Matthew McFarlane | The development imperative: adapting to an evolving environment

In the Town and Country Planning Act, the term “development” refers to the carrying out of building, engineering, mining, or other operations in, on, over, or under land, and includes making any material change in the use of buildings or other land. Essentially, development encompasses everything we do to manipulate our physical environment, from building bridges and highways to constructing housing and offices. This is often referred to as urban development and infrastructure.

Our desire for development stems from a continuous need to grow and adapt to our changing environment. Culture and ways of life evolve with each new generation. If a society remains stagnant, it cannot survive. Societies are constantly impacted by factors such as migration, technological innovation, industry, and emerging challenges like climate change. These consistent impacts can lead to significant changes in a society’s socioeconomic structure, forcing it to respond through development.

Many changes associated with development can be observed globally, in both developing and developed nations. These include mega-projects like building tunnels or skyscrapers, and implementing new building or zoning laws to increase density or commercial activity. What we find is that development not only is constant but also progressively becomes larger or more complex over time. Here are a few common factors that affect us and how we respond through development.

URBANISATION

Population growth since the industrial revolution has changed the landscape of the world, with the population increasing from two billion to eight billion in the past 100 years. This increase is mostly due to improvements in healthcare, resulting in the fastest recorded population growth in modern history. Additionally, due to economic opportunities in cities, we have seen the emergence of urban areas where a large concentration of the population can be found. Some are even classified as megacities, having over 10 million people living and working in one metropolitan area. Urbanisation continuously creates a strain on infrastructure, the environment, and urban planning policies, causing development to occur proportionally to urbanisation.

Urbanisation is affecting the housing stock in city centres, with single-family lots being developed into multifamily communities and farmland being converted into suburbs as a solution to our population growth. Aspects of this type of development can appear negative as land is lost, and the look and feel of our city changes, but this transition is inevitable and almost predictable and must be accepted in order to grow and adapt. However, we must ensure that development as a result of urbanisation is done holistically and not just involve adding more housing units but also ensuring that the necessary supporting services such as schools, parks, and restaurants are simultaneously developed. Adapting to urbanisation also means being aware of our modern way of life and evolving family structures. Urban areas increasingly attract a more transient lifestyle, resulting in the need for smaller unit types and more inclusive designs, which future developments will have to address.

TECHNOLOGY

Moore’s law is the observation that the number of transistors in an integrated circuit (IC) doubles approximately every two years, based on observations and projections of a historical trend. This means that every year, we can expect some efficiencies in our technology, allowing for new technologies to emerge and be applied to new areas. Technology has revolutionised our societies, from prehistoric stone tools to the internal combustion engine, improving transportation, energy production, and manufacturing. Today, we are experiencing a digital technology revolution, which continues to do the same. Computer processing and data connectivity are now part of everything we do, changing how we work and live.

Development driven by technology has also impacted our cities. Improvements in design and construction have increased efficiency and reduced errors. The integration of the Internet and automation technologies allows buildings to become “smarter”. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and data analytics support more informed urban planning decisions, helping to design cities that are more efficient, sustainable, and liveable. New developments can utilise the latest available technology to make buildings more efficient and capable, benefiting developers, homeowners, and businesses while encouraging further growth. As a result, technology drives the modernisation process, which is essential for future-proofing buildings and creating an identity that reflects the era through the integration of new materials and traditional elements.

CLIMATE CHANGE

An emerging factor that is affect how we develop is climate change. While some causes and solutions are speculative, it is undeniable that our natural resources and quality of life have been increasingly affected. Extreme weather events and urban heat effects are here to stay, and any new development must take these into consideration. As a result, new developments must be more resilient and sustainable in order to conserve resources and mitigate the impacts of climate change. Some solutions being optimised include nature-based solutions, which address societal challenges through actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore natural and modified ecosystems, benefiting both people and nature.

Passive design solutions, which work in line with the local climate to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature, are also crucial. This design methodology uses strategies like layout, material, and form to reduce or eliminate the need for mechanical cooling, heating, ventilation, and lighting. By integrating these solutions through new development, cities can mitigate the adverse effects of climate change and create more resilient, liveable environments for their inhabitants.

Building and infrastructure development are indispensable for the survival and growth of any city facing challenges such as new technology adoption, ageing infrastructure, population growth, and changing social and economic cultures. By continuously investing in modern infrastructure, sustainability practices, inclusive of urban planning, and, most importantly, embracing efficient and effective development, cities can create more resilient and liveable environments for their residents while positioning themselves for long-term prosperity.”

Matthew McFarlane is a practising registered architect at the Jamaica Defence Force. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com