Southeast Asian Cities Research Articles

Urban Entrepreneurship on the Fringe: Action Research on the Challenges of Street Vendors in Manila

The presence of street vendors in metropolitan cities has been a cause for debate as vending provides these vendors with a source of livelihood but at the expense of regulatory oversight and urban order. Vending as a business emerged due to the lack of work opportunities available despite the growing demand. Vendors, however, remain crucial stakeholders of the informal economy as their existence fills a need for the minimum-income working class. As such, the objective of the study is to determine and understand the different factors that affect the business of street vendors and their coping mechanisms to these challenges and propose an action plan. This study is unique in its focus on the informal economy, specifically street vendors in Manila, an often overlooked yet vital part of urban livelihoods. By employing a qualitative approach, it delves deeply into the lived experiences of street vendors, uncovering the cultural, socioeconomic, and regulatory challenges they face in a highly urbanized Southeast Asian city. The study highlights human-centered narratives often missed in quantitative research and provides valuable insights into the dynamics between street vendors and government regulations. Its findings could influence inclusive policies that better support informal entrepreneurs, contributing to broader discussions on inclusive business practices. The results reveal that factors affecting street vendors relate to interpersonal dynamics, family dynamics and obligations, educational aspirations, financial vulnerability, market competition, operational challenges, supply chain dependency, health and labor, and enforcement of regulations. To manage these factors, vendors have adopted mechanisms to combat these issues through debt and financial management, operational adaptation, community assistance and support, adaptation to regulation, and emotional resilience. In the end, this research proposes a five-point agenda to support street vendors' adherence to social and legal norms, beginning with developing inclusive policies that formally recognize and regulate street vending, ensuring legal protection and designated vending zones. It then focuses on economic empowerment through improved access to financial services, microcredit, and financial literacy programs while introducing social security measures. Health and safety programs are implemented to enhance vendors' well-being, providing access to healthcare, ergonomic training, and sanitation standards. Governance improvements, anti-harassment initiatives, and transparent law enforcement to protect vendors from exploitation should also materialize. Finally, community engagement and public relations efforts aim to foster positive perceptions of street vendors, highlighting their contributions to the economy and encouraging cooperation with local businesses and authorities.

Noise without noise? Art interventions in a Southeast Asian city

The experimental music community Jogja Noise Bombing based in the Indonesian city of Yogyakarta has for more than a decade experimented with pop-up performances of harsh noise played on DIY instruments in urban spaces. These urban spaces, however, tend themselves to be very "noisy". Since 2018 we have followed these performances online and through fieldwork in Indonesia with an ongoing curiosity that stays with the trouble of noise. We are attracted to the context of these performances because they challenge us to answer a series of paradoxical questions: what is noise aesthetics in a place where everything is "noisy" and where this noisiness, furthermore, does not seem to be experienced as a problem or provocation? Can one even speak of "noise" if it is not unwanted? The social aesthetics of Indonesian harsh noise music in its specific attunement to the soundscapes of the Indonesian city challenges Western conventional ontologies of noise and ideas of the relationship between "objective" noise and aesthetic performances of noise such as noise music in several ways.

Generalization of noise insulation afforded by common window designs with active noise control exposed to moving noise source

A window device that can provide noise insulation while maintaining natural ventilation is highly desirable and is especially sought after in heavily noise-polluted and hot-humid climates cities, such as Southeast Asian cities. However, a solution to provide such a window is non-trivial because the design principles guiding acoustics and ventilation are diametrically opposed. While louvre windows have traditionally been used in communal, healthcare, and some educational setting to provide a balance between acoustics and ventilation benefits, it is still sorely lacking to provide sufficient insertion loss without sacrificing ventilation entirely. A new plenum window design has recently garnered research and market interest to tackle the dichotomous problem. Additionally, the application of active noise control (ANC) in windows is gaining popularity and offers potential solutions to improve noise control without compromising ventilation. However, it remains unclear how different traditional and modern window designs compare in terms of their acoustic performance, especially when exposed to non-stationary noise sources such as urban traffic, a major noise pollutant. Thus, the present study seeks to provide a generalization of insertion loss provided by different window designs exposed to moving sources including a tangent study on ANC implementation via a time-domain approach.

