Read Response Draft 2: Sustainability Effort

In the webpage "Sustainability Effort" (n.d.) taken from Gardens by the Bay website reported about the key function of the Gardens as an ecosystem that able to self-sustain in a environment. The ecosystem works by themselves without much maintenance issues to achieve environmental sustainability. These systems comprises the Lake system, the Conservatories and Supertrees. The Lake systems acts as a biotope that accommodates the aquatic animals and plants which later on helps to cleanse the surface run-off as well as the lake itself. Subsequently, the cleansed water is then discharge in Marina Reservoir and also used for irrigation purposes. Besides the Lake systems, the webpage also mentioned about the Conservatories. The two biomes are equipped with advanced technology allowing it to simulate the climate temperature suitable to certain region to accommodate rare plants in Singapore. It also mentioned in webpage further about Supertrees which are equipped with solar planes. These allows the trees to harvest electricity in the day hence reducing the amount of electricity used at night. These environmental efforts can make huge improvements such as reducing the carbon emissions in the atmosphere. Therefore, I agree that this initiative effort should be supported in Singapore.

In 2006, Public Utilities Board (PUB) has launched Active, Beautiful and Clean water programe (ABC water programe) to promote the improtance of water quality and appreciate water resources. As most of the water supply in Singapore are from the local catchment, water quality flowing into the reservoir need to be control to prevent unwanted pollutants. Therefore the water agency in Singapore need to find ways to make the water quality better in the drain, canals and riverbanks before entering the reservoirs. Sustainability is the main idea of PUB as it require less maintenance thus it create a whole new ecosystem in a community. This is mention in PUB webpage (2016) that ABC water programme is introduce to enhance water and life quality by combining the drain, canal and reservoir with the surrounding environment. Hence it transform the garden into an ecosystem that able to self sustain. According to Susdrain (n.d.), UK drainage systems are transformed into a sustainable drainage that allows rain and surface water run-off to cleanse naturally by allowing water to soak in the ground thus filtering unwanted pollutants.

Secondly, this initiative is not only cleansing the water runoff quality but also  Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park( (2014, Section 10)) is a great example of PUB ABC water project which uses a similar concept to Gardens by the bay. This idea was echoed in PUB’s webpage (2006), this programme is to transform all the drains, canals and reservoirs in Singapore into beautiful and clean streams hence bring the community closer to the nature. This environmental sustainability effort can be made into smaller scales such as parks near HDB houses as well as condomium, hospital and also schools. These way sustainability efforts can spread widely across Singapore hence improving the ecosystem as well as the aesthetic of the environment. In the ABC water guideline book (2014, Section 10) suggests that parks such Bishan-Ang Mo Kio park and public hospital like Khoo Teck Puat hospital have benefited from environmental sustainability concept.

Moreover, communities get to enjoy the recreational spaces and conscious about the nature. In additional, these efforts would make Singapore a greener city. Because of this reason, Ministry of Environment and Water Resource has initiated the 1st edition of Active, Beautiful and Clean water guideline (ABC water guidelines) in 2009 which basically to encourage developers in Singapore to adopt ABC Waters design features in their developments. Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park is a great example of PUB ABC water project which uses a similar concept to Gardens by the bay however in smaller scale. According to Ramboll, it stated that Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park was reconstructed from the conventional concrete drainage to bioengineered riverbank by incorporating the living plants to act as river walls. These plants are there to function as a filtration system as well as aesthetic of the drainage. Hence, transforming the space to be closer to water and nature.

Apart from Singapore, other countries such as United Kingdom are also implementing a similar concept of sustainable development in their country. According to Susdrain (n.d.), UK drainage systems are transformed into a sustainable drainage that allows rain and surface water run-off to cleanse naturally by allowing water to soak in the ground thus filtering unwanted pollutants. This is similar to the concept that PUB adopted. However, UK project are much larger in scale than Singapore. Thus, the impacts in the ecosystem are obviously noticeable. Examples of problems solved are the reducing the amount of energy and cost to treat rainwater.

