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Investigating the Significance of Green Infrastructure for Cities and the Challenges for Construction Industry and Real Estate Sector
Introduction
Background
Green infrastructure is considered an effective strategy that assists in decreasing the negative effects upon the environment. Green infrastructure decreases the risks to grey infrastructure from threats, including wildfire and flooding (McKinney et al., 2020). Besides, it enhances the performance and reduces the operating costs of grey infrastructure when combined. In different cases, green infrastructure can end up being a more practical option than grey infrastructure. In addition, nobody worries about evaluating green foundations; keeping the green framework healthy is essential to everybody (Carbonell et al., 2020).
On the other hand, green infrastructure assists to provide several community advantages as well. Moreover, it is considered profitable not just for the construction sector but also for real estate. Green infrastructure establishes more sustainable and energy-efficient buildings. Thus, they have reduced the environmental impact along with carbon footprints (McKinney et al., 2020). Nowadays, greater organisational numbers in the construction and real estate sectors emphasise the focus on more challenges to establishing green infrastructure, particularly in cities. Additionally, it assists the construction sector in utilising environment-friendly materials for construction purposes, as it assists in taking positive initiatives towards the environment. Moreover, it aids in decreasing the cost linked with building the construction sector, which helped the real estate sector deliver environment-friendly buildings and lower cost houses to individuals (Carbonell et al., 2020).
The world is facing quick urbanisation. The United Nations figured out that in 1990, just 37% of the overall population of developing nations was urbanised, which is predicted that by the year 2025, this proportion will grow to 60%. However, in the mid-1990, almost 45% of the world’s population resided in cities or towns, which can be enhanced to over 70% in 2025 (McKinney et al., 2020). In addition, the urbanisation rate is demandingly improving in the developing world. Significantly, India is becoming a highly urbanised nation, and by the year 2050, it is determined that 50% of the Indian population will become urbanised. In addition, it is mentioned that biodiversity and climatic change in cities go together with developing urbanisation (Carbonell et al., 2020).
On the other hand, as per the updated air quality database, compared to 49% in high-income nations, 97% of cities live in low- or middle-income countries with over 100 thousand citizens who do not meet the WHO’s air quality guidelines (Santamouris et al., 2020). For instance, Delhi is considered the world most populated city with low- and middle-income citizens. Moreover, cities are regarded as species-rich domains where the environment is friendly to life. In contrast, cities suffer because of the abundance of built-in spaces, concrete and tarmac, and global warming. Therefore, it was argued by Hansen et al. (2019), the cities footprints on the environment require to be decreased by careful green spaces planning as predicted in the Sustainable Development Goals, which emphasised developing sustainable communities and cities. However, in this association, building green infrastructure in cities is considered a crucial task. Although it has been disregarded while urban planners emphasise built-up space, the ecologists emphasise protected areas and forests and miss the biodiversity within cities. Appreciating the urban vegetation’s significance, it was pleaded by (Santamouris et al., 2020) for long-term observation of biodiversity in urban sites. Furthermore, UGI or Urban Green Infrastructure can be determined as the planned network and unplanned green spaces, covering both private and public realms, and managed as an integrated system to give several advantages (Hansen et al., 2019). Moreover, it can be envisaged as an organised green spaces network that protects the natural values and functions of eco-systems and links advantages to the human population.
Green infrastructure in cities enhances storm waterflood management and constructs resilience to risky weather conditions. Around the world, interest is developing to incorporate the green infrastructure for resilient systems. Besides, the significant thing about the green foundation is that it is multi-useful, making it great to provide resilience (Santamouris et al., 2020). On the other hand, green spaces assist in cleaning and filtering water and contribute to the health of individuals in several ways. Various researchers have determined that green infrastructure indorse sound actual work, and metropolitan trees are connected with good wellbeing in general, decreased illness incidences, including asthma, along with high blood pressure and lower obesity levels (Hansen et al., 2019). Moreover, in cities, neighbourhoods with green infrastructures have greater community sense and low crime rates. Besides, trees are protective against deadly heat waves that will become common with climate changes, and it can decrease the building’s energy usage, lowering the sector emissions that are considered major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions (Marques et al., 2020).
