Wicked Problems in Modern Cities

Problems Definition

- Traffic Jams and Hard-to-Use Transport:

Big cities have lots of cars stuck in traffic, making it tough to get around. Buses and trains often don't work well, so it's hard to get where you need to go without a car (Smith, 2022).

- Not Enough Homes People Can Afford:

Finding a place to live in the city that's not too expensive is tricky. As cities grow, houses get pricier, and many folks can't find a home close to work or shops (Smith, 2022).

- Dirty Air and Too Much Trash:

Cities have dirty air and lots of trash lying around. Sometimes garbage doesn't get collected properly, so it piles up, making the city look bad and making people sick (Smith, 2022).

- Some People Miss Out on Important Stuff:

In cities, some folks don't have good access to things like doctors, schools, or clean water. This makes it hard for them to live healthy and happy lives (Smith, 2022).

- Concrete Everywhere, Not Enough Green:

Cities keep growing, and green spaces like parks are disappearing. More buildings mean less nature, which isn't good for the environment or for people's well-being (Smith, 2022).

Edited by: Richerson Yovannlim TP072370

Persona

Name : Clara    

Age : 20

Occupation : University Student

Background : Clara is an international university student in Malaysia. She struggles with the transportation because she doesn't know the local systems and has a hard time finding a suitable home. She also dislikes the environment as some parts are quite polluted and hasn't found the important things in the city where she is staying since she hasn't explored much.

Storyboard

Scene 1: Clara wakes up early to go to her university, after she reaches the bus stop Clara sees a long line of people waiting for the bus. then she checks the schedule for the bus but, the schedule is not relevant because there is a traffic jam, which makes her come late to school.

Scene 2: Clara has difficulties paying the current rental payment, Clara realizes it is almost the end of the month and she hasn't fully paid the rental money from last month. she decided to take a walk to clear her mind, as she walked on the streets she passed by some homeless people and was discouraged by the lack of affordable homes available.

Scene 3: When Clara wants to go outside she passes by a river that has a horrible stench smell, as she walks more she encounters trash on the riverside and much more lying down on the ground which concerns her about the impact of the pollution on her health or wellbeing.

Scene 4: Clara went to the library with the intention of finding information about her assignments. She did not find anything regarding the information which makes her concerned about her fellow student who still struggles to access information or academic support from the public libraries.

Scene 5: Clara walks through the university campus, surrounded by concrete buildings and paved walkways. Clara then visits a small green area on campus, appreciating the few trees and patches of grass that offer a break from the concrete jungle around her.

Solution

- Traffic Jams and Hard-to-Use Transport:

Governments can invest in public transportation infrastructure to improve accessibility and reduce reliance on private vehicles.  

Increasing the coverage and quality of bus service is one approach to lessen traffic congestion. As a result, there would be a greater number of people who choose to ride the bus rather than driving and fewer cars on the road. It would enable residents of places that are no longer served by buses to have easier access to public transportation. Despite lowering pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions, minimizing traffic congestion on the roads can also save gasoline. We can contribute to the reduction of traffic congestion by enhancing bus service, which is an essential aspect of public transportation. 

- Not Enough Homes People Can Afford:

 Financial assistance or subsidies can be provided to first-time buyers to make it easier for them to own   their own homes

Policies for Land Acquisition: By increasing the supply of reasonably priced housing, this strategy can improve accessibility to dwellings for individuals. (Charles et al., 2019)

- Dirty Air and Too Much Trash:

 The government should enforce strict environmental regulations in industrial areas to reduce air   pollution and emissions.

Governments can provide infrastructure for the collection and sorting of used textiles, brands, and retailers can offer more circular business models and products that last longer and can be made again, and communicators—including influencers and brand managers—can change the narrative surrounding fashion in marketing, and consumers can decide whether or not to make necessary purchases of clothing. 

- Some People Miss Out on Important Stuff:

 Staying organized in all aspects of your life, such as being able to organize items and tasks around you   from time to time, can also help reduce the number of items that are often lost.

information management systems, which may efficiently organize and disseminate information and guarantee that everyone has access to the data they require

- Concrete Everywhere, Not Enough Green:

 Governments can choose from a wide range of policy interventions and financing measures to support   new energy and industrial system transformation, improve energy efficiency, address environmental   pollution, and protect and replenish natural capital.

By implementing urban greening system where it introducing the green spaces in urban areas, like planting trees, parks, and developing community gardens. This system also helps cooling the cities, improve air quality, and boost the mental health of the citizens as well.

Conclusion

References

- Smith, J. (2022). Addressing Wicked Problems in Modern Cities. Retrieved from https://www.smartcitiesdive.com/ex/sustainablecitiescollective/wicked-problems-social-ecological-systems-and-utility-systems-thinking/113741/

- Eyman, N. (2024, April 15). Malaysians Rally for Solutions to Ease Traffic Jams. TRP; TheRakyatPost. https://www.therakyatpost.com/news/2024/04/15/malaysians-rally-for-solutions-to-ease-traffic-jams/

‌- Charles, A., Dilip Guna, & World Economic Forum. (2019, June 6). 10 ways cities are tackling the global affordable housing crisis. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/06/10-ways-cities-are-tackling-the-global-affordable-housing-crisis/

- https://www.facebook.com/unep. (2024). Eight ways to overcome the waste pollution crisis. UNEP. https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/eight-ways-overcome-waste-pollution-crisis

-‌ Alberro, H. (2019, May 2). Urban greening can save species, cool warming cities, and make us happy. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/urban-greening-can-save-species-cool-warming-cities-and-make-us-happy-116000

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