A Study on Housing Planning and Policies in Nepal : Lessons from Korea for Affordable Housing in Nepal

Jhanka Bahadur Thapa The Graduate School, Sungkyunkwan University 2023 국내석사

The objective of this thesis was to review and assess Nepal's housing plans and policies with a focus on a comparative analysis of the experience from Korea to increase home affordability for low-income families. To this purpose, the paper discussed the current housing planning and policy approaches in Nepal and explored the most significant lessons from South Korea's public housing policy. This study was based on a document review on policy formulation and government initiatives and their concepts for affordable housing in Nepal. This research work explored the various planning and policy strategies adopted by Korea to address the housing demand of middle and low-income families. The study also explored lessons learned from Korea's affordable housing programs. In conclusion, to improve the efficiency of the current housing stock in Nepal, the public rental housing has been recommended for Nepal.

UAV-assisted Deep Vision Vehicles Management System for Karachi, Pakistan

Muhammad Umair The Graduate School, Sungkyunkwan University 2023 국내석사

These days, the advancement of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has affected our daily lives significantly, including governance. Urban public infrastructure facilities including Transportation Systems, Water and Sewer networks and energy supplies are getting intelligent using open-source data-driven platforms in the modern world. Unfortunately due to lack of resources and poor governance in third world countries, the local circumstances of the cities like Karachi have not been extensively explored by researchers despite of growing population. This thesis mainly discusses the viability of using computer vision and unmanned aerial vehicles in object detection for congested roads of Karachi. The famous CNN algorithms like YOLOv5 and Cascade classifier are modified and used for vehicles running on the overcrowded road for accurate recognition, counting and speed anomalies detection. Similarly, their License Plates (LP) have been recognizes using Optical Character Recognition specifically considering the local parameters. A comparison of accuracy, robustness in different surroundings and detection speed with Cascade Classifier and Tesseract OCR has been performed. Custom model training on YOLOv5 has been performed and an ‘Accuracy Enhancement’ technique integrating real-time drone stream data with YOLOv5 and easy OCR using a mean averaging algorithm has been proposed to get better accuracy in license plate detection.

Terra Preta Sanitation: A Potential Sanitation Solution for Climate Change Adaptation and Sustainable Coastal Living in Bangladesh

Suman Biswas The Graduate School, Sungkyunkwan University 2023 국내석사

Climate change has had a significant impact on coastal regions worldwide, including Bangladesh, where sea-level rise, storms, floods, and cyclones have devastated the lives and livelihoods of coastal communities. The adverse effects have led to infrastructure damage, agricultural losses, and limited access to water and sanitation. The prevailing sanitation challenges faced by residents living in waterlogged coastlines, such as the easily washed away riverside hanging toilets, contribute to environmental pollution. In this context, Terra Preta Sanitation emerges as a potential solution that addresses these challenges while adapting to climate change and promoting sustainable natural resource management. This research explores the potential of Terra Preta Sanitation as a model for climate change adaptation in the field of sanitation. By combining literature review, case study analysis, and fieldwork, the findings of this research will be utilized to develop recommendations for the implementation of Terra Preta Sanitation systems in coastal areas. These recommendations aim not only to benefit Bangladesh but also to foster climate change adaptation and sustainable coastal living globally.

Sustainability Issues Faced by Sri Lankan Construction Industry : Before and During the Economic Crisis of 2019

Paskaran Sutharman The Graduate School, Sungkyunkwan University 2023 국내석사

This study examines the impact of the economic crisis on the sustainability of Sri Lanka's construction industry and its implications for smart city development. By analyzing environmental challenges, exploring green buildings, and assessing existing green construction policies, the research aims to understand the immediate and long-term effects of the crisis on sustainable development. Drawing lessons from similar crises in Spain and Greece, the study identifies strategies for enhancing sustainability in smart city construction in Sri Lanka, with recommendations for policymakers and industry stakeholders. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with experts in the Sri Lankan construction industry, complemented by a comprehensive literature review and qualitative analysis. The findings reveal environmental issues such as pollution and waste management, necessitating increased action and awareness for sustainable development. Green construction has gained momentum in Sri Lanka, particularly after the civil war, with the manufacturing and tourism sectors leading the way. Green building programs from other countries offer valuable insights, emphasizing the importance of green financing and public procurement for successful implementation. However, the study points out the lack of coordinated efforts from the government in implementing green building programs in Sri Lanka. Sustainable sourcing of materials and green public procurement require attention. The research also highlights the significance of green construction policies. In conclusion, the study emphasizes the need for stronger implementation of green construction policies, increased awareness and education on sustainable practices, and the adoption of innovative methods in the Sri Lankan construction industry.

