Week 7 - Wicked Problem in Cities

Address the types of wicked problems that people who live in modern cities experience.

Problem Definition:

Sehneel Ansari TP072191 & Chan Hong Yu TP070216  

Transportation Woes

Modern cities struggle with transportation woes, characterized by traffic congestion, unreliable public transport, and limited parking. These issues are interconnected, with congestion potentially caused by poor public transport options and limited parking worsening congestion as drivers circle for spots. The consequences are significant, impacting productivity, the environment, social connections, and overall quality of life. Transportation woes are a wicked problem due to their interconnectedness, lack of easy solutions, competing stakeholder values, and long-term considerations. (Rodrigue P., 2024)

Environmental Concerns

Modern cities have been developing too quickly to accommodate as many people as possible which has led to major environmental problems. People have been starting to able to afford their own vehicle which has led to the abrupt emission of toxic gas towards the environment. Besides that, deforestation had to be underwent to build more condominiums or terrace houses to accommodate as many citizens as possible. Due to the factors mentioned above, it has impacted people’s health negatively such as causing the patients of asthma to increase. (Grant T.L, Wood R.A, 2022)

User Persona:

Tan E Jane TP070961

Bob Smith, a 28-year-old professional surfer from Sydney. He travels around the city to join different surfing competitions around different beaches.  He often cleans up the beach and ocean as a volunteer. He wants to travel around the city in a quicker and convenient manner. So, he wants an alternative to his car because he finds it difficult to find parking and frustrated with public transport in Sydney. (Owens, 2021)

Storyboard:

Ng Hwee Meng TP071421

Sarah rushes to catch the crowded train, holding her coffee and briefcase. She feels frustrated seeing the transit app predicting delays as usual. During her lunch break, Sarah looks at rental advertisements, surprised by how expensive small apartments are in nice areas. (Barnesmoore, 2023)

On the weekend, Sarah goes to the park for some fresh air. She sees litter on the grass and wonders about what the city is doing to help the environment. Since she can't meet her friends in person because of their busy schedules, she joins an online book club. She feels happy to connect with people even if they're far away.

References:

Rodrigue P. (Ed.). (2024, January 6). 8.4 – Urban Transport Challenges | The Geography of Transport Systems. The Geography of Transport Systems | the Spatial Organization of Transportation and Mobility. https://transportgeography.org/contents/chapter8/urban-transport-challenges/

Wood R.A, Grant T.L (2022). The Influence of Urban Exposure and Residence on Childhood Asthma. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9288815/

Owens, D. (2021, December 7). UX CASE STUDY — WICKED PROBLEMS - Deniz Owens - Medium. Medium. https://medium.com/@denizowens/ux-case-study-wicked-problems-a7bddcf6dfa2 

Barnesmoore, L. (2023, October 18). Small housing solutions for the wicked problem of housing affordability. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/small-housing-solutions-wicked-problem-affordability-luke-barnesmoore-knppc