Sustainable Cities Case Studies from Coursera

Welcome to Sustainable Cities Case Studies, the third and final course in the Building Sustainable Cities Specialization. This course is intended to build upon foundational concepts and ideas developed in the previous two courses. Upon completing Sustainable Cities Case Studies, you will be able to analyze and evaluate practical strategies for urban sustainability and resilience in context. You will gain insights by exploring significant events and locations, such as the August 2023 wildfire on Maui. You will also examine the effects of transit-oriented development in Washington DC, the development of bicycle infrastructure in Copenhagen, and urban agriculture in Singapore. These case studies will provide a diverse understanding of how different cities address sustainability and resilience challenges.

You will benefit from a comprehensive understanding of best practices in urban sustainability and climate resilience, using real-world examples to inform and put this knowledge into context. You will develop a vision for creating sustainable and resilient cities in the future, focusing on practical, actionable strategies. Sustainable Cities Case Studies uniquely integrates diverse global perspectives, providing you with the tools to assess and formulate plans that address ecological, policy, and social contexts, ultimately preparing you to contribute effectively to urban resilience initiatives.

What's inside

Syllabus

Welcome to the Course

Welcome to the Sustainable Cities Case Studies course. Get started by meeting the instructors, reviewing expectations for the specialization and course, and introducing yourself to the class.

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Examines transit-oriented development policies, which are crucial for understanding urban growth and sustainability, and are often covered in urban planning curricula

Explores circular economy principles, which are increasingly important for businesses and governments aiming to reduce waste and promote resource efficiency

Analyzes the ecological, policy, and social factors surrounding the August 2023 Maui wildfire, offering insights into disaster response and community resilience

Requires prior knowledge from the first two courses in the Building Sustainable Cities Specialization, which may limit accessibility for some learners

Focuses on transit-oriented development in Washington, DC, which may not be directly applicable to all urban contexts due to unique local factors

Reviews summary

Sustainable cities through global cases

According to learners, this course offers an interesting look at urban sustainability through diverse real-world case studies like Maui, DC, Copenhagen, and Singapore. Students appreciated the focus on practical strategies and integrating ecological, policy, and social contexts. However, some noted that the course might feel less impactful if taken outside the full specialization, suggesting it builds heavily on prior content. There were also mentions that while the topics were relevant, some wished for greater depth on specific areas or more recent data points, though the inclusion of the August 2023 Maui wildfire case study demonstrates an effort to incorporate current events. Overall, it provides a solid overview for those interested in urban resilience.

Includes recent examples like the Maui wildfire.

"It was impressive that they included a case study on the August 2023 Maui wildfire, showing the course is current."

"Learning about transit-oriented development in DC felt very relevant to current urban planning discussions."

Focuses on actionable urban sustainability methods.

"I learned about practical, actionable strategies for creating sustainable and resilient cities."

"The course helped me develop a vision for future urban development based on best practices."

"It provided tools to assess and formulate plans that consider ecological, policy, and social factors."

"I appreciated the emphasis on how these concepts can be applied in the real world."

Provides insight through real-world city examples.

"I found the case studies on cities like Copenhagen and Singapore to be incredibly insightful and relevant."

"Learning about the Maui wildfire from a sustainability perspective was a powerful and current example."

"The examples provided practical context to the theoretical concepts, making them much easier to grasp."

"Studying the different challenges and solutions in varied urban settings was very valuable."

Some topics could benefit from more detail.

"While the breadth was good, I wished for more depth on certain case studies or urban sustainability topics."

"Some complex issues were covered somewhat briefly, leaving me wanting more information."

"The course provides a good overview, but for really detailed understanding, I'd need to look elsewhere."

Best experienced as part of the full series.

"Taking this course after the first two in the specialization really helped tie everything together."

"I felt I needed the foundational knowledge from the previous courses to fully appreciate this one."

"If you're not taking the whole specialization, some parts might feel less comprehensive or require prior knowledge."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Sustainable Cities Case Studies with these activities:

Review Urban Planning Principles

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Strengthen your understanding of core urban planning concepts to better grasp the case studies presented in the course.

