Sustainability Assessment of the Anthropogenic System in Panama City: Application of Biomimetic Strategies towards Regenerative Cities

To understand the sustainability problem for Panama’s metropolitan area, its urban metabolism was investigated. A way to evaluate its current state was obtained by estimating a sustainable indicator based on the Green City Index. With the abstraction of the identified problems, the biomimetic strategy “problem-based approach” was carried out, where different pinnacles of nature were selected as a reference for the design of regenerative solutions. These were inspired by the understanding of the living world and how to include ecosystems in urban designs. Therefore, a framework was proposed for positive generation and natural solutions in cities to take advantage of the regenerative potential in Panama City. Using ecosystem services, a set of indicators were developed to measure regeneration over the years at the city scale. The results indicate that from the 11 selected pinnacles, 17 solutions inspired in nature were proposed to regenerate cities. Consequently, a SWOT analysis was realized along with a questionnaire by experts from different fields. The findings obtained show that the feasible solutions were: arborization, green facades, solar roofs, e-mobility, green corridors, bicycle lanes, sidewalks, and biofilters. This research represents a step towards creating and developing regenerative cities, thus improving the quality of life of living beings and ecosystems present in society.

Sustainable Urban Design in Singapore

More than half the world population lives in urbanized areas and urban areas are responsible for two thirds of the energy consumption. Sustainable urban design is crucial in order to achieve a sustainable future in the context of climate change, resource depletion and population pressures. Even as the rest of the world is struggling to achieve the various goals for sustainable development the country of Singapore contributes less than 0.2% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Siemens’ Asian Green City Index states that Singapore is Asia’s greenest metropolis. It is ranked second in the World Economic Forum’s Sustainable Competitiveness Index. The country has achieved considerable progress in various areas of sustainability especially in the areas of transportation, energy, building and housing, water and urban farming. Singapore has managed to harness the technological innovations of the twenty first century and apply it in the urban design process thus accomplishing sustainable urban design which not only enhances the environment but also enhances the life of its citizens.