Characterization of carbonaceous components and PAHs on ultrafine particles in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

This study investigated seasonal fluctuations in particulate matter (PM) concentrations, including carbon and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) components, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, focusing on ultrafine particles (UFPs or ≤ 100nm). UFP levels were notably higher during the dry season, averaging 23.73 ± 3.7µg/m3 compared to 19.64 ± 3.4µg/m3 in the wet season, attributed to increased emissions from vehicles and agricultural burning. In contrast, lower concentrations during the wet season were due to scavenging effect of rain. When compared to other Southeast Asian cities, UFP levels in Phnom Penh were significantly higher during the dry season, surpassing those in cities like Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. Seasonal variations in carbonaceous components showed higher elemental carbon (EC) and total carbon (TC) during the dry season, with EC/TC ratios suggesting substantial influence from vehicular emissions and biomass burning. PAH analysis revealed seasonal disparities, with higher concentrations of benzo[b]fluoranthene (BbF) and benzo[k]fluoranthene (BkF) during the wet season, whereas fluoranthene (Flu) and pyrene (Pyr) were consistently present, indicating diverse PAH sources. The Flu/(Flu + Pyr) ratios, indicative of biomass burning, were higher in the dry season. Correlations between PAHs and carbon components confirmed combustion as a significant source of PAHs, aligning with global trends. This emphasizes the need to address distinct PM sources during various season in Phnom Penh.

The changing rainfall patterns drive the growing flood occurrence in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Study regionUrban flooding is an intensifying issue in the rapidly developing lowland cities of Southeast Asia. Cambodia’s Phnom Penh City, located at the confluence of the Mekong and Tonle Sap Rivers in the lower Mekong Basin, recently saw increasingly prevalent flash floods, resulting in casualties and damages. Study focusWhile flood planning and impact assessments have been done in the Mekong basin, flood causes in the face of climate change remain insufficiently understood. In this paper, the drivers of the increasingly prevalent floods in Phnom Penh are investigated through analysis of remote sensing and instrumental data. New hydrological insights for the regionWith precipitation records from the Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation and gauge station dataset, a general precipitation increase of 7 mm/year and a notable shift to a wetter regime were observed. Strong periodicities of 1/3-year, 1/2-year, 1-year and ∼5-year cycles were also identified, which generally showed a considerable increase in intensity from 1981 to 2021. Over the past 40 years, precipitation patterns have intensified. Yet, the average water levels of the rivers surrounding Phnom Penh have declined by 1–2 m from 1981 to 2021, indicating the pressure from climate change is a major hydrological driver contributing to Phnom Penh's flash floods. Meanwhile, Phnom Penh's vulnerability to flash flooding is also likely aggravated by drastic land use changes, which have increased the city's impervious surfaces and reduced its wetlands by 30 % since the 1980s.

Adaptation measures to alleviate degradation of urban mobility by urban flooding in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand

Since floods caused by overflowing rivers are increasing in Southeast Asia cities, reducing urban mobility, adaptation measures are required to cope with this situation. One possible measure would be to develop transportation facilities to make them passable even during flooding conditions. Another measure is to encourage people to relocate from high-risk areas to low-risk areas. Implementing an appropriate combination of these two different adaptation measures is necessary. However, there is limited research to assess the impacts of adaptation measures on flood risk and urban activity. Therefore, this study developed an urban adaptation model that could assess mobility and land use for Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand, and analyzed to what extent the decrease in urban mobility can be alleviated by combining these adaptation measures. It showed that a combination of both adaptation measures could ensure mobility under flood conditions, with benefits from travel time reduction estimated at up to 230.44 million baht (6.36 million USD) over 20 years.