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Review key concepts like zoning, land use, and transportation planning.
Summarize the main goals of urban planning.

Review 'Sustainable Urban Development Reader'

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Gain a broader understanding of sustainable urban development theories and practices.

View Planning for Sustainability on Amazon

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Select and read chapters relevant to the course's case studies.
Take notes on key concepts and examples.

Compile a Glossary of Sustainability Terms

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Solidify your understanding of key terminology used throughout the course.

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Identify key terms related to sustainability, resilience, and urban planning from course materials.
Define each term in your own words.
Provide examples of how each term is applied in the context of sustainable cities.

Four other activities

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Create a Presentation on Transit-Oriented Development

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Deepen your understanding of transit-oriented development by researching and presenting on its impacts.

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Research the principles and benefits of transit-oriented development.
Find examples of successful and unsuccessful TOD projects.
Prepare a presentation outlining the key aspects of TOD and its implications for sustainable cities.

Review 'Resilience Thinking'

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Understand the principles of resilience thinking and how they apply to urban environments.

View Resilience Thinking: Sustaining Ecosystems and... on Amazon

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Read the introduction and chapters related to complex systems and adaptation.
Relate the concepts to the case studies discussed in the course.

Design a Sustainable Community Garden

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Apply your knowledge of urban agriculture and circular economy principles to design a sustainable community garden.

Browse courses on Urban Agriculture

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Research best practices for sustainable community gardens.
Develop a design plan that incorporates circular economy principles, such as composting and water conservation.
Consider the social and economic benefits of the garden for the community.

Develop a Climate Resilience Plan for a Coastal City

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Synthesize your understanding of climate resilience strategies by developing a comprehensive plan for a coastal city.

Browse courses on Climate resilience

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Select a coastal city and research its climate vulnerabilities.
Identify specific strategies to enhance flood resilience, such as green infrastructure and coastal defenses.
Develop a detailed plan outlining the implementation of these strategies, including timelines and budget considerations.

Career center

Learners who complete Sustainable Cities Case Studies will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Urban Planner

An urban planner creates development plans for cities, focusing on land use, transportation, and infrastructure. This course is particularly relevant for an urban planner as it provides insights into transit oriented development, as seen in the Washington DC case study, and it examines how urban infrastructure such as bicycle transit in Copenhagen impacts city planning. An urban planner should take this course to learn how to create more sustainable and resilient cities, as detailed throughout the case studies. These case studies will give the prospective planner practical knowledge applicable to a wide range of geographical contexts.

See salaries and explore the career path for Urban Planner

Sustainability Consultant

A sustainability consultant advises organizations on how to reduce their environmental impact and become more sustainable. This course is helpful to a sustainability consultant, as it offers an in-depth look at sustainable practices across different locations, as shown in the case studies from Copenhagen and Singapore. Learning about the circular economy principles in Singapore, for instance, is very applicable to the work of a consultant . This course will allow a sustainability consultant to better assess and formulate plans for their own clients.

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Resilience Officer

A resilience officer works to prepare communities and infrastructure for potential shocks and stresses, such as natural disasters. This course directly develops the skills of a resilience officer through a close analysis of how cities respond to crises, such as the wildfire on Maui and how they develop solutions, such as flood resilience in Copenhagen. The focus on practical and actionable strategies will prove helpful for someone entering or advancing in a role as a resilience officer. This course would help a resilience officer understand how to develop strategies that address ecological, policy, and social contexts.

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Urban Development Manager

An urban development manager oversees projects related to the growth and improvement of cities. This course is directly relevant to the work of an urban development manager because it focuses on practical strategies for urban sustainability and resilience, particularly through the examination of diverse case studies. The course will help an urban development manager by showing them how to integrate different factors, such as ecological, policy, and social context, into their approach. The course helps develop a vision for creating sustainable and resilient cities in the future.

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Environmental Policy Analyst

An environmental policy analyst researches and develops policies related to environmental protection and sustainability. This course is beneficial to any policy analyst, given its focus on the policy implications of urban development as shown in the case studies of Washington DC and Singapore. An environmental policy analyst may find the course particularly helpful due to insights on how cities around the world address sustainability and resilience challenges. This course helps to develop a more comprehensive, globally oriented understanding of policies.

