University Campus Environment
Environment is the theme of this week’s seminar and workshop. Merriam-Webster defines environment as ‘the circumstances, objects, or conditions by which one is surrounded.’ It further goes on to say that environment is ‘the complex of physical, chemical, and biotic factors (such as climate, soil, and living things) that act upon an organism or an ecological community and ultimately determine its form and survival.’ The group has discussed and analyzed the environment around Chalmers Johanneberg campus. In the following texts, we provide our analysis regarding a good campus environment, the ways to manage stormwater in the campus, and the methods to reduce noise pollution there. Finally, the group conducted a study visit at Chalmers campus and answered a questionnaire regarding four locations at the campus.
In the life of a student, the place of his/her study is one of the most important places. Albeit the primary goal of a university is to impart education to students, it is crucial for it provide a sound environment for students to attain education. There are various ways one can provide a better campus environment. Firstly, a university should aspire to plant greenery in its campus as much as possible. Campus with trees, plants, shrubs not only looks nicer, but also has health benefits. Greenery emits oxygen which is vital for life. Similarly, a better campus environment can also include various spots or locations to sit, relax, and walk around. As movement of body is vital to maintain a healthy life, place to stretch and move one’s body is necessary to be located in a university campus. Likewise, climbers can be planted near buildings so that they climb on the walls of the buildings; thus making the façade of the buildings look nicer.
Managing stormwater
In order to manage stormwater within the area of Chalmers campus we believe that there are some solutions that can be implemented. Further, we will analyse the stormwater in the area but also present some ideas of solutions mapped out onto the campus area.
Studying Chalmers campus at downpour, as visualized in Fig. 1., the areas around Gibraltargatan, Sven Hultins gata and Sven Hultins plats seems to be the areas with the largest depth of water. Focusing on these areas, we came up with some ideas of solutions of how to handle and delay the water, as visualized in fig. 2.; green roofs, rain gardens and canals leading the water.
Firstly, in order to delay the water a possible solution could be to implement more green roofs at Chalmers. As of today, there are a few areas where green roofs already exist, for example, at the student union building. Adding green roofs to other flat roofs would help preventing flooding’s at areas where the level of water is high, as for example around Sven Hultins plats and at the buildings that are going to be built on the parking lot at Gibraltargatan. Apart from being a way of managing stormwater, making the green roofs accessible for students or residents would also add recreational spaces.
Secondly, another solution of delaying water could be to implement rain gardens at the campus area. These could as well be implemented at the areas where the level of water is currently high during cloudburst. Similarly, to green roofs, rain gardens creates recreational spaces valuable to students and residents within the area.
Lastly, adding canals in the street steering water from high areas to lower areas within the campus could be a solution of how to handle flows of stormwater. The water in the canals could end up at rain gardens, delaying the water, or in underground water magazines. According to Chalmers (2019), there are several streets within the campus area where the inclination of the street is more than 5%, for example Olgas Trappor, Kemivägen and Engdahlsgatan/Sven Hultins gata. Adding canals especially at these streets we believe could be a good solution.
Alleviating noise levels
Supporting a good campus environment as well the reducing the noise levels is of great importance. Further, we will analyse the noise levels within the campus area and present some ideas of solutions, mapped onto the campus area, that can contribute to a reduction.
Evaluating the noise levels within the area of Chalmers campus it is important to acknowledge that there are several different sources producing noises. For example, traffic contributes to raising the noise levels within the area. As visualised in Fig. 3., traffic noise is mainly affecting the areas around Chalmersplatsen, Gibraltargatan and Sven Hultins Gata. Though, there is also other producers of noise within the campus area, for example, industrial noise originating from ventilation fans. In order to alleviate the noise levels within Chalmers campus we came up with three solutions, visualised in Fig. 4.; green facades, electrical public transport and noise barriers.
Firstly, adding green elements onto the facades of houses could contribute to lowering the levels of noice. Thus, adding green facades around the streets where the levels of traffic noise was higher, as for example Gibraltargatan and Chalmersplatsen, we believe could improve the environment. Appart from alleviating noise, green facades also contribute to a nice campus environment. Thus, we believe that green facades could also be utilized, especially at narrow spaces, where greenery would add on to the experience.
