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Indoor thermal comfort is an essential aspect of sustainable architecture and it is critical in maintaining a safe indoor environment. Expectations, acceptability, and preferences of traditional and modern buildings are different in terms of thermal comfort. This study, therefore, attempts to evaluate the indoor thermal comforts of modern and traditional buildings and identify the contributing factors that impede or facilitate indoor thermal comfort in Semera city, Ethiopia. This study employed subjective and objective measurements. The subjective measurement is based on the ASHRAE seven-point thermal sensation scale. An adaptive comfort model was employed according to the ASHRAE standard to evaluate indoor thermal comfort. The results revealed that with regards to thermal sensational votes between −1 and +1, 88% of the respondents are satisfied with the indoor environment in traditional houses, while in modern houses this figure is 22%. Likewise, 83% of occupants in traditional houses expressed a preference for their homes to remain the same or be only slightly cooler or warmer. Traditional houses were, on average, in compliance with the 80% acceptability band of the adaptive comfort standard. The study investigated that traditional building techniques and materials, in combination with consideration of microclimate, were found to play a significant role in regulating the indoor environment.
Haven Hailu; Eshetu Gelan; Yared Girma. Indoor Thermal Comfort Analysis: A Case Study of Modern and Traditional Buildings in Hot-Arid Climatic Region of Ethiopia. Urban Science 2021, 5, 53 .
AMA StyleHaven Hailu, Eshetu Gelan, Yared Girma. Indoor Thermal Comfort Analysis: A Case Study of Modern and Traditional Buildings in Hot-Arid Climatic Region of Ethiopia. Urban Science. 2021; 5 (3):53.
Chicago/Turabian StyleHaven Hailu; Eshetu Gelan; Yared Girma. 2021. "Indoor Thermal Comfort Analysis: A Case Study of Modern and Traditional Buildings in Hot-Arid Climatic Region of Ethiopia." Urban Science 5, no. 3: 53.
Rapid urban expansion across the globe has created enormous problems on human wellbeing and the environment. In this regard, urban green infrastructure has played a major role in improving the quality of life and is perceived as one of the vital instruments for attaining sustainable development goals. Yet, the issue of access to green spaces is one of the crucial aspects of sustainable urban development and has got considerable attention in the global north, although relatively little is known in the global south. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the accessibility of green spaces and the factors that enhance or inhibit their accessibility in urban centers of Ethiopia in reference to the emerging towns of Oromia's special zone surrounding Finfinne. This study used network analysis, backed by interviews and observation. Results show that the average green space per capita in the towns of Sululta, Sebeta, and Legetafo is 2.66 m2, 0.9 m2, and 2.17 m2, respectively. Findings also showed that 84.7%, 64.6%, and 60.4% of the inhabitants of Sululta, Sebeta, and Legetafo, respectively, have no access to green spaces from their residences within a walking distance of 300–1000 m. The key factors that hinder its accessibility are rapid urban expansion and population growth, violation of the plan, and institutional failure. The study suggests enhancing the percentage, coverage and per capita of green spaces, controlling land-use violations, and prioritizing it as one of the key government agendas in order to achieve the eleventh goal of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.
Eshetu Gelan; Yared Girma. Urban green infrastructure accessibility for the achievement of SDG 11 in rapidly urbanizing cities of Ethiopia. GeoJournal 2021, 1 -20.
AMA StyleEshetu Gelan, Yared Girma. Urban green infrastructure accessibility for the achievement of SDG 11 in rapidly urbanizing cities of Ethiopia. GeoJournal. 2021; ():1-20.
Chicago/Turabian StyleEshetu Gelan; Yared Girma. 2021. "Urban green infrastructure accessibility for the achievement of SDG 11 in rapidly urbanizing cities of Ethiopia." GeoJournal , no. : 1-20.
Green spaces play an important role in improving the livability of cities but are under high pressure from development in rapidly urbanizing countries. Understanding the use of urban green spaces and how this relates to their management is essential to effectively provide different functions and hence increase their value and better protection. Researches on green space use and management have been frequently conducted in developed countries. However, little is known about how people across cities in sub-Saharan Africa utilize and manage urban green spaces. Therefore, this study attempts to analyze the use and management of green spaces in urban centers of Ethiopia with reference to the emerging towns of the Oromia special zone surrounding Finfinne. The study employed a household survey, which was underpinned by interviews and focus group discussion. The quantitative data was analyzed through descriptive statistics while the qualitative data is analyzed through content and context analysis. Results indicated that 71.9%, 67.9% and 73.7% of respondents in Legetafo, Sebeta and Sululta do not have any green spaces in their neighborhood while very few respondents mentioned playgrounds and sport fields as green spaces. The study also found that relaxation and physical exercises such as football playing and running are the main purposes for visiting green spaces. Based on the result of the study more than half of the respondents did not visit urban green space. Financial constraints, lack of skilled personnel, low coordination between institutions, lack of legal frameworks and limited awareness of the community have constrained the use and management of green spaces. Therefore, the study suggests improving the legal framework, enhancing public participation in green spaces development and strengthening urban green space management system as important measures to improve the usability via green space management in urban areas of Ethiopia.