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Community Development Specialist

A community development specialist works with local communities to improve their wellbeing and address social issues. This course helps a community development specialist understand how different cities approach sustainability and resilience. For example, they can study the impact of transit-oriented development in Washington DC or explore the effects of urban agriculture in Singapore, and this gives valuable practical insight into their work with communities. This course provides the means to effectively contribute to urban resilience initiatives.

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Environmental Consultant

An environmental consultant advises clients on environmental issues and helps them implement sustainable solutions. This course will help any environmental consultant by giving them actionable strategies for urban sustainability. They can benefit from the case studies of urban agriculture in Singapore, or community recovery from a wildfire in Maui, to inform their approach and provide better advice. This course will help improve their ability to contribute effectively to resilience initiatives.

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Transportation Planner

A transportation planner focuses on developing efficient and sustainable transportation systems. The course provides specific insights into the benefits of sustainable transportation by examining Copenhagen's bicycle infrastructure. A transportation planner should take this course to understand how to integrate sustainable options into their projects. The course's case studies will give them the tools to formulate plans that address different contexts.

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Disaster Recovery Planner

A disaster recovery planner creates plans and strategies to prepare for and recover from disasters. This course is particularly relevant for their work, because it provides a detailed analysis of the Maui wildfire and a deep dive into urban firestorm risks and effective recovery methods. A disaster recovery planner should take this course to learn how to develop comprehensive plans that take into account ecological, policy, and social factors, as is particularly shown in the Maui case study. They can also study different recovery methods and techniques.

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Climate Change Analyst

A climate change analyst researches and analyzes data related to climate change and its impacts. This course helps a climate change analyst by providing a practical approach to addressing climate resilience, using real world examples as seen in the Copenhagen case study. A climate change analyst should take this course to understand how to develop different strategies to deal with challenges of climate change in several urban settings. The approach of this course, with its focus on actionable strategies, will be especially useful.

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Urban Agriculture Specialist

An urban agriculture specialist works to promote and implement urban farming practices. This course may be useful to their work, as one module explores Singapore's urban agriculture initiatives and its impact on food security and public health. They can take this course to further develop their understanding of circular economy principles. Also the case study will help provide practical knowledge of how agriculture can be integrated into sustainability efforts.

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Policy Advisor

A policy advisor provides guidance and analysis on policy issues to stakeholders, typically in government or non-profit settings. This course may be useful to a policy advisor since its case studies examine the effects of different policies in various cities, such as transit-oriented development in Washington, D.C. This course will help improve their ability to assess and formulate plans, as well as gain a more global perspective. The focus on addressing diverse contexts may be particularly applicable to a policy advisor.

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Sustainability Coordinator

A sustainability coordinator implements sustainability programs and initiatives within an organization. This course may provide insights into best practices in urban sustainability and resilience, as seen in the case studies of Copenhagen and Singapore. The course helps a sustainability coordinator develop a vision for creating more sustainable and resilient cities. A sustainability coordinator may find that the case studies provide them with a practical and comprehensive approach to their work. They may better learn how to integrate diverse global perspectives.

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Public Health Specialist

A public health specialist works to improve the health and wellbeing of communities through health programs and initiatives. This course may be useful as it touches on the impact of urban agriculture on public health, as seen in the Singapore case study. By taking this course, a public health specialist may be able to better understand how urban environments relate to public health and wellbeing. The comprehensive approach to urban settings is valuable to the work of a public health specialist.

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Real Estate Analyst

A real estate analyst researches and analyzes real estate market trends and data. This course may be useful to real estate analysts because it touches on the effect of transit-oriented development on housing, as shown in the Washington DC case study. The course may help a real estate analyst who is looking to gain a more global perspective on development and its effects. Additionally, a real estate analyst may find that the case studies help improve their ability to analyze the impact of development projects.

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Sustainable Cities Case Studies

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Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Sustainable cities through global cases

Activities

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