This book describes the journey of Singapore ́s development and the fundamental role that water has had in shaping it. What makes this case so unique is that the quest for self-sufficiency in terms of water availability in a fast-changing urban context has been crucial to the way development policies and agendas have been planned throughout the years.

When Singapore became a sovereign state in 1965, the fledgling nation faced very similar problems as most other developing countries: high unemployment, low standard of living, and poor environmental conditions. In a scant four decades, it has become the 6th wealthiest country in the world in terms of per capita GDP and has managed its environment so well that it is now considered to be one of the best in the world. In this remarkable book, Tan Yong Soon authoritatively and objectively analyses how the environmental conditions were radically transformed within this period, and the enabling conditions which made this extraordinary transformation possible. This book will unquestionably make all Singaporeans proud of their environmental achievements, and at the same time enable other countries, both developed and developing, to learn many lessons from a most remarkable success story. This book is a must read for any individual interested in environment-development issues. -Prof Asit K. Biswas, President, Third World Centre for Water Management, Mexico and Distinguished Visiting Professor, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Singapore.

This book is concerned with a unique, overall land policy optimization model, under active government policy, resulting in the sustainable effectiveness and efficiency of land policy. Such a model distinguishes it from the highly specific urban-planning land use optimization model, meant for optimizing land use specification, strategic land uses, land use restrictions and control, like zoning. Policy input is concerned with a hierarchical and structural definition of policy while ‘Additionality’ looks at land-policy output (outcome) variables, impacting broader land policy efficiency and effectiveness goals, their associated output indicators and the interaction with the macroeconomy. Long run urban policy-macroeconomy interaction is modeled in a contemporaneous cointegration model estimation, involving different sectors of the economy. The model looks at the equilibrium and optimal land-using economic activities. A dynamic interaction of land policy outcomes and their economic implications is discussed via cointegration tests and modelling. This book develops a rigorous system-dynamics-based computable general equilibrium model for direct real estate market uncertainty i.e. the frequent mismatch between office demand and supply under the impact of limited land constraint, the domestic common stock market, the macro economy and macroeconomic policy. Such dynamic interaction is structured under the demand-side and supply-side aspects. The book looks at the binomial option-pricing model by Cox, Ross and Rubinstein, to model the risk-neutral process for short term interest rates, common stock prices and Housing & Development Board (HDB) resale flat prices. Singapore’s Main Upgrading Program (MUP) is a heavily subsidized and highly targeted. Since 1992, the HDB has budgeted some S$3 billion to finance the MUP policy. A positive impact is the asset value enhancement of the HDB flats within the upgraded precincts. MUP subsidies vary significantly with the corresponding option premium. A 3-Room HDB flat owner is more inclined to opt for upgrading while the option premium is deemed to be less attractive for upgrading by the 4-Room HDB flat owner. Residents’ satisfaction level with town council (TC) services are examined, under different political parties. The concern is to ascertain a housing finance model, which analyzes the affordability of household borrowers for purchasing resale public housing. With Central Provident funds (CPF) usage, total interest paid over the loan life is significantly reduced. CPF as a financial buffer significantly reduce default risks for lender and household borrower.

This book documents through first-hand experience and academic research the historical, cultural and economic interactions affecting land use in Singapore. Offering a unique study of nostalgia in Singaporean heritage, it discusses the subjective nostalgic meanings and interpretations that users of peripheral, heritage and green spaces in Singapore create and maintain, through a combination of informal observations and interactions combined with research into local history and heritage. It addresses the subjective meaning-making processes of individuals within the larger theoretical frameworks that structure understandings of changing land use and economical changes which impact on contemporary cityscapes, centered around peripheral and de-privileged areas of Singapore’s economic development.

Tucked away in the East is a sleeping giant: Bedok, a paragon of the heartlands. Previously bordered by the beach, this neighbourhood was known for its scrumptious seafood. Bedok, or Bodo, as it was once called, is now the district with the largest resident population—and the oldest. Journey with Urban Sketchers Singapore as great change sweeps eastward. Dodge through major construction at the beloved Bedok Town Centre, where Princess Theatre still stands, for the quiet of Bedok North’s songbirds. Have a dip at Bedok Swimming Complex, then replenish your energy with the famed rojak and cheng tng at Bedok South. The artists delightfully depict Bedok Reservoir too, where a certain Wall has travelled all the way from Berlin to Bedok.

