Taipei Metropolitan Region Research Articles

Assessing the synergies and trade-offs of development projects in response to climate change in an urban region

A synthesis of the complex relationships, including synergies and trade-offs, between urban development projects and climate change mitigation and adaptation objectives can ensure that all these relationships are taken into consideration. We used a systems approach and applied an impact matrix and chain effect analysis methods to projects in the highly urbanized Taipei metropolitan region to identify the influences and effects between urban development projects and climate change objectives. Three types of urban plans and projects were analyzed: flood control, transportation, and urban planning. The magnitudes of the influences and effects between these projects and plans were derived through interviews with experts familiar with Taipei's urban development. This pilot study found no synergy in the response to climate change mitigation and adaptation for the urban development projects analyzed. The current standalone policies and plans related to urbanization in Taipei have resulted in trade-offs for flood control and public transit projects because they contribute positively toward one climate objective but negatively impact another. A high-level policymaking mechanism that ensures coordination and collaboration between different sectors is needed to supervise sectoral policies. Prior to the approval and implementation of a plan, policymakers should request the assessment of synergies and trade-offs between plans and projects to ensure a synergistic effect to climate change issues. This study confirms that the strategy from individual sector in a metropolitan region will result in trade-off between climate change issues is a global problem. This paper also strengthens the concept that the assessment of synergy/trade-offs between policy and plans should be conducted using systemic approach.

Integrated spatial ecosystem model for simulating land use change and assessing vulnerability to flooding

Components of urban vulnerability (exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity) to extreme climate events are directly related to urbanization. An indicator-based approach has frequently been used to assess urban vulnerability, but the interactions among indicators representing the components of vulnerability and the feedback interactions between vulnerability and urbanization have rarely been considered. To understand the interactive and dynamic relationships between urbanization and vulnerability, a study was undertaken that applied systems ecology theory to the development of a spatial model for the simulation of land use change and vulnerability to flooding in the Taipei metropolitan region. The study area was divided into grids of 1km×1km, and each grid cell was represented by a system model comprising subsystems of natural area, agricultural area, and urban area. A model of vulnerability assessment was attached with the urban area subsystem to calculate the three components of vulnerability as a consequence of land use change and to show the bilateral relationship between urbanization and vulnerability. The simulation results showed that the spatial distribution of urban development in the Taipei metropolitan region and the components of vulnerability that were directly affected by urbanization. The simulation results suggested that peri-urban areas of the Taipei metropolitan region have higher vulnerability to flooding than the heavily urbanized areas in the Taipei basin. The simulation results also revealed that the pace of urban development would be slowed if the assessed vulnerability was used as feedback to subsequent urban development.

Asian Dust Storm Events are Associated With an Acute Increase in Pneumonia Hospitalization

This study aims to examine the association of Asian dust storm (ADS) events with the daily number of pneumonia admissions using 10-year population-based data in the Taipei metropolitan region. We identified 1,933,247 admissions with a principal discharge diagnosis of pneumonia between 2000 and 2009. The auto-regressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) method was used to examine the associations between ADS episodes and the logarithm of the daily number of pneumonia hospitalizations. There was a significant difference in the mean number of daily pneumonia admissions between ADS event days, post-ADS event days, and non-ADS event days (P < .001); the mean number of daily admissions for ADS event days, post-ADS event days, and non-ADS event days were 292.5, 305.7, and 279.0, respectively. After adjusting for the time-trend effect, ambient temperature, and SO(2), CO, and O(3), the ARIMA showed that compared with non-ADS event days, ADS event days and post-ADS event days 1 through 4 had a significantly higher mean number of pneumonia admissions for the total group. Our results suggest that ADS event days and post-ADS days 1 through 4 had significantly higher mean numbers of pneumonia admissions than non-ADS days.

Contesting Urban and Rural Space in Desakota Regions of Taiwan—A Case Study of I-Lan County