Strengthening Climate Resilience: Urban Water Technologies for Heat-Resilient Physical Infrastructure in Southeast Asia Cities Amidst Extreme Temperature Events and El Niño Challenges

Strengthening Climate Resilience: Urban Water Technologies for Heat-Resilient Physical Infrastructure in Southeast Asia Cities Amidst Extreme Temperature Events and El Niño Challenges

Evaluation of Future Changes in Climate Extremes over Southeast Asia Using Downscaled CMIP6 GCM Projections

This study presented an assessment of climate extremes in the Southeast Asia (SEA) region, utilizing downscaled climate projections from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) Global Climate Models (GCMs). The study outputs uncovered statistically significant trends indicating a rise in extreme precipitation and temperature events throughout SEA for both the near-term (2021–2060) and long-term (2061–2100) future under both SSP245 and SSP585 scenarios, in comparison to the historical period (1950–2014). Moreover, we investigated the seasonal fluctuations in rainfall and temperature distributions, accentuating the occurrence of drier dry seasons and wetter rainy seasons in particular geographic areas. The focused examination of seven prominent cities in SEA underscored the escalating frequency of extreme rainfall events and rising temperatures, heightening the urban vulnerability to urban flooding and heatwaves. This study’s findings enhance our comprehension of potential climate extremes in SEA, providing valuable insights to inform climate adaptation, mitigation strategies, and natural disaster preparedness efforts within the region.

Chinese cemeteries in Indonesian colonial and post-colonial urban areas: Resistance, urban expansion, nationalistic aspiration, and post-colonial governmentality

Chinese quarters played a significant role in numerous Southeast Asian port cities, with Chinese trading communities thriving for hundreds of years. The proof of the importance of these communities is evident in the presence of Chinatowns and Chinese cemeteries, serving as places for both living and death, in several coastal cities in Southeast Asia. This study investigates Chinese cemeteries in Semarang’s spatial city structure during the colonial period and the gradual transformation of these cemeteries in post-colonial Indonesia amidst turbulent urban development and political conditions. In post-colonial Southeast Asia, city development serves as a platform for nationalistic aspirations. This article explores the roles of Chinese cemeteries as an act of subversion against colonial laws and their gradual disappearance due to city expansion in post-colonial Indonesia. The exploration through the colonial policies concerning land and the placement of the Chinese community, followed by post-colonial policies and urban governmentality on city development and real urban growth practices, provides an opportunity to discuss the roles of Chinese cemeteries for the Indonesian Chinese community in Semarang and their fate in post-colonial urban areas of Indonesia.

Unlocking urban regeneration projects: A case study of Royal Railway Station in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Drawing on theories that encourage compact urban patterns and propose walkable and transit-oriented developments, the article argues that the creation of calibrated pilot projects embedded in the neighborhood grain have the potential to stimulate cultural changes and promote practices that encourage the conceptualization of more sustainable and equitable cities in Southeast Asia. In this context, the article presents the case of the renovation of the old railway station terminal in Phnom Penh (the capital of Cambodia). The building is located in an area that forms a central node in the overall urban structure and could serve as a driving force for the activities of the emerging Central Business District, insisting on the western edge of the historic European quarter designed during the French Protectorate period in the early 20th century. Although small in scale, this initial regeneration and conversion of the building into a place capable of hosting more diverse activities can be seen as the first phase of a larger multimodal hub that, combined with a public park, would provide the city with the vital green infrastructure needed to support recent transformations, taking into account not only public interests but also the various private stakeholders.

A Systematic Assessment of Greening Interventions for Developing Best Practices for Urban Heat Mitigation—The Case of Huế, Vietnam

The health of urban populations is increasingly at risk due to the amplification and chronification of urban heat stress by climate change. This is particularly true for urban environments in humid tropical climates, including many cities in Southeast Asia. It is also in these locations where increasing climatic risks may be exacerbated by urban growth, underscoring the need to develop effective mitigation strategies for strengthening urban resilience and supporting climate change adaptation. Conservation and widespread implementation of green infrastructure (GI) are regarded as one means to counter heat as a public health threat. However, for lower-income countries across Southeast Asia, such as Vietnam, knowledge gaps remain with respect to the effectiveness of greening interventions for heat mitigation. To address this gap, in the context of urban expansion in the humid tropical city of Huế, Vietnam, diurnal cooling potential and regulation of outdoor thermal comfort (OTC) within a wide, shallow street canyon were systematically assessed for selected elements of GI along a quantitative and qualitative dimension using ENVI-met. Tree-based interventions were found to be most effective, potentially decreasing UTCI by −1.9 K at the domain level. Although lower in magnitude, green verges and green facades were also found to contribute to OTC, with green verges decreasing UTCI by up to −1.7 K and green facades by up to −1.4 K locally. Potential synergistic cooling impacts were identified through a combination of GI elements. However, no scenario was found to decrease heat stress to zero or moderate levels. Substantially reducing heat stress may thus require further measures and a closer consideration of local morphological characteristics.

