to demolitions to pave way for road expansion leading to decrease in carbon sink, resulting in increase in carbon footprint. This has led to low environmental quality. The study projects that by the year 2030, without proper planning interventions, the city will lose all its urban green cover. The research recommends the use of remote sensing for creating land-use inventory and monitoring systems. Citizen involvement in planning and management of urban green spaces is recommended because this will transform ecotourism in Kisumu City.

Keywords: Change Detection, Green Planning, Open Space, Quality of life, land use

Thematic Concept on the Physical Element of Open Space towards People’s Place Attachment in the City of Bandung (Published)

Open space is one of the most important element that had a role in increasing the index of happines of a city. Then, the government of Bandung offer the thematic concept that applied to the physical elements of open spaces to attract public attention. The study aims to determine the effect of thematic concept to people’s place attachment to public open spaces, and to find out the factors that affect the attachment. The research method used mixed methods through questionnaire survey involving 300 park visitors and in-depth interview, while the data were processed using statistical analysis. The result showed that the respondents’s attachment to the thematic parks are not strong enough, as shown by the low percentages of total accumulation of respondents’s place dependence and place identity to the thematic parks. Meanwhile, the factors that affect respondents’s attachment to the thematic park in general are spatial behavior and vegetation elements.

Keywords: Open Space, Place Attachment, Thematic Concept

THE INFLUENCE OF VEGETATION ON MICROCLIMATE IN HOT HUMID TROPICAL ENVIRONMENT-A CASE OF ENUGU URBAN (Published)

Controlling direct solar radiation and increasing wind velocity to its Optimum capacity are part of planning strategies employed in the design of urban open spaces especially in hot humid tropical environment. Vegetation has the ability to reduce excessive air temperature through sunlight interception. Its geometric configuration influences the amount of solar radiation, air temperature, humidity and wind velocity on microclimate of a given area. Panning strategies aimed at reducing solar heat through application of vegetation were discussed. It also discussed the problem of thermal heat stress affecting the residents of Enugu Urban. The results were analyzed and solutions recommended

Keywords: Open Space, Planning Strategies, Solar Radiation, Tropical Environment, Urban Microclimate.