Kazunori Hokao

Developing Soundscapegraphy for the Notation of Urban Soundscape : Its Concept, Method, Analysis and Application

The establishment of the concept of soundscape has brought about a new aspect for sound environment, and many conceptual and practical researches have been performed around the world. However, the notation of soundscape, in other words, the way how we can record, describe or express the soundscape, still need to be studied furthermore. Soundscape is the concept of an environment of sound (sonic environment) with emphasis on the way how it is perceived and understood by individual, or by a society, and thus it depends on the relationship between individual and any such environment. Therefore, the notation of soundscape should put emphasis on not only the physical characteristics but also the perception of the people, as well as the relationship between them. In this paper, firstly the notation of soundscape was reviewed with the concept of soundscapegraphy, which was composed of objective information, subjective information, environmental information and analysis information. Then, the methodology of making soundscapegraphy was discussed from the stage of data collection, data processing, mapping to analysis, and in the data processing GIS technique was applied. Next, with the case study of Saga urban areas, the analysis of urban soundscape was performed by means of soundscapegraphy. Finally, the applications of soundscapegraphy and the prospect for future research were discussed. Soundscapegraphy can be a proper and applicable method for the notation and analysis of soundscape.

The Reduction Potential of Energy Consumption, CO2 Emissions and Cost of Existing Urban Residential Buildings in Hangzhou City, China

abstract China has become the second largest emitter of CO2 in the world. As one of the largest energy consumers, urban residential buildings are required to reduce energy consumption. However nearly all existing urban residential buildings in the Hot Summer and Cold Winter Region of China were built with poor thermal quality. Increasing a building’s energy performance has proven to be very helpful in alleviating the pressure of energy shortages and in reducing CO2 emissions. After analyzing the climate of the region, the economic development and existing urban residential buildings of Hangzhou city, one typical building is selected as a case study. Six rational renovation plans, based upon the national and regional standards, are advanced after analyzing their feasibility in simulations and in practice. The energy saving effects of the plans are analyzed using the feedback coefficient method, the reduction of CO2 emissions by a simple LCCO2 method and the costs by a simple LCC method, all for a 40-year residual life span. Based upon these results a suitable plan is developed. The results show that the renovation of existing residential buildings, through the thermal insulation of their building envelopes, is very beneficial in reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions.

Effects of Energy Saving Measures for Existing Urban Residential Buildings Based on Thermal Simulation and Site Investigation of Energy Consumption

Abstract This is one of two papers that predict the effects of energy saving renovation measures for existing urban residential buildings. The previous paper predicted such effects based on thermal simulation, but the simulative outputs are not sufficiently convincing. So in this paper, the measures′ effects will be further analyzed based on the factual electricity consumption from site investigation. Firstly, the monthly electricity consumption of the subject building was investigated in 2007/2008. Then, the factual heating and cooling loads were distinguished through climate analysis. Finally, assuming that the relative energy saving effects of the measures are the same in thermal simulation and in fact, the simulative energy saving effects were revised by applying the factual heating and cooling loads, followed by CO2 emission and cost for a 40-year residual life span. The results show that the simulative outputs were too exaggerated, and must be revised based on factual electricity consumption. From the viewpoint of reducing energy use and CO2 emission, it is worth renovating existing residential buildings with energy saving measures, however, the economic benefits following revision are negative because of the too cheap electricity price in China. Therefore the government should provide subsidies for the energy saving renovations of buildings.

Campus Lifestyle and Its Relationship with Residential Environment Evaluation - A Case Study of Hangzhou City, China

abstract With the rapid development of Chinese universities and colleges in the past few years, there has been a significant increase in the population of enrolled students accompanied by a big expansion of campus area. These changes have influenced and are influencing the campus residential environment and lifestyles. As a result, the issue of their relationships should call for more attention. Due to the differences in personal values and campus lifestyles, students′ demands on the residential environment show diversity. In the case study of Hangzhou City, China, viewpoints concerning personal attributes, residential preferences and campus conditions to represent the residential lifestyles on campus were introduced and analyzed. Six university campuses were selected as survey objectives in order to comprehensively demonstrate campus environment conditions in the city. Four patterns of campus residential lifestyle were classified by residential preferences; and their characteristics were compared through subjective evaluation and objective conditions. The results of this research provide the basic data for future work in the improvement of the Chinese campus environment. Furthermore, the methodology of characterizing residential lifestyles may bring about a new useful perspective for further research on the evaluation of residential environment.

An Evaluation of Carbon Emission Changes in the Japanese Housing Sector from 1980-1995

abstract Urban development has made life convenient and comfortable. Travel has become faster, communication has become easier. However, there are externalities that we need to face due to urban development; the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol and its recent enforcement has led signatory countries to limit and propose ways on how to achieve the reduction in emissions by 2012. One aspect of proposed reduction is to make urban development sustainable. Urban development is related to infrastructure systems that generations build for the improvement of the quality of life. Construction of residential and non-residential buildings in cities is part of the infrastructure systems that we need to assess to be able to achieve the 6% reduction limit of carbon emissions. This paper studies the changes of carbon emissions induced by residential construction. To be able to assess the future requirements of society in terms of infrastructure facilities and its sustainability, a study on the historical changes of carbon emissions and the relationship of material requirements to emissions are necessary. The Input-Output Approach coupled with Structural Decomposition Analysis (SDA) is used to analyze the impacts of Japanese residential construction on the environment. The changes in construction technology, emission structure and material manufacturing technology are studied in this paper. It can be shown that these changes contribute to the fluctuations in the carbon emissions from residential construction during the 15-year study period.