The article focuses on the analysis of the desakotasi (village-city process) in Taiwan’s local context of I-Lan County. Particular attention is paid to the manner in which political conflicts have shaped the urbanization process in I-Lan County over the last 20 years. Those conflict points include primarily the construction of Industrial Zones (IZs) and Taipei-I-Lan super highway promoted by the ruling Kuomintang Party (KMT), which were designed to increase Taiwan’s international competitiveness. But such measures were opposed by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) with an ideology of local first. Local magistrates issued a series of environmental protection policies against the developmental strategies of the central state, the ruling Kuomintang. In the following years, the continuing rotation of political parties created conflict that brought demonstration at the local level. These developments were affected by international and national developments that led to a restructuring of economic space in Taiwan particularly processes of urban expansion that led to a steady decline of agriculture. The significant push-and-pull effect of contesting spaces in political conflicts between KMT- and DPP-controlled periods could be evidenced by: (1) the decline or prosperity of the Industrial Zones and Suao township; (2) the enlargement of urban cores like I-Lan City and Luodong Township; and (3) the formation of a mixed space of urban–rural corridor. I-Lan County, which so long remained in the shadow of the Taipei metropolis, is now increasingly integrated into the Taipei metropolitan region. And its future relies upon the resolution of the political conflicts surrounding environmental protection and the spatial reconstruction of the region so that its desakota heritage may be preserved.

Investigating spatiotemporal patterns of landscape diversity in response to urbanization

Landscape patterns in urban regions are usually influenced by human-induced change in land cover in the processes of urbanization. Landscape spatial patterns have profound implications for the functions of ecological systems, and landscape diversity is an effective parameter representing landscape spatial patterns. However, the dynamics of landscape diversity in response to urbanization and its relationships with other aspects of landscape patterns have not been adequately discussed in the context of urban regions. Moreover, the significance of spatial distributions and local differences in landscape diversity within urban regions has received minimal attention. To further understand landscape diversity this study conducted a series analysis of landscape metrics to describe the spatiotemporal pattern of landscape diversity within the Taipei metropolitan region between 1971 and 2005. The landscape metrics were also analyzed to present the characteristics of landscape patterns and examine the correlations of metrics. The dynamics of intra-level landscape diversity in response to urbanization and its relationships with other aspects of landscape patterns were revealed by a series of metric analyses. The spatial distributions and local differences of landscape diversity were revealed to identify the areas where landscape diversity significantly changed in Taipei metropolitan region. This study also identified the regular pattern of landscape diversity in response to the process of urbanization and tested the theory of urban growth.

Synthesis and spatial dynamics of socio-economic metabolism and land use change of Taipei Metropolitan Region

Ever since the concept of metabolism was extended from biological science by social scientists to analyze human systems, socio-economic metabolism has been extensively applied to explore resource consumption, asset accumulation, waste emissions, and complex processes of land use change in a socio-economic system. Current research in socio-economic metabolism and land use change has used accounting approaches for macroscopic comparisons of countries and regions. However, socio-economic metabolism has seldom been applied to the analysis of land use change. To simulate the spatial-temporal dynamics of socio-economic metabolism and land use change, this study adopts a spatial system modeling method to develop a Socio-Economic Metabolism and Land Use Change (SEMLUC) model for the Taipei Metropolitan Region. The simulation results illustrate that the Taipei Metropolitan Region is highly dependent on inflows of non-renewable energy and exhibits a spatial hierarchy of non-renewable energy consumption centering on Taipei's Main station. Additionally, urban assets provide feedback to natural and agricultural systems to extract additional resource inflows which, driven by the maximum power principle, accelerate the convergence of energy flows toward urban assets. Accumulating urban assets also facilitates inflows of non-renewable material to nearby cells thereby enhancing land use conversion to urban areas. This work also demonstrates the capability of ArcGIS software in simulating socio-economic metabolism and land use change in an urban system.

Simulations of Strong Ground Motion and 3D Amplification Effect in the Taipei Basin by Using a Composite Grid Finite-Difference Method

We perform full elastic wave-field simulations within the Taipei basin by using a three-dimensional (3D) discontinuous finite-difference method. The 3D Taipei basin model is determined from a seismic reflection study. Two major subsurfaces, the Songshan formation (surface soil layer) and the basin basement, are constituted in the model. A parallel-based composite grid technique, a containing scalene grid and a discontinuous grid, is developed in this study to deal with the possible numerical prob- lem of thin depth and low velocity of the Songshan formation. Taking advantage of the composite grid, the resolution of the subsurface structure can be reached to 20 m, and a higher frequency (up to 3 Hz) of the synthetic waveform can be achieved. In our strong ground motion simulations, we assume a constant velocity in each subsurface. Three different types of models are considered in the study: the Songshan formation with a basement structure model, a basin basement model, and a layered half-space model. Results indicate that only the model with both the Songshan formation and the basement structure can produce the apparent basin amplification effects. First, the surface wave generated after the primary S wave is trapped at the shallow part of the basin. Then, when the wave propagates through the deepest part of the basin, most of the energy is reflected from the boundary and focused back into the basin. In addi- tion, part of the seismic wavefront turns and follows the shallow basin edge resulting in further amplification. Our study indicates that the complex Taipei basin geometry and fairly low velocity of the Songshan formation dominate the amplification and wave propagation behavior that result in extraordinary strong shaking patterns in the Taipei metropolitan region.