Secondly, to further reduce the level of traffic noise we believe that one solution could be to replacing public transport with electrical vehicles. Especially within the areas of Gibraltargatan and Chalmersplatsen. As of today, buss 55 traveling within the area of campus is an electric buss. By also replacing the other busses running the area with electric busses we believe a lower level of traffic noise thus could be achieved.
Lastly, to also implement different kinds of noise barriers we believe further could lower the noise levels within the area. Noise barriers could for example be an alley with trees planted along Gibraltargatan, bushes planted at Chalmersplatsen or fences covered with green climbers at the sport field of Mossen. Apart from contributing to an alleviation of noise, these green noise barriers would also add on to the experience of Chalmers, contributing with greenery and potential recreational spaces.
Study visit Environment at Campus Johanneberg
The study visit of thematic block number four took place at independently at Campus. The task was to experience and compare the workshop that took place earlier this week, with help of a questionnaire that focused on the sound and noise environment. We went there at Saturday morning and because of that we have some assumptions from our own experiences, for example there was almost no people and low traffic. So, the assumption that we did was an ordinary Monday around lunchtime and without the current pandemic situation. So that’s meaning there “was” a lot of people and a lot of traffic. One good thing though was the rain, so we could see how the campus area handled stormwater.
First stop was Chalmers station, since Chalmers station is a junction, there is a lot of people and traffic (Busses, Cars, Trams etc.) which create a lot of noise. The area around it is pleasant and we think that the acoustics is good thanks to its open space where the sound waves doesn’t have much obstacles to bounce into. The visual of the area is also pleasant with some places to sit, some green areas and it fulfil its purpose to be an entrance of the campus. Regarding the stormwater we can see on the picture below, that there is a lot of hard surfaces and some remaining puddles. Since it’s the entrance of campus, there’s a lot of people passing through every day, therefore we believe that the surface needs to be hard else it would be a lot mud. Maybe an avenue of rain garden, but still not to big so cyclists or pedestrians gets an obstacle passing through.
Second stop was the student union building at Campus Johanneberg. This is a place with lots of people passing through every day, but no traffic. We like the visual both inside and outside the building, the acoustics are okay to its purpose but fails if we considerate a place for recreation. The inside of the building consists mainly of hard surfaces and high ceilings which is bad for the acoustics when there is a lot of people that are passing through and meet inside. The outside has a big and open space which is good when much people daily passes through. The surface is hard as you can see in the picture below and we have some puddles here as well. This is also a place that people mostly just are passing through or get inside quickly to buy some coffee or get lunch, therefore we think that there should be a hard ground surface but install some climbers on the façade to the left on the picture to lower noise and become a more greener area. We also suggest that there could be something green installed in the center outside building, maybe a fountain that is filled up with stormwater or a small rain garden.
Third stop is called “Geniknölen” and is located between student union building and the ACE building. This is a place for recreation, a lot of benches and green surface to sit and relax with friends. It’s perfectly done for its purpose, at least in the warmer parts of the year. The traffic is low and located behind the small hill and the noise is rarely getting to loud, the most disturbing noise that we could think of / have noticed, are people talking, but this is not an issue like inside the student union building. A potential improvement for this spot could be designing it to be useable both when raining or during winter.
Last stop of the visit is the Chalmers main library located at the top of campus Johanneberg area. The visual inside is good but old, the acoustics have never been fully experienced by us due the respect that it is a library. Both entrances of the building have a lot of green surrounding surface that is nice and taking care of stormwater. There’s a few benches and chairs for loan during summer to relax in the sun. The noise level outside is also low here. The place fulfils its purpose and the only thing that we would like to improve is more benches and places to sit, suggested area is the small entrance (not in the picture) due to its flat topography.
References
Chalmers (2019). Campusplan. Retrieved 2020–10–08 from https://chalmersfastigheter.se/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/190909-Campusplan-Chalmers-2019-2050.pdf
Göteborgs Stad (n.d.). Skyfall. Retrieved 2020–10–07 from https://www.vattenigoteborg.se/Downpour/ScenarioResult
Miljöförvaltningen, Göteborgs Stad (n.d.). Map. Retrieved 2020–10–07 from https://karta.miljoforvaltningen.goteborg.se/