Residential Environment Evaluation Model and Residential Preferences of the Changjiang Delta Region of China

Abstract Residential environment quality is one of the basic elements for quality of life, as well as the main support for activities of economy, culture and society. In this paper, the authors selected the Changjiang Delta Region of China as the study area, which is in the fastest growing region of China and having a great influence on other cities. First, questionnaire surveys focusing on residential attributes, residential satisfaction, residential preferences and residential selection factors were carried out. Then through analysis, the authors established the residential environment evaluation system and models for this area. They also found the principal components for residential selection and residential preference of citizens. The results of this research not only can give direction to the development and improvement of the residential environment of Chinese cities, but also can contribute to other similar areas in Asia.

Relationship of public preferences and behavior in residential outdoor spaces using analytic hierarchy process and principal component analysis—a case study of Hangzhou City, China

This study examined public attitudes concerning the value of outdoor spaces which people use daily. Two successive analyses were performed based on data from common residents and college students in the city of Hangzhou, China. First, citizens registered various items constituting desirable values of residential outdoor spaces through a preliminary questionnaire. The result proposed three general attributes (functional, aesthetic and ecological) and ten specific qualities of residential outdoor spaces. An analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was applied to an interview survey in order to clarify the weights among these attributes and qualities. Second, principal factors were extracted from the ten specific qualities with principal component analysis (PCA) for both the common case and the campus case. In addition, the variations of respondents’ groups were classified with cluster analysis (CA) using the results of the PCA. The results of the AHP application found that the public prefers the functional attribute, rather than the aesthetic attribute. The latter is always viewed as the core value of open spaces in the eyes of architects and designers. Furthermore, comparisons of ten specific qualities showed that the public prefers the open spaces that can be utilized conveniently and easily for group activities, because such spaces keep an active lifestyle of neighborhood communication, which is also seen to protect human-regarding residential environments. Moreover, different groups of respondents diverge largely in terms of gender, age, behavior and preference.

ZONAL IMPACT ANALYSIS OF A STRATEGIC PLANNING APPROACH FOR LAND DEVELOPMENT CONTROLS - A Case Study of Bangkapi, Bangkok -

Due to rapid urban developments in developing cities, the integration of land-use and transportation planning is very necessary. However, up-to-date land-use and transportation interaction planning is still difficult, because of rapid urbanization and complex relationships. The lack of human resources, budget, and necessary data are some of the hindrances. The planners in Bangkok have tried to utilize Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) in harmonizing land developments and transportation improvements, but without a complete land-use comprehensive plan, the TIA cannot effectively manage urbanization. This paper intends to propose a Zonal Impact Analysis (ZIA) framework as a strategic planning tool to balance travel demands of land developments and performance of transportation systems over urban areas. First, the land-use planning situation in Bangkok is explained, afterwards the framework is described. The framework is applied into Bangkapi areas as a case study. Both single and simultaneous development cases are considered. It was found that more comprehensive development alternatives were established. The most suitable zone for a single project is Zone 179, as the advantages of location in the center of radial networks, so full accessibility can be provided. Without any network improvements in Zone 179, the simultaneous developments should be implemented in Zone 168 and 173, as high capacities of the expressway are available. The results give a better understanding on the characteristics of land-use and transportation planning in Bangkapi. Finally, it was emphasized that the ZIA framework is a strategic planning alternative to increase the capabilities of growth management for sustainable developments.

Perception about the Rebound Effect Appearing after Energy Efficiency Improvement in the Household Sector of China

The ubiquitous discrepancies between predicted and actual outcome of energy efficiency improvement have attracted much attention of the Chinese experts in the field of household energy efficiency. But few people in China realize that it is rebound effect that induces such discrepancies, which at present has been widely accepted in the developed countries. First, in this article the definition and formation process of the rebound effect in the household sector have been described. Then, a high rebound effect of at least more than 30% and more than 50% has been perceived through the combination of the actual situation of China and the experience of other countries. Finally, the influence of the rebound effect in the household sector has been proven negative on the energy demand and energy security of China.

Establishment of a Methodology to Guide Energy-efficient Renovation of Existing Residential Buildings in China

Energy-efficient renovation has been accepted widely as the best solution for upgrading existing residential buildings. In order to guide such real projects in China and maximize the benefits in energy, environmental and economic fields from the activities, in this article a methodology is developed for decision-makers to assist the design of energy efficient renovation plan in the early stage of design phase. Following the methodology, a suitable energy-efficient renovation plan, integrating all effective and available energy saving measures and as well as excluding all useless and/or unfeasible ones, is put forward for subject building and its effects on the reduction of energy use, CO2 emission and cost are evaluated accurately.