Study of Wi-Fi Facility Implementation in Slum Settlement : Case of Tegal Sari I, Medan City, Indonesia

Rido Monthazeri The Graduate School, Sungkyunkwan University 2023 국내석사

Covid-19, which began in late 2019 had a huge negative impact on people’s way of life across the world. The use of the internet in people's lives is changing in indirect ways throughout many facets of their existence. The construction of the Free Wi-Fi service is a way for the government to support low-income residents of slum regions since one of its internet connection charges is fairly high. A survey method is used to determine the physical, social, and economic characteristics of slum settlement. A questionnaire method is employed to determine how the community feels and what they like when it comes to free Wi-Fi. The ideal Wi-Fi site has been identified using spatial analysis for the best connection coverage. According to survey of 871 households in the study area's, resident population are typically employed in the trade or service industry. There are 276 low-income households in the Tegal Sari I region out of the 882 total households. Almost everyone—up to 94% of the populace—uses the internet regularly. 93% of the neighborhood's residents said they were in favor of offering Free Wi-Fi services. But the Wi-Fi facilities should be free or reasonable cost, the connection should be fast and stable, the quota is unlimited, and it can be used all day long for any activities. The government needs to consider policies that help those with limited abilities. The government can compel interested parties to work together to develop internet infrastructure that is better and more reasonably priced for everyone, including those who reside in slum settlement. To use the internet effectively to advance social and economic elements, the community must not only have the necessary infrastructure but also possess the necessary digital literacy.

Solutions for Improvement Public Transport Services in Bishkek

DZHANGELDIEV Karatai The Graduate School, Sungkyunkwan University 2023 국내석사

Today, the cities of the world face serious challenges in the field of land management, ecology and the development of efficient public transport systems. To solve these problems and prevent their recurrence in the future, administrations in many cities are developing and implementing transport master plans, strategies, and plans for sustainable urban mobility. They include various solutions from public transport corridors (for example, LRT and BRT) to the transport infrastructure of the last kilometer (bike lanes or bike paths, automated bicycle rental systems, and electric scooters). The relevance of the topic arose in connection with the increasing migration mobility of the population of Kyrgyzstan from one region to another in order to find new opportunities and improve the quality of life. The city of Bishkek, as the capital of the country, is the most attractive place to meet these needs. At the same time, the transport infrastructure of Bishkek does not meet modern requirements and cannot cope with the increased traffic flow. This is primarily due to the increase in the population of the city and the level of motorization. On the other hand - weak coordination of policy in the field of development of urban transport infrastructure and inefficiency of planning and management of urban transport provision. The purpose of this study was to focus on policy solutions to improve the public transport system of Bishkek city and especially the bus system. Thus, within the framework of this work, 1) factors affecting the level of public transport have been studied; 2) the experience of decision-making in the cities of Almaty and Singapore has been studied; 3) recommendations for improving the quality of urban transport services in Bishkek have been developed based on the experience of the two cities.

The Prospect of Electric Mobility as a Means of Sustainable Urban Mobility in Nepal : A Case of Kathmandu Valley

Sudhir Shah The Graduate School, Sungkyunkwan University 2023 국내석사

Sustainable Urban mobility is one of the priority issues of current times as the transportation and mobility landscape has changed at exponential rates in recent years across the globe, with alarming consequences for developing nations like Nepal. Nepal has a small but aggressively growing vehicle fleet which has resulted in a lot of social, economic, environmental challenges like GHG emission and their negative effect on climate change, air pollution and the negative impact on human health, the budget deficit brought on by the import of petroleum goods. Electric mobility (e-mobility) has been considered as one of the solutions of these issues and it is promoted as the future of mobility as it has simultaneously contributed to sustainable urban mobility by enhancing vehicle energy efficiency and supporting the shift towards public transport and active mobility. Electrification of road transport vehicles has been recognized as a powerful low-carbon transport strategy. Thus, promoting e-mobility in Nepal has been proposed as the most effective solution to environmental and economic concerns, as electrification of vehicles reduces Green House Gas (GHG) emissions, lowers air pollution, reduces the budget deficit brought on by the import of petroleum goods, and boosts energy security. Nepal being a hydro-powerhouse country, the transition to e-mobility is more logical. This research presented the arguments for promoting e-mobility in Kathmandu valley and identified the existing bottlenecks and crucial gaps in Nepal’s policy, markets, finance to the penetration of Electric Vehicles (EV) into the e-Mobility space through analysis of national and international policy frameworks, markets, technologies. This research identified the current fiscal strategies and plans for Nepal's e-mobility sector are often inconsistent, uncertain, and incoherent. This research presents the ways to accelerate the e-mobility adoption in Nepal by introducing a long-term program with a dedicated sustainable fund, setting coherent strategies in the form of national roadmaps, introducing strategies that include well-defined, clear targets designed to integrate electric mobility into the existing ecosystem ensures the clear pathway to electric mobility and create confidence among stakeholders. This research also explored trends and good practices of electric mobility around the globe. This thesis research investigated the transformation of the urban mobility sector in Nepal from polluting fossil fuel to clean renewable energy-based means of transport and the impact of promoting e-mobility in delivering financial, environmental, and social benefits. The research also sought initiatives that could provide clean public and private transportation, promote the electric mobility market, introduce new commercially viable clean transportation technologies, develop sustainable infrastructure, and mobilize funding for public transportation sector programs (e-bus operation). The uptake of private electric vehicles is Nepal though seems encouraging; however, the use of public transport is plummeting. This research presented ways to aggressively electrify public transportation (e-buses- as bus is the major public modes of transportation in Nepal). An innovative e-bus operating financing method has been suggested, this is where the biggest gains can be made both in terms of reducing air pollution (and therefore improving public health) and cutting fossil fuel consumption that has sent Nepal’s import bill. A collaboration between the federal, provincial, and, most crucially, municipal governments, and the private sector to promote public electric transportation has been suggested.