Three-Dimensional Simulations of Seismic-Wave Propagation in the Taipei Basin with Realistic Topography Based upon the Spectral-Element Method

We use the spectral-element method to simulate strong ground motion throughout the Taipei metropolitan area. Mesh generation for the Taipei basin poses two main challenges: (1) the basin is surrounded by steep mountains, and (2) the city is located on top of a shallow, low-wave-speed sedimentary basin. To accommodate the steep and rapidly varying topography, we introduce a thin high-resolution mesh layer near the surface. The mesh for the shallow sedimentary basin is adjusted to honor its complex geometry and sharp lateral wave-speed contrasts. Variations in Moho thickness beneath Northern Taiwan are also incorporated in the mesh. Spectral-element simulations show that ground motion in the Taipei metropolitan region is strongly affected by the geometry of the basin and the surrounding mountains. The amplification of ground motion is mainly controlled by basin depth and shallow shear-wave speeds, although surface topography also serves to amplify and prolong seismic shaking.

Energetic mechanisms and development of an urban landscape system

Viewing urbanization as a change in the source and amount of energy flows from rural background to urban core provides a biophysical perspective of urban development. In this paper we begin by applying energetic principles to an urban setting and relating them to spatial hierarchy. Based on past research in urban energy theory and system modeling, we developed a spatial model to simulate the evolving spatial hierarchy of an urban system due to changing energy flows. Using an energy systems diagram, the spatial unit model consists of three interacting subsystems – natural area, agricultural area and urban area – representing a simplified entity or unit model of each grid element within a city-region. The Taipei metropolitan region is used as an example and is divided into grids of 1 km × 1 km to reveal the spatial heterogeneity of the urban landscape system. The spatial simulation was performed using geographical information system (GIS) and the model results show an increase in the urban energy hierarchy and reveal a pattern of spatial convergence. The energetic mechanisms of the evolving spatial hierarchy of the urban landscape system are discussed.

Energy hierarchy and urban landscape system

The study of ecosystems suggests principles by which the flow of energy generates hierarchies in all systems. From viewpoint of ecological energetics, urban system lies on the highest level of ecosystem hierarchy. The main objective of this paper is to study the effect of energy flows on the hierarchies and spatial organization of urban zonation. This research uses Taipei metropolitan region as the area for the case study. “Emergy” is used as the principal conceptual tool for energy analysis; “transformity” is used to measure the hierarchies of land uses and urban landscape systems. Based on the calculation of the spatial distribution of energy flows, using GIS, the empower density and transformity increase from rural to urban center. In order to delineate zones of different energetics, the 1178 administrative districts of the Taipei metropolitan region are used as units for multivariate classification, in which 19 variables of energy flows are condensed into four factors. The factor scores of each districts are then used as input for cluster analysis and discriminate analysis. As a result, different energy structures, and subsequently, different types and amount of energy flows tend to associate with different intensities of urbanization. The Taipei metropolitan region is classified into six energetic zones: mixed-use urban core; high density urban residential district; service and manufacturing urban district; agricultural district, newly developed suburban district; and natural area. The calculation of transformity and emergy indices further establish the hierarchical order of these zones. The distribution of the six energetic zones, reveals the spatial energetic hierarchies of Taipei metropolitan region. The implication of energetic characteristics to planning practice is also discussed to conclude this research.

Commuting and Land Use Patterns

The assumption in cost minimization behavior is that a close relationship exists between urban structures and commuting patterns. Thus, an investigation of cost minimization could be undertaken by examining the existing relationship between land use and commuting patterns. Such an examination is undertaken by investigating the relationship between urban structures and commuting, using the following two measures: excess commuting and jobs/housing balance. Given the actual land use pattern in 1990, the requisite commuting distance in the Taipei metropolitan region is estimated. The results demonstrate a 79% excess commuting rate, but also indicate that only a minor influence exists on commuting from the job/housing balance in the Taipei metropolitan region, a finding which calls into question cost minimization behavioral assumptions. When comparing these findings to studies undertaken in Los Angeles and Tokyo, within these two regions, the findings indicated differing degrees of excess commuting; the relati...