City Leadership in Para-Diplomacy: The Case of Jakarta’s International Engagement in Addressing COVID-19 Pandemic

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the world communities, including the interactions among governments. While some governments chose to conflict with others or overlooked the pandemic, the rest attempted to collaborate in addressing the new global threat. Cities in many countries were the most suffering regions due to the enormous virus-confirmed cases, deaths, and economic declines, intertwining with other urban issues. As the largest city in Southeast Asia and Indonesia, Jakarta could not avoid this unprecedented crisis. However, apart from the efforts to tackle the crisis at home, the city showed its international engagement in addressing the issue together with other world cities as its para-diplomacy. This article aimed to answer the driving factors that encouraged the city for such engagement. It employed the qualitative method with descriptive analysis and the city leadership theory proposed by Rapoport, Acuto and Grcheva. The article found that Jakarta’s international engagement in addressing the pandemic as the city leadership action was driven by the role of city leader, decentralization and global city networking, and the regional COVID-19 policies and internet representing three elements in the theory: actor, structures, and tools. It argues that cities within the global city networking have demonstrated their stronger role during the pandemic, providing opportunities for nation branding by regional initiatives in handling the pandemic in addition to state foreign policy. This study, then, contributes to the studies the city leadership in responding to global issues that merit attention among scholars.

Re-thinking new possibilities for urban climate resilience planning in Bangkok: Introducing adaptation pathways through a multidisciplinary design workshop

In many cities in developing countries, the design and implementation of flood adaptation measures face planning challenges, they are often underdeveloped in practice. This paper aims to investigate the potential for urban flood adaptation solutions and design in practice within the context of a climate-vulnerable Southeast Asian city. We specifically explore the “design workshop” -- an essential process providing valuable experience and conditions for effective climate adaptation in Bangkok. As part of our research, the workshop was organized to introduce and experiment the implication of adaptation pathway approach with designers, urban planners, and decision-makers. Findings reveal that the design workshop provided a collaborative environment, offers transformative space for formulating integrated and context-specific flood adaptation solutions - new possibilities for urban climate resilience in the making. The application of the adaptation pathways facilitates a concrete, quantifiable, and time-bound design process for identifying and sequencing potential flood adaptation measures in Bangkok. Consequently, this paper concludes that multidisciplinary and collaborative processes, along with the introduction of adaptation pathways, stimulating urban flood adaptation planning and implementation in a more collaborative and participative way. However, it is important to note that the feasibility assessment of the proposed solutions still requires essential conditions such as policy synchronization, technical skills, and local resources. To effectively realize these strategies in real-world urban planning practice, this research suggests that local governments should consider implementing a multidisciplinary design process in urban development and flood risk management.

Heat-induced risks of road crashes among older motorcyclists: Evidence from three motorcycle-dominant cities in Taiwan