On the contrary, green infrastructure is considered the crucial element in managing threats related to property and individuals from tough weather conditions. In addition, from the defensive estimation of waterfront bogs in Louisiana to the green metropolitan foundation, imaginative urban areas tend to the urban flooding, where these techniques provided extra resilience and protection layer (Chini et al., 2017). Moreover, since long ago, water utilities and urban communities have ensured history for wetlands, backwoods, and farmland outside of their limits to defend drinking water sources. In particular, New York’s Agreement and Seattle’s Cedar River Watershed with ranchers in the Catskills watershed are two incredible models (Marques et al., 2020). Notwithstanding, other metropolitan versatility viewpoints should urge urban areas to look beyond the scenes that convey water insurance, environment alleviations, and food security. Broadening the perspectives outward from the actual city can fortify the social flexibility viewpoint among urban communities and encompassing rural regions (Chini et al., 2017). Critically, during circumstances such as the present, where provincial and political partitions are creating, the green framework can help link rural and urban communities by clearing the prospective mutual advantages (Marques et al., 2020).
In contrast, improving resilience and safeguarding urban infrastructure means cities necessitate thinking about their adjacent watersheds’ green infrastructure, which is mostly a little distance away. In addition, during the 1960s and 1970s, improved River valley advancement from the Boston city resulted in several wetlands and increment in invulnerable surfaces (Chini et al., 2017). Besides, severe Boston flooding was the outcome of it. In early regional history, rivers and dams were considered the devices used to control flooding, but these were overpowered by more continuous floods (Filazzola et al., 2019). Along these lines, as opposed to building up dams at incredible expense, the architects, city, networks consented to put beside the turn of events and ensure remaining wetlands. Therefore, forming a Natural valley storage area, these wetlands are considered crucial infrastructure, giving recreational amenities and flood resilience to the overall region (de Sousa et al., 2018). Therefore, green infrastructure is presently considered the major outcome to minimise the unpleasant aspects of the construction industry’s environments. Furthermore, leading by a few developed nations, including the US, various construction practices’ alterations have been made to alter the industry more environmentally friendly. Therefore, green infrastructure has also become the major driving force for the global construction, which is predicted to be sustained in the future (Filazzola et al., 2019).
On the contrary, commercial belongings with green infrastructure can secure higher rents rewards and increased property value, energy savings, enhanced retail sales, and local financial incentives (including rebates, tax credits, along with fee credits), maintenance cost, decreased flood harms, decreased crime and enhanced job satisfaction and health (de Sousa et al., 2018). However, green infrastructure and other green development are crucially becoming the quality benchmark for the private sector. It demonstrates real estate commitment to sustainable and healthier communities, forming measurable value-added property owners and tenants (Filazzola et al., 2019).
Moreover, there is a close relationship between the sector of real estate and the construction industry. However, the construction activity level is an important mechanism where real estate prices are conveyed to a wider economy. Specifically, in the green infrastructure, wood is used in construction and concrete that reduces the CO2 emission immensely (de Sousa et al., 2018). On the other hand, this is the crucial green infrastructure development objective. So the industries of construction re-developed the old infrastructure with a new purpose that is no longer used. For example, the old regular stone façade fills in as a deck on the ground floor. In addition, it is viewed as a significant factor, as the green foundation addresses the emission of CO2 produced during the construction process, transportation of material, and circular economy importance (Brears et al., 2018).