Since 1819, more than 6,200 place (street and village) names divided into more than 3,900 name groups were known in Singapore. Based on digitised historical newspapers, dated back to 1830, municipal records and Malay dictionaries, the origins, meanings and date of naming for many place names are uncovered. As part of Singapore history, place names known since 1936 are recorded in this book.Although place names are fairly static in nature, there have been more than 100 name changes. The naming trends transitioned from English to Malay and then back to English names. Discover that Toa Payoh was not named after a big swamp, Anderson Road was named before John Anderson, a former Governor, took up his job and many more new findings in this exciting book.This book is a complete listing of all place names since 1936, together with the most comprehensive annotations to date — a first in Singapore. It is also the only book of its kind that analyses naming trends. Information on the origins or date of naming was based on primary sources such as old maps, minutes of municipal meetings, Chinese books and digitised newspapers.

This book provides comprehensive information on the geography, history, wildlife, governmental structure, economy, cultural diversity, peoples, religion, and culture of Singapore. All books of the critically-acclaimed Cultures of the World� series ensure an immersive experience by offering vibrant photographs with descriptive nonfiction narratives, and interactive activities such as creating an authentic traditional dish from an easy-to-follow recipe. Copious maps and detailed timelines present the past and present of the country, while exploration of the art and architecture help your readers to understand why diversity is the spice of Life.

Coastal Reservoir Technology and Applications presents the analyses showing that the world is not running out of water, but water is running out of river mouths—we need to work to harness this resource. Compared with inland water storages and desalination technology, coastal reservoirs are a nature-based water solution without disturbing the environment. This book mainly answers the questions of what the coastal reservoir technology is, where we should construct coastal reservoirs, and how to supply sufficient, high-quality and affordable water to the world with minimum environmental/social impacts. Chapter 1 reviews modes of water resources development in the history along with current problems and reasons. Chapter 2 discusses the definition of coastal reservoirs, its classifications and applications, and the SPP/downstream water management strategy. Other chapters analyse water crisis in every continent, as well as their water solutions. The possible coastal reservoir for each major river is suggested as well. Without freshwater, no one can survive. Likewise, without sufficient, high-quality and affordable freshwater, no community can achieve sustainable development. However, water is also a killer when it is too much (floods), too dirty (pollution), and too turbid. Different from other books, this resource shows how to solve these water problems. Coastal reservoirs and SPP strategy are suggested to develop floodwater in a safe way in coastal and inland regions, respectively. Solution of water-food-energy-ecosystem nexus needs a paradigm shift from upstream to downstream water management, i.e., from mountainous dams to coastal reservoirs, which conserves the precious, clean freshwater in seawater environment. - Provides an analysis of every large river in the world to help users determine the feasibility of using a coastal reservoir in each location - Presents a global coverage, including case studies where this technology has already been implemented - Authored by a world expert on coastal reservoirs, with several patents in the area

Americans see water as abundant and cheap: we turn on the faucet and out it gushes, for less than a penny a gallon. We use more water than any other culture in the world, much to quench what’s now our largest crop—the lawn. Yet most Americans cannot name the river or aquifer that flows to our taps, irrigates our food, and produces our electricity. And most don’t realize these freshwater sources are in deep trouble. Blue Revolution exposes the truth about the water crisis—driven not as much by lawn sprinklers as by a tradition that has encouraged everyone, from homeowners to farmers to utilities, to tap more and more. But the book also offers much reason for hope. Award-winning journalist Cynthia Barnett argues that the best solution is also the simplest and least expensive: a water ethic for America. Just as the green movement helped build awareness about energy and sustainability, so a blue movement will reconnect Americans to their water, helping us value and conserve our most life-giving resource. Avoiding past mistakes, living within our water means, and turning to “local water” as we do local foods are all part of this new, blue revolution. Reporting from across the country and around the globe, Barnett shows how people, businesses, and governments have come together to dramatically reduce water use and reverse the water crisis. Entire metro areas, such as San Antonio, Texas, have halved per capita water use. Singapore’s “closed water loop” recycles every drop. New technologies can slash agricultural irrigation in half: businesses can save a lot of water—and a lot of money—with designs as simple as recycling air-conditioning condensate. The first book to call for a national water ethic, Blue Revolution is also a powerful meditation on water and community in America.

Abatement and prevention of storm-generated flow is one of the most challenging areas in the environmental engineering field today. Integrated Stormwater Management covers important aspects of the topic including pollution assessment, solution methods, transport and control, runoff and flood control, modeling, reclamation, and monitoring. The book also discusses the subject of detection of non-stormwater entries into separate storm drainage systems. All chapters included in this volume were authored by an outstanding group of renowned international stormwater management experts. Integrated Stormwater Management is an important volume for water quality and water pollution control engineers and scientists, environmental scientists and engineers, managers and planners, urban hydrologists, agricultural engineers, and combined sewer overflow engineers and specialists.