IntroductionRoad crashes pose significant public health concerns worldwide, with vulnerable road users like motorcyclists accounting for 23% of global road deaths. Recently, heat exposure has been identified as a risk factor for road crashes by reducing driver performance. Given the rapid aging, many Asian cities face challenges regarding heat-induced road crashes among older motorcyclists, a significant segment of the road user population with lower motor abilities and thermal tolerance. In this study, I aim to investigate varying impacts of heat on road crashes across road users in different age groups using different transportation modes in three major Taiwanese cities characterized by motorcycle-dominant traffic cultures and (sub)tropical climates. MethodsTemperature data and records of road crashes involving motorcycles and car drivers from 2018 to 2021 were collected, merged based on the dates, and processed into a year-round dataset and a summer-time dataset. The generalized linear regression model with a Generalized Poisson link function was employed to estimate the association between temperature and road crash frequency, with the analysis stratified by two age groups (i.e., older and younger) and two transportation modes (i.e., car and motorcycle). Results and conclusionIn total, 24 models were built for four driver groups (i.e., older motorcycle, younger motorcycle, older car, and younger car drivers) across three cities using year-round and summer-time datasets. Findings reveal higher vulnerabilities to heat-induced road crashes among older road users, especially those driving motorcycles. Heat-induced road risks among motorcycle drivers significantly increased during the summer, while this pattern was not found for car drivers. Policymakers should develop targeted interventions aimed at mitigating heat-related road crashes among older motorcyclists. In the context of climate change and ageing, this research holds broader implications for the development of policies integrating heat mitigation strategies and traffic safety measures, particularly in Southeast Asian cities with similar demographics and tropical climates.

Analysis of public transport in Central Asian cities in comparison with leading cities in Southeast Asia and Europe: The search for sustainable urban solutions

With rapid urban growth and changing socio-economic factors, it is important to analyze the public transport systems of different geographical regions. This article is aimed at analyzing and comparing public transport in the cities of Central Asia, taking into account the experience of leading cities in Southeast Asia and Europe. The purpose of the study is to identify features, similarities and differences in transport systems to find sustainable urban solutions.

Residential Zones of Students around a University in Ho Chi Minh City: Characteristics and Preferences

The student housing market has had free and unsystematic development in developing cities with a high density of universities. In Ho Chi Minh City, the situation has resulted in specific negative urban issues and low life quality for students. This study aimed to clarify how students allocate around a university, the residential zones' characteristics, and preferences for the residential zones. We analyzed survey data of 304 students at a university in Ho Chi Minh City. We addressed the differences among residential zones through statistical analyses of group differences. A multinomial logit model was deployed to explore students' choice of residential zones. Results show significant characteristics that affected the students' choice, including academic levels, motorcycle usage, employment status, family income, household member, household size, and gender. Some implications for policymaking in the student housing market were raised regarding residential zones, integrating transport systems, travel behavior, and employment opportunities. The study enhanced knowledge of the student housing situation (i.e., residential zones or residential allocation) and the student's preferences. Policymakers and practitioners developing student housing markets, built environments, and related services can benefit from this study. The findings apply to the specific city under investigation and are useful to other Southeast Asian cities with similar socio-cultural contexts.

Advocating Integrated Catchment Management for Hong Kong Northern Metropolis

Rapid urbanisation and population growth have brought significant transformations in the built and natural environment in Southeast Asian cities. In this process, rivers are crucial components in alleviating the negative impacts of urban development, primarily in relationship with flood prevention, recreational space provision, and agricultural production. Previous research has provided ample knowledge about river management’s ecological and economic impacts; however, limited attention has been given to the impacts of channelisation on rural degradation and non-conforming land-use expansion. This longitudinal research employs quantitative analysis of the spatial-temporal dynamics of the landscape transformations associated with river management, using a case study in Yuen Long, Hong Kong. The results showed intensified degradation in the agricultural landscape with an intense increase in non-conforming land use following channelisation, revealing that the hydrological alterations play a pivotal role in rural degradation. Finally, this research underscored the significance of incorporating river management into urban planning at the catchment level for future rural and periurban development.

Health first, convenience second: Caregiver perspectives of commercially produced complementary foods in five Southeast Asian capital cities.

Caregivers in low- and middle-income countriesincreasingly feed commercially produced complementary foods (CPCF) to older infants and young children-shaped by factors including industry promotion. The dynamics of CPCF consumption and caregiver knowledge, attitudesand behaviours regarding complementary feeding practices are poorly understood in these settings. We examined how caregiver knowledge/attitudes/behaviours about CPCF shape the feeding of older infants and young children in the capital cities of five countries in Southeast Asia (Bangkok, Hanoi, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila).An online, web-based, cross-sectional panel survey was conducted among mothers of a child aged 6-23 months. One hundred participants were included in each of the five capital cities. Questionnaires were undertaken in the official language of each city. Data were analysed in Stata (version 17.0), using χ2 tests to examine difference between variables of interest.All mothers purchased CPCF for their youngest child aged 6-23 months at the time of survey. CPCF were commonly fed to children at least once per day, and in many of the five cities at most or every feeding. While factors such as convenience and affordability influenced CPCF purchase, mothers primarily purchased CPCF for nutritional reasons. The most common source of feeding information was health care professionals, followed by social media.CPCF are ubiquitous in the diets of older infants and young children of educated middle-upper socioeconomic status mothers in capital cities of Southeast Asia, with perceived healthiness a key driver in selecting CPCF. A strong governmental regulatory response to industry marketing/promotion will be critical to addressing CPCF appropriateness, including health and nutritional claim use.