SOLUTIONS FOR HANOI WATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Pham Hai Dang The Graduate School, Sungkyunkwan University 2023 국내석사

Water is essential for all life and development, it is used in both people's daily lives and agricultural and industrial processes. However, many developing nations around the world face significant challenges when it comes to access to a consistent and secure domestic water supply nowadays. Due to the growing urban population and severe pollution of surface and groundwater resources, the municipal government in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, is having trouble providing enough water sustainably. Since the 12th National Assembly's Resolution No. 15/2008/NQ-QH12 on changing the administrative borders of Hanoi city, the capital of Vietnam has been expanded and now has an area that is more than three times larger. As a result, the water reserve was reduced and Hanoi was under a lot of pressure from the growing demand for human consumption. Despite the city of Hanoi's increasing urbanization, population development, and high community needs, there are still several issues with the city's clean water supply. Furthermore, inadequate investment resources, insufficient management competence, ineffective technology selection, community awareness, aging infrastructures, water pollution, and the negative effects of climate change are important issues for Hanoi's water management system. Song Da Factory was chosen for examining the problems that the water management system is experiencing because it is the main water supply plant for Hanoi City and provides solutions through the application of information technologies such as sensors, IoT networks to manage water quantity and leakage, thereby improving the quality of the water supply system and contributing to the long-term development of the water supply and drainage system in Hanoi.

Comparative Analysis of Tools for Evaluation and Monitoring of Smart Cities in the Philippines

ROJO Darwin Jarvis The Graduate School, Sungkyunkwan University 2023 국내석사

Urbanization in the Philippines presents numerous challenges, including city congestion, degradation of air and water quality, inadequate solid waste management, housing shortages, safety concerns, and the exacerbation of inequality and poverty. The ‘smart city’ concept aims to address these issues through the utilization of information and communications technology and data analysis. However, the Philippines lacks a comprehensive smart city framework that can effectively guide and harmonize the adoption and implementation of smart city initiatives by various stakeholders. The study provides a clearer understanding of the smart city concept for the Philippines by comparing and evaluating the tools used by other cities in developing their smart city. The study utilized the survey method to gather information from 105 local government personnel of three representative smart cities in the Philippines which determined the level of acceptance of the smart city domains, the smart city dimension to be prioritized, and the specific challenges to be focused on for each respective city. The findings emphasized the importance of focusing on improving educational systems, enhancing public participation and community empowerment, promoting social interaction and integration, strengthening solid waste management, capitalizing on innovation for economic recovery, optimizing transportation infrastructure, enhancing e-government systems and cybersecurity, and improving safety and security measures. These results can serve as reference in the formulation of the country’s own smart city framework and help cities understand their position with respect to other cities while also providing policymakers an opportunity to identify areas for improvement while leveraging areas of strength.

E-Navigation: Digital transformation of Maritime Transport : Case in Vungtau city of Vietnam

Pham Van Hoa The Graduate School, Sungkyunkwan University 2023 국내석사

The most recent technological developments in data storing, processing, analyzing, transferring, and visualization, as well as those in automation, electronics, telecommunications, informatics, telematics, geomatics, and global position fixing techniques, would be taken into account and applied to maritime technology. E-Navigation is entering a new age thanks to these innovative technologies. The primary responsibilities of the marine industry in the area of e-navigation will be covered in this research. It is now time to develop a thorough strategic strategy for organizing the adoption of new technologies while also ensuring that their use is compatible with the various electronic navigation and communication technologies and services that are now offered. The objective is to develop a comprehensive, accurate, secure, safe, and economical system that can provide global coverage for boats of all sizes. To carry out this new strategic vision, adjustments may need to be made to operational processes and navigational tools, including charts, the inner ship's computer network, bridge display equipment, electronic aids to navigation, communications, and shore infrastructure. It is now challenging to foresee the full extent of the adjustments that could be necessary to fully fulfill this aim.