In conclusion, these sustainability efforts can bring a good impact to the nature as well as the communities. It is encourage to implement many ideas to improve the ecosystem by making the system self-sustaining. Thus, reducing the problems such as flooding, pollutants and maintaining issues on the environment.

Reference:

ABC guidelines (June 2014, Sction 10) Retrieve from https://www.pub.gov.sg/abcwaters/Documents/ABC_DG_2014.pdf

Channel News Asia (March, 2016) 20 more ABC Waters projects to be completed in next 5 years. Retrieve from http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/20-more-abc-waters/2619600.html

Ramboll Group (2015) Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park. Retrieve from: http://www.ramboll.com/projects/singapore/bishan-park

Sustainability Effort (n.d.) Retrieve from: http://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/en/the-gardens/about-us/sustainability.html 

Improve on my language

There are three things that I need to improve on my writing. There are my verb tense, conjunctive and last but not least my sentence structure.

Read Response Draft 1: Sustainability Effort

In the webpage "Sustainability Effort" (n.d.) taken from Gardens by the Bay reported that long hours of brainstorming is needed to make Gardens by the Bay a successful model of environmental sustainability. This is to ensure that the systems in the gardens are able to function and sustain by themselves without much maintenance issues. These system compromises the Lake system, the Conservatories and supertrees are inter-dependent to one another hence to self-sustain and achieve environmental friendly principles. The Lake systems acts as a biotope that accommodates the aquatic animals and plants which later on helps to cleanse the surface run-off as well as the lake itself. Subsequently, it is mentioned that the filtered water is then discharge in Marina Reservoir and also used for the irrigation purposes. Moreover, the Conservatories are equipped with advanced technology allowing the two biomes to simulate the climate temperature suitable to certain region to accommodate rare plants in Singapore. In addition, the solar planes installed on Supertrees are also highlighted in the webpage to enable the trees to harvest electricity. These efforts should be supported, as I believe it can make a difference to the current environment. 

It is also to help improve the ecosystem as well as the aesthetic of Singapore. It is an additional effort to make Singapore a greener city. In June 2009, Ministry of Environment and Water Resource has initiated the 1st edition of Active, Beautiful and Clean water guideline (ABC). This initiative is basically to encourage developers in Singapore to adopt ABC Waters design features in their developments. According to Channel news asia (March 2015), there are about 32 ABC water projects that have already been completed in Singapore and these similar projects are expected to increase exponentially. In ABC water guidelines ebook, PUB mentions that rain garden or biorentation swale such as Gardens by the bay will not only improve the quality of water but it is also to beautify the space with greenery. In addition, these spaces can set a creational area where the community can get closer to nature. Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park is a great example of PUB ABC water project which uses a similar concept to Gardens by the bay however in smaller scale. According to Ramboll, it stated that Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park was reconstructed from the conventional concrete drainage to bioengineered riverbank by incorporating the living plants to act as river walls. These plants are there to function as a filtration system as well as aesthetic of the drainage. Hence, transforming the space to be closer to water and nature.

Apart from Singapore, other countries such as United Kingdom are also implementing a similar concept of sustainable development in their country. According to Susdrain (n.d.), UK drainage systems are transformed into a sustainable drainage that allows rain and surface water run-off to cleanse naturally by allowing water to soak in the ground thus filtering unwanted pollutants. This is similar to the concept that PUB adopted. Moreover, water that comes into the gardens is controlled allowing sediments to settle down. This way it will reduce the amount of energy and cost to treat rainwater thus sustaining the drainage system by itself.