Driving supply chain performance through digital HRM: The mediating role of green orientation and the moderating role of green innovation

Design/Methodology: This study involved supply chain managers in manufacturing companies in DKI Jakarta and West Java Provinces, Indonesia. The reason is that these two provinces had many manufacturing companies and were two of the largest industrial cities in Southeast Asia. Based on the survey conducted, there were 160 questionnaires distributed. However, the data that meets the requirements is 145 and can be processed further. This study used the Structural Equation Model (SEM) analysis technique using Partial Least Square. Findings: This study has confirmed a number of findings including: (1) Digital HRM had a positive and significant influence on SC performance, (2) Digital HRM had a positive and significant influence on green orientation, (3) Green Orientation had no positive and significant influence on SC performance, (4) ) Green Orientation did not mediate the effect of Digital HRM on SC performance, (5) Green Innovation had a positive and significant influence on green orientation and Green Innovation did not moderate the influence of digital HRM on SC performance.Research Limitation/Implications: This study only focuses on the scope of Digital Human Resource Management (DHRM) on Supply Chain Performance (SCP). The mediating role of Green Orientation and the moderating role of Green Innovation in research findings did not have a significant contribution. The next study is expected to examine the concept of digital HRM which is not only oriented towards green orientation and green innovation in manufacturing companies. Other considerations are needed such as digital entrepreneurship, digital business and digital skills which are currently developing in the world and even in Indonesia. This is because Digital entrepreneurship, digital business and digital skills are one of the supporters of economic growth and company performance in a sustainable manner. Managerial Implication: This study is expected to be a reference for practitioners, especially in the field of Digital Human Resource Management (DHRM) on Supply Chain Performance (SCP). Furthermore, the concept of digital HRM by organizations can be used as an effective alternative in continuously improving SC performance in manufacturing companies in Indonesia. Theoretical Implication: The findings of this research provide a theoretical contribution related to the pattern of relationship between digital HRM and SC performance, although green orientation did not mediate the pattern of relationship between digital HRM and SC performance, likewise, green innovation did not mediate the pattern of relationship between digital HRM and SC performance. However, these two aspects can be an important focus in this research and must be considered for further research. Originality/Value: This study has originality because it examines the role of digital HRM on SC performance which is still very rarely researched especially when it is associated with the mediating role of green orientation and green innovation.

Urban expansion in South Tangerang: Analyzing Bintaro Jaya as a private city

The phenomenon of urban expansion in Southeast Asia has increased since the 1960s due the land development for the capital as well as surrounding cities supporting it. Since the 1970s, private developers in Jabodetabek have transformed rural areas into new cities and connecting them primarily via toll roads. They have developed the suburb aggressively for real estate projects, resulting in rapid urban sprawl. Most of these new cities are outfitted with amenities, including schools, hospitals, sewage systems, medical facilities, security personnel, and public parks. Some were motivated by the need for new settlements, while others were motivated by economic and industrial growth. However, the new cities have become segregated communities because they are heavily guarded, gated, and surrounded by walls. Their existence creates disparities between private cities and surrounding kampongs, which can be problematic for the surrounding society. Through literature review, mapping, interviews, and taking Bintaro Jaya as the case study, this paper analyses the characteristics of the private city in Southeast Asia and the Indonesian context as well as how gentrification resulting from land transformation has become the primary driver of urban expansion. This paper argues that the definition of Private cities cannot be generally adopted to Indonesian context.