Optimization analysis for the development of short-team solid waste management strategies using presorting process prior to incinerators

This paper explores a new idea that an operational program in a solid waste management system should be based on not only the cost-saving principle but also the energy and material recovery requirements. The proposed optimization analysis illustrates an evaluation of how the waste inflows with different rates of generation, physical and chemical compositions, and heating values in the service areas can be processed by centralized presorting facilities to meet both the energy recovery and throughput requirements for the target incinerators. A case study in the Taipei metropolitan region shows the application potentials of such a planning methodology.

Towards a Symbiosis: Urban Development and Environmental Quality in the Taipei Metropolitan Region

Environmental quality in urban areas has become an increasingly important topic in Taiwan. Previous research involving the interrelationshipsbetween urban development and environmental quality have rarely emphasized the symbiosis between urban areas and the natural environment. In recent years, the discipline of ecological economics has applied ecological energetic analysis to evaluate the contribution of the natural environment to an urban system. In addition, system simulation also plays a prominent role in assessing the dynamic interrelations between humans, economics and ecological systems. On the basis of an ecological economics perspective, this paper establishes indices of environmental quality and develops an ecological system model to simulate the interrelationshipsbetween urban developmentand environmentalquality of the Taipei metropolitan region. Furthermore, this paper not only proposes future development alternatives and strategies, but also initiates scenarios of the Taipei metropolitan region for policy simulation. According to those results, future development in the Taipei metropolitan region should adjust the interface and mechanism between man and nature for sustainable development.

Economic Evaluation of a Regionalization Program for Solid Waste Management in a Metropolitan Region

The complexity of large scale solid waste management projects, in this age of stringent fiscal and disposal space constraints, requires the application of a new broad-based management approach that takes full advantage of the benefits afforded by modern centralized facilities. To satisfy this need, this paper is designed to evaluate a regionalization program for solid waste management in a metropolitan region. An optimization model is applied to identify cost-effective expansion plans through the use of optimal siting strategies. In particular, the procedure considers three potentially conflicting criteria: costs, political and administrative feasibility, and the siting of new transfer station facilities. Final solutions may optimally direct waste generation sources to new transfer station locations, treatment plants, and disposal facilities within each planning stage at a minimal cost. This methodology has been tested extensively through several solid waste management plans for the Taipei metropolitan region in Taiwan. The results of the case studies also indicate that by siting new transfer stations, the optimal strategies of regionalization options can reduce direct costs and help generate satisfactory solid waste management programs if political obstacles are not existing.

Ecosystem, environmental quality and ecotechnology in the Taipei metropolitan region

The “self-design” capability of a natural environment is ignored in currently practiced environmental technology and urban planning professionals. Therefore, we propose an ecological engineering approach to conduct scenarios for environmental management in the metropolitan region of Taipei. Ecological energetic analysis is applied to assess the ecological economic status and the role and contribution of solid waste and water resources in the Taipei metropolitan region. The benefit of an ecological engineering approach to the environmental quality and sustainable development of the metropolitan region is evaluated using emergy synthesis. The results indicate that Taipei metropolitan region operates its activity mainly on the imported fuels and goods and services, which account for 90% of total emergy used. The treatment of waste as resources and the use of the self-design capability of the natural environment according to the ecological engineering approach can generate positive contribution and aid the environmental quality and productive potential of the ecological economic system. It is concluded that ecological sustainability should be used as a reference of environmental quality for urban development policy.

A system model to analyse environmental carrying capacity for managing urban growth of the Taipei metropolitan region

Urban growth possesses the characteristic of an environmental carrying capacity, beyond which adverse environmental effects will occur. An urban-environmental system model, comprising subsystems of urban development, urban water uses and streams, is developed for analysing the human carrying capacity of the Taipei metropolitan region. In this study, availability of land, capacities of water-related infrastructures and water quality standards are used as limiting factors; variables of population and urbanized area are used as indicators of carrying capacity. The allowable increases of population and urbanized area for each administrative district by the year 2000 are simulated. The results of the analysis indicate that urban growth in the Taipei metropolitan region will besignificantly constrained by the environmentally sensitive characteristics of land, and the availability and capacity of the water supply system and waste treatment facilities. Resource management strategies based on the results of sensitivity analysis are proposed and used as model inputs to demonstrate that such constraints can be alleviated through better management of man and his environment.