Traffic Control and CO2 Reduction: Utilisation of Virtual Modelling within University Estates Master Planning

Context

Through actions of the EU and its constituent countries, towns and cities across Europe are beginning to address the challenges posed by climate change. The complexity of urban areas means that particular challenges are posed by the needs of residents including energy use in buildings, management of resources and transportation. Whilst it is certainly true that many of the challenges could be met through behavioural change on the part of individuals, it is also true that an integrated approach to planning is required to ensure that individuals are suitably empowered and able to act. The EU has instigated a range of mechanisms through which change can be planned, facilitated and implemented, including the relatively recent development of the Smart Cities programme (http://eu-smartcities.eu/). Such programmes recognise that technology must be introduced in such a way that it helps to support change, but cannot be regarded as a solution in itself. Within a context of participatory design, the starting point for this research was that urban development will continue to have a significant effect on the carbon footprint of cities, but that a potentially significant part of that impact (i.e. mass transportation) can be mitigated through visualisation of options in a manner which encourages engagement, and refinement of designs.