Yared Girma; Heyaw Terefe; Stephan Pauleit. Urban green spaces use and management in rapidly urbanizing countries:-The case of emerging towns of Oromia special zone surrounding Finfinne, Ethiopia. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 2019, 43, 126357 .
AMA StyleYared Girma, Heyaw Terefe, Stephan Pauleit. Urban green spaces use and management in rapidly urbanizing countries:-The case of emerging towns of Oromia special zone surrounding Finfinne, Ethiopia. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening. 2019; 43 ():126357.
Chicago/Turabian StyleYared Girma; Heyaw Terefe; Stephan Pauleit. 2019. "Urban green spaces use and management in rapidly urbanizing countries:-The case of emerging towns of Oromia special zone surrounding Finfinne, Ethiopia." Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 43, no. : 126357.
Urban green space has gradually become an integral part of urban development strategies due to its important role in providing space for multiple ecosystem services for human well-being. Even though urban green spaces have multiple benefits, they are under strong pressure particularly in rapidly developing cities of sub-Saharan Africa. In this study, we analyzed urban green space changes and their drivers in Sebeta town of Ethiopia from 2003–2016 by using three time series Landsat images of 2003, 2010 and 2016, land inventory, interview, focus group discussion, and field observation for data collection and a combination of techniques, including pixel based image classification, qualitative descriptive and GIS-based processing for data analyses. The findings of the study show that area of green space has decreased by 51.8% at the rate of 3.9% annual loss between the year 2003–2016 while the built-up area increased by 562.1% at the rate of 43.2% annual growth. Specifically, the study shows that about 1410.7 ha of green space were converted to built-up areas during the study period. The drivers for the change were physical expansion of the built-up area, population growth, high land value, laxity in the enforcement of planning regulations, corruption, lack of coordination between institutions, and limited awareness of the community about the benefits of green spaces. The study suggests strengthening of plan implementation capacity, public participation in urban planning and strengthening of the development control and urban green spaces management system as an important strategy to increases the supply of green spaces in urban centers.
Yared Girma; Heyaw Terefe; Stephan Pauleit; Mengistie Kindu. Urban green spaces supply in rapidly urbanizing countries: The case of Sebeta Town, Ethiopia. Remote Sensing Applications: Society and Environment 2018, 13, 138 -149.
AMA StyleYared Girma, Heyaw Terefe, Stephan Pauleit, Mengistie Kindu. Urban green spaces supply in rapidly urbanizing countries: The case of Sebeta Town, Ethiopia. Remote Sensing Applications: Society and Environment. 2018; 13 ():138-149.
Chicago/Turabian StyleYared Girma; Heyaw Terefe; Stephan Pauleit; Mengistie Kindu. 2018. "Urban green spaces supply in rapidly urbanizing countries: The case of Sebeta Town, Ethiopia." Remote Sensing Applications: Society and Environment 13, no. : 138-149.
Urban green infrastructure planning should be based on certain principles for addressing a variety of challenges associated with sustainable development. Even though a set of principles such as multifunctionality and connectivity are increasingly recognized in the academic discourse, there is a difference how these are implemented regionally and locally. Yet urban green infrastructure planning research is often carried out in highly developed countries, while relatively little is known about the integration of the principles in the current green space planning practices of developing countries. Therefore, this study attempts to evaluate the integration of urban green infrastructure planning principles in the current green space planning practices in an urban center of Ethiopia with reference to the emerging towns of Oromia special zone surrounding Finfinne (Addis Ababa). This study employed a documents analysis, which was underpinned by interviews and observation. Regarding the evaluation of the planning documents, this study identified that the principles of multi-functionality, green-grey integration and social inclusiveness are present to some extent. At the same time, the result from interviews and observation revealed that the existing green spaces provide mono-functional services and their integration with grey structure is limited. Furthermore, the combination of document analysis and interview result shows that issues related to connectivity of green spaces, such as green corridors and green ways are not recognized in planning documents and practices. The study result indicate that lack of awareness, financial constraints, insufficient professional knowledge, absence of collaboration and poor public involvement are the most influential factors hindering the integration of green infrastructure planning principles into urban development. Therefore, current green space planning practices in developing countries in general and in Ethiopia in particular require advanced development in budget allocation, capacity building, awareness creation and stakeholder’s involvement to be effectively considered as urban green infrastructure compliant.
Yared Girma; Heyaw Terefe; Stephan Pauleit; Mengistie Kindu. Urban green infrastructure planning in Ethiopia: The case of emerging towns of Oromia special zone surrounding Finfinne. Journal of Urban Management 2018, 8, 75 -88.
AMA StyleYared Girma, Heyaw Terefe, Stephan Pauleit, Mengistie Kindu. Urban green infrastructure planning in Ethiopia: The case of emerging towns of Oromia special zone surrounding Finfinne. Journal of Urban Management. 2018; 8 (1):75-88.
Chicago/Turabian StyleYared Girma; Heyaw Terefe; Stephan Pauleit; Mengistie Kindu. 2018. "Urban green infrastructure planning in Ethiopia: The case of emerging towns of Oromia special zone surrounding Finfinne." Journal of Urban Management 8, no. 1: 75-88.