Reference:

Ramboll Group (2015) Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park. Retrieve from: http://www.ramboll.com/projects/singapore/bishan-park

Soil bioengineering (2012) Advance in Environmental Science and Engineering. Retrieve: http://www.scientific.net/AMR.518-523.1795

ABC guidelines (2014) Retrieve from https://www.pub.gov.sg/abcwaters/Documents/ABC_DG_2014.pdf

Sustainability Effort (n.d.) Retrieve from: http://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/en/the-gardens/about-us/sustainability.html 

Summary and Thesis: Sustainability Effort

In the article "Sustainability Effort" (n.d.) reported that long hours of brainstorming is needed to make Gardens by the Bay a successful model of environmental sustainability. This is to ensure that the systems in the gardens are able to function and sustain by themselves without much maintenance issues. These system compromises the Lake system, the Conservatories and supertrees are inter-dependent to one another hence to self-sustain and achieve environmental friendly principles. The Lake systems acts as a biotope that accommodates the aquatic animals and plants which later on helps to cleanse the surface run-off as well as the lake itself. Subsequently, it is mentioned that the filtered water is then discharge in Marina Reservoir and also used for the irrigation purposes. Moreover, the Conservatories are equipped with advanced technology allowing the two biomes to simulate the climate temperature suitable to certain region to accommodate in-house rare plants in Singapore. In addition, the solar planes installed on Supertrees are also highlighted in the article to enable the trees to harvest electricity. 

I would support these efforts, as I believe it can make a different to the current environment. It is also to helps improve the ecosystem as well as the aesthetic of Singapore. It is an additional effort to make Singapore a greener city. In June 2009, Ministry of Environment and Water Resource has initiated the 1st edition of Active, Beautiful and Clean water guideline (ABC). This initiative is basically to encourage developers in Singapore to adopt ABC Waters design features in their developments.

Reference:

Sustainability Efforts. (n.d.) Retrieved from URL: http://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/en/the-gardens/about-us/sustainability.html

PUB, (2014) Singapore's National Water Agency (Edition 3)

E-mail

To: Brad Blackstone

From: Ahmad Naqeef

Date: 11 September 2016

Subject: Introduction of myself

Dear Brad,

I am Ahmad Naqeef Bin Mohd Hatta. I graduated from Singapore Polytechnic six years ago along with  a diploma in Civil and Structural Engineering. A week after I got my diploma, I was forced to serve national service. I was enlisted in Singapore Civil Defence Force. I had a memorable two years experience in the force as a fire fighter. Subsequently, I started working right after my national service. I decided to join the construction sector to gain more experience. My interest in managing the construction site developed and I considered furthering my studies to widen my knowledge. However, my application was not successful despite multiple tries. I was disappointed but never gave up. I kept my hopes high. Finally this year, I was given the chance from SIT to further my studies. My aim is to make a lot of friends and enjoy my learning journey in SIT.

I would like to thank you for your time and I look forward to seeing you every Monday and Friday. 

Cheers,

Ahmad Naqeef

SIE student

ahamdnaqeef@gmail.com

Revise on the 18 September 2016

Your English Language Learning

English equates to failure. That is my perception of English language. I foresee myself failing every time I do any English related modules or subject. It is a jinx for myself to take up English lessons. However, at the back of my mind, English language is equally as important as your job. This brings me back to my experience of how English is very important in working life. I was previously working in a construction sector and during the interview, I was asked by my boss regarding my English proficiency. His first question was how much have I improved my English language after receiving my O-level results. I was stunned. I began to question myself why he asked such a question instead of technical questions related to the job or my strengths.

After working with him for a year, I realized English plays an important role in Singapore. English allows me to communicate with the people I worked with. As most of my colleagues are from other countries, I use English as a common language to communicate. I realize that I need to be proficient in English in order to lay down my ideas correctly to other colleagues. I send out a lot of emails to contractors to raise site issues that needed to be addressed as soon as possible. Therefore, I need to instruct both consultant and contractors clearly and accurately in order for them to complete the job on time. This will require me to have a good grasp of the language to be able to communicate with them effectively. This has changed my perception of how important English is. A great engineer that can speak and write well will be able to influence and complete their task on time.

Revise on 18 September 2016

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