Therefore, the construction and real estate sector must emphasise sustainable infrastructure development as building construction with other infrastructure methods negatively affects the environment (Chini et al., 2017). However, this is considered a crucial study to determine the green infrastructure development that will resolve the issues related to the environment. In contrast, it will also assist in providing eco-friendly buildings or hones. Thus, this study will help classify several sorts of issues experienced by both areas of real estate and construction regarding foundation improvement and how these issues can be settled without any problem (Filazzola et al., 2019).
Research Significance
Furthermore, incorporating green infrastructure solutions over traditional infrastructure benefits the environment and real estate developers. Further, it was determined by de Sousa et al. (2018), implementing the appropriate design involving gardens, bioswales, and green rood can form values in real estate projects.
On the contrary, these sustainable design components reduce the operation cost of stormwater management and enhance the potential tenants’ curb appeal. The advancement of local area also tends to stormwater the board’s difficulties with inventive outcomes that are moderating water and adding worth and appeal to land projects across the state (Brears et al., 2018).
Aims and Objectives
The proposed study investigates the challenges for the construction industry and the Real Estate Sector concerning Green Infrastructure for Cities.
- To determine the challenges for the real estate sector and construction industries in Green
This objective was carried out by examining various challenges that the construction industry is facing while implementing green infrastructure to make a sustainable environment. Since there are multiple challenges such as design standards, regulatory pathways, finance ability, socio-economic considerations, and technology, everyone is briefly explained following the interview responses.
- To identify the benefits on the construction industry and the Real Estate Sector by developing green infrastructure in cities.
Besides challenges, if the green infrastructure is implemented once, it is beneficial for the construction industry and the environment. Hence, this objective focuses on what benefit green infrastructure provides and its role in maintaining the environment and success of the construction industry.
- To analyse how green infrastructure development is context-specific and should adhere to basic principles of suitable technology.
This objective focuses on the basic principles of suitable technology that is essential for implementing green infrastructure. This objective also focuses on how green infrastructure is context-specific as there are various factors that must be considered, such as economic, envornmentla asn social to develop green infrastructure.
Research Questions
- What are different challenges faced by the real estate sector and construction industries in Green infrastructure?
- What are the benefits that the development of green infrastructure can provide to cities?
- How can the development of green infrastructure be effective for the real estate sector and construction industries?
- What are some recommendations that can work together to bring green infrastructure?
Overview of Methodology
The Research Onion model will be used in the methodology presented by Suader (Prasad et al., 2020), which helped form a better procedure. Moreover, all studies must classify research methods because it aids appropriately responding to significant examination questions.
In any case, for this examination, the exploration technique that will be used is considered qualitative. Therefore, it will help analyse non-numerical information to understand how the construction industry and the real estate sector can improve the green infrastructures in cities. However, the qualitative strategy mainly allows the investigation and author respondents to draw in precipitously and versatility. On the other hand, research design helps analyse the research elements suitably and coherently so that major objectives can be accomplished effectively (Asher et al., 2019). Therefore, the experimental research method will be utilised as this will assist in exploring the questions in a more suitable way to achieve the major research objectives.
Moreover, for the study, both secondary and primary information will be utilised. Secondary data will help establish the research base; however, the preliminary data will assist in knowing the individual viewpoint performing in the construction industry and the real estate area to set up the maintainable green foundation in urban areas. Also, essential data will be assembled with the poll help that the members will be inquired via a survey.
Dissertation Structure
The research has presented an introduction in this chapter, which involved the context and background, aims and objectives, research question, and methodology overview. On the other hand, various branches will be discussed further, including the literature review, methodology, analysis, discussion, conclusion, and recommendation. Besides, the research analysis will apply four themes: distinguishing the construction industries and real estate sector, along with the challenges experiencing the green infrastructure, classifying the advantages of green infrastructure development, and its impacts in cities, construction and real estate sector. Moreover, the analysis will involve developing green infrastructure to resolve issues experienced by the construction and real estate sector. Lastly, the recommendations for the construction and real estate sector can bring green infrastructure. Moreover, another chapter of the conclusion will be discussed to conclude all the findings of the study.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]