Himalayan Cities

Himalayan Cities
Author: Pratyush Shankar
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2014
Genre: Architecture
ISBN: 9789383098163

Himalayan Cities: Settlement Patterns, Public Places and Architecture explores the idea of settlements in different areas of the Himalayan region, cutting across national boundaries, from Kashmir via Nepal to the north-eastern parts of the Indian subcontinent, and their relationship with the landscape. By comparing these, the book makes the case for peculiarities of the Himalayan city and succeeds in deducing key principles and general models, typical of the settlement patterns, nature of public places and architecture shaped by this unique mountainous environment. The relationship between natural systems and human ingenuity as projected through its built traditions forms the underlying theme of the book. Lavishly illustrated with stunning photographs and detailed hand drawings by the author and his students, Himalayan Cities not only engages the academia but also the general reader and helps provoke a discourse on this intriguing landscape and its architectural nuances.

Water in Himalayan Towns: Lessons for Adaptive Water Governance

Water in Himalayan Towns: Lessons for Adaptive Water Governance
Author: Anjal Prakash
Publisher: IWA Publishing
Total Pages: 212
Release: 2020-07-15
Genre: Science
ISBN: 178906189X

Increasing urbanization and changing climate are two critical stressors that are adversely affecting the biophysical environment of urban areas in the Hindu Kush Himalaya. The book discusses various choices and options – from demand management to supply enhancement, understanding ecological footprints of towns to managing water at a bioregional scale. In doing so, it is vital to address issues of equity and empower local institutions in managing water. The focus for the future must be on building urban resilience by strengthening the adaptive capacities of affected communities while also understanding the limits to adaptation. In Focus – a book series that showcases the latest accomplishments in water research. Each book focuses on a specialist area with papers from top experts in the field. It aims to be a vehicle for in-depth understanding and inspire further conversations in the sector.

Himalayan Quality of Life

Himalayan Quality of Life
Author: Benjamin L. Saitluanga
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 143
Release: 2017-04-18
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3319537806

The book is a study of intra-urban inequality in quality of life (QOL) in Aizawl city. The main objectives of the study include analysis of processes and patterns of social differentiation along the three-dimensional space of Aizawl city as well as analysis of spatial inequality in QOL at the lowest administrative structure of the city. An investigation into spatial pattern of residential differentiation was done at both horizontal and vertical spaces. Spatial variation in well-being of residents of Aizawl city and the quality of their immediate environment was also studied by taking both objective and subjective indicators. The study employed a number of descriptive, inferential and multivariate statistical techniques including correlation, factor analysis, principal component analysis, cluster analysis and spatial autocorrelation methods like Moran’s I and Local Indicators of Spatial Association (LISA). Mapping techniques and graphical methods like Choropleth map, histogram and line graph were also used. With the help of factor analysis, the social space of Aizawl city was found to be differentiated along socio-economic status, family status, household size status, workers status and ethnic status. The most important factor determining residential differentiation was socio-economic status. Choropleth map of factor scores reveals that the inner city localities were dominated by high socio-economic class while poorer people dominated the peripheries. Non-local ethnic minorities were few but concentrated in some adjoining peripheral localities as well as in inner city localities which have been inhabited by their ancestors since the colonial period. Vertical pattern of residential differentiation was also analyzed by taking income variable as a proxy of socio-economic status. Multi-storey buildings in Aizawl city were co-inhabited by both richer people and poorer people. The richer people were found at the top floors while the poorer people occupied the basement floors. Normally, the owners of the buildings were found at the top floors while the basement floors were dominated by the renters. Spatial variation in QOL was measured with the help of principal component analysis as a weighting technique by taking variables pertaining to both objective and subjective QOL dimensions. The values of composite QOL index showed that the central localities have scored better than their peripheral counterparts. Correlation analysis of the relationship between objective indicators and subjective indicators provided a low positive value indicating the absence of relationship between the two dimensions of quality of life. Spatial autocorrelation analysis was also performed to see the pattern of clustering of spatially weighted QOL variables across Local Councils. With the help of Global Moran’s I, spatial clusters and spatial outliers were observed for objective dimension of QOL within the study area. The value of Moran’s I was found to be insignificant for subjective QOL dimension indicating the absence of significant pattern of clustering. The study also identified 7 social areas of Aizawl city on the basis of factor scores and composite scores of QOL variables calculated for all Local Councils. The identification of clusters was taken out with the help of hierarchical clustering method of cluster analysis. These clusters were labeled appropriate names and their characteristics were described in detail. The thesis concluded with recommendation of designating these social areas as ‘social development planning zones’ for obtaining inclusive development.

Smart Cities: A Data Analytics Perspective

Smart Cities: A Data Analytics Perspective
Author: Mohammad Ayoub Khan
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 322
Release: 2020-12-11
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 3030609227

This book offers practical as well as conceptual knowledge of the latest trends, tools, techniques and methodologies of data analytics in smart cities. The smart city is an advanced technological area that is capable of understanding the environment by examining the data to improve the livability. The smart cities allow different kinds of wireless sensors to gather massive amounts, full speed and a broad range of city data. The smart city has a focus on data analytics facilitated through the IoT platforms. There is a need to customize the IoT architecture and infrastructures to address needs in application of specific domains of smart cities such as transportation, traffic, health and, environment. The smart cities will provide next generation development technologies for urbanization that includes the need of environmental sustainability, personalization, mobility, optimum energy utilization, better administrative services and higher quality of life. Each chapter presents the reader with an in-depth investigation regarding the possibility of data analytics perspective in smart cities. The book presents cutting-edge and future perspectives of smart cities, where industry experts, scientists, and scholars exchange ideas and experience about surrounding frontier technologies, breakthrough and innovative solutions and applications.

Resilient and Responsible Smart Cities

Resilient and Responsible Smart Cities
Author: Hugo Rodrigues
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 170
Release: 2022-07-22
Genre: Architecture
ISBN: 3030984230

This book gathers current research studies which explore new technologies in architecture and urban practices which ensure the efficient management of cities’ infrastructures and provide new solutions to the complex complications that may result in the tackling of challenges of population density, traffic planning, and city planning at the neighborhood scale or rather the scale of buildings and everyday life. It offers a path towards city resilience and sustainable infrastructure with the aim of meeting the demands of mega-cities. The primary audience of this book will be academics and professionals from the fields of architecture, urban planning, civil engineering, computer sciences, and mathematics. The book will aid them in their contributions to the implementation of sustainable development goals.

IoT and IoE Driven Smart Cities

IoT and IoE Driven Smart Cities
Author: Samarendra Nath Sur
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 328
Release: 2021-12-15
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 3030827151

This book provides detail on applying Internet of Things (IoT) and Internet of Everything (IoE) in smart cities and their design aspects related to physical and network layer models. The authors explore the possibilities of utilizing communication technologies like multi-input multi-output (MIMO), narrow-band IoT (NB-IoT), ultra-reliable low latency communications (URLLC), enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), and massive machine-type communications (mMTC) for successful implementation of the IoT/IoE. The authors also address the development and advancement in cloud computing to support IoT and IoE. Research on the challenges and future predictions for efficiently implementing and exploring the benefits of smart cities are also explored. The book pertains to researchers, academics, and professionals in the field. Discusses the applicability of Internet of Things (IoT) and Internet of Everything (IoE) for smart cities; Addresses different protocols, networks, and technologies related to the implementation of IoT and IoE for smart cities; Provides a detailed overview on the physical and network layer design and signal processing algorithms related to IoT and IoE.

Environmental Change in the Himalayan Region

Environmental Change in the Himalayan Region
Author: Anup Saikia
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 230
Release: 2019-02-19
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 3030033627

The book focuses on environment and conservation issues pertaining to the Himalayas, spanning Pakistan, Nepal, India, Bhutan and Myanmar. Environmental degradation, changes in snow cover and glaciers in India-Bhutan, threats to protected areas, and biodiversity in this ecologically fragile region are assessed in twelve distinct, regional case studies.

Remote Sensing of Northwest Himalayan Ecosystems

Remote Sensing of Northwest Himalayan Ecosystems
Author: R. R. Navalgund
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 599
Release: 2018-10-18
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 9811321280

Himalaya, one of the global biodiversity hotspots, is the abode of a variety of flora and fauna. The Himalayan ecosystems have immense ecological, socioeconomic, and aesthetic significance as they provide a wide range of ecosystem services. The northwest Himalaya (NWH), covering three states of India viz., Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir, starts from the foothills of Shivaliks in the south and extends to the greater Himalaya in the north. This region is also the source of some of the major rivers of India. With the increase in population, the NWH ecosystems have been under threat due to deforestation, loss of biodiversity, expansion of agriculture and settlement, overexploitation of natural resources, habitat loss and fragmentation, poaching, mining, construction of roads and large dams, and unplanned tourism. The Himalaya being young and geotectonically active, remains inherently unstable, fragile, and prone to natural disasters. Climate change is also likely to impact the Himalayan cryosphere drastically. Recognizing the importance of the Himalaya, a National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem, one of the eight missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) of Govt. of India, to conserve biodiversity, forest cover and other ecological values in the Himalayan region has been taken up. Spaceborne remote sensing with its ability to provide synoptic and repetitive coverage has emerged as a powerful tool for assessment and monitoring of the Himalayan resources and phenomena. Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, Dehradun has taken up a number of studies in the fields of geology, water resources, forestry, agriculture, urban settlement, etc., over the last decade. The book summarises the work carried out in different disciplines, illustrated with tables and figures and a host of relevant references. It is hoped that the book serves as an excellent reference of immense value to the students, researchers, professors, scientists, professionals, and decision makers working in the NWH region.