CHINA’S NANJING VS INDIA’S DELHI A PERSPECTIVE · PDF file ·...

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International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET)

Volume 8, Issue 12, December 2017, pp. 115–123, Article ID: IJCIET_08_12_014

Available online at http://http://www.iaeme.com/ijciet/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=8&IType=12

ISSN Print: 0976-6308 and ISSN Online: 0976-6316

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CHINA’S NANJING VS INDIA’S DELHI

– A PERSPECTIVE FOR VERTICAL FOREST

Saravanan J

Assistant Professor, Civil Engineering, Vel Tech Rangarajan Dr. Sagunthala

R&D Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, India

Jayadurgalakshmi M



Karthickraja R



ABSTRACT

The air quality index touched the “severe” category in the first week of November,

2017 hitting 448 on a scale of 500 for the second time this year (2017 in Delhi). The

root cause of the smog, which fills the corridors of Delhi without fail every winter, is

yet to be tackled. Several studies and government committees, have highlighted that

burning coal, petrol, diesel, gas, biomass and waste along with industrial smoke,

power plants and firecrackers are major contributors of pollution. On the other hand,

China a country which has similar factors for inducing such hazardous smog have

already started reacting against the pollution issue. Nanjing, capital of China’s

eastern Jiangsu province, is the first place in the Asia gets vertical forest towers for

fighting against the growing air pollution. Despite of having largest population in the

world, China is able to manage to go for an innovative building technologies for the

welfare of environment and of human kind. In this paper, we have analyzed the

possibilities and scope of vertical forests in Delhi in order to cope-up with seasonal

hazardous smog. We have discussed about impact of the waste crop burning in

Haryana and Punjab on Delhi’s critical air pollution. Also, we have presented a novel

idea that suits for any urban in counteracting air pollution issue. Our idea consists of

thematic description of a multipurpose infrastructure called “Elevated Forest” that

can be built across an urban region.

Key words: Nanjing, Delhi, RSPM, Vertical forest, Elevated forest, CO2

sequestration.

Cite this Article: Saravanan J, Jayadurgalakshmi M and Karthickraja R, China‟s

Nanjing Vs India‟s Delhi – A Perspective for Vertical Forest. International Journal of

Civil Engineering and Technology, 8(12), 2017, pp. 115–123.

http://www.iaeme.com/IJCIET/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=8&IType=12

China‟s Nanjing Vs India‟s Delhi – A Perspective for Vertical Forest


1. INTRODUCTION

Delhi, being one of the most populated metropolis in the world, is also a highly polluted city

in India. In May, 2014 the World Health Organization announced New Delhi as the most

polluted city in the world.

Politicians blames industries as the main cause of the pollution. Approximately 10000

lives is lost due to the pollution level in Delhi. A study reported that, Delhi citizens would live

an extra decade on average if Delhi is able to match up with WHO air quality standards. The

white paper that was released during 90s‟ by MoEF (Ministry of Environment and Forest)

which imposed some parking regulations and limitations on driving to curtain the pollution

status by regulating the traffic flow to some extent. During the Asian Games 2014, the city

authorities had highlighted the pollution mitigation initiatives such as Metro Transport and

natural gas based bus transport in the bidding process. Though several minor steps have been

taken towards the pollution management, Delhi government need to get activated further in

deep.

2. VERTICAL FOREST

The Vertical Forest has trees and plants to absorb carbon dioxide and suspended particulate

matter (SPM), which helps in reducing smog while creating a buffer to dampen the noise

pollution, and are believed to lessen the heating effect around the building and in the area

nearby because of transpiration from the trees and plants thus providing a cool environment

up to an extent which translates to lesser energy consumption. A single building can be

beneficial for the surrounding area, and in the current scenario where demands for space is

growing, this can be a healthy compromise between sustainability and productivity.

Arun Swaminathan, Bengaluru based Environment Architect and Academician says,

“Creating vertical gardens is the need of the hour in India. Architects, engineers and

developers and political leaders, of course, should look at green buildings as an alternative. It

starts from your balcony itself. At the same time, we should keep planting more trees because

there is no replacement for trees”.

Figure 1 World‟s first Vertical Forest Tower – Milan, Italy

Source: Stefano Boeri Architetti/Facebook

2.1. Benefits of Vertical Forest

Improved exterior air quality: Green facades reduces the air pollution level in various ways.

Natural photosynthesis helps in lowering the surrounding temperature. Exterior green wall

arrangements use to trap the particulate matter spreading by capturing them. Another indirect

benefit of having green walls over the building walls is the reduced power consumption for

cooling systems which would otherwise release more harmful gases.

Saravanan J, Jayadurgalakshmi M and Karthickraja R


Reduction of Urban Heat Island effect: The main reason behind the heat island behaviour

of urban is increased building spaces and reduced green space. Vertical forest will reverse this

effect to significant extent.

Improved Energy Efficiency: Green walls can reduce the temperature variation at a wall‟s

surface and provide some good insulation effect in turn limits the movement of heat between

the building walls.

Marketing Potential: Nowadays green concept and related products / services seems to

have more attraction in business perspective. Green building technologies has high potential

in upcoming days which will show its impact on growing urban sustainability needs around

the globe.

2.2. Research Outcomes on Vertical Garden / Vertical Forest

Even though vertical garden / vertical farming concept exists for a long time, it is started

receiving response in recent days only. The success rate of VGSs in several cities has started

inspiring many engineers and architects to reintroduce green facades / walls in their new

construction projects. (Luis Perez et al, Journal of Urban Technology, 2016)

With 18000 m2 of living green façade, the Bosco Verticale, Milan, Italy is the most

extensive integration of plants ever applied to a tall building. This huge experiment

symbolizes a new idea of sustainability that includes biodiversity as an element of

environmental enhancement. (Elena Giacomello, CTBUH Research paper, 2015)

Vertical forest necessitates constant monitoring, may require a new type of gardener,

skilled labor, integration of various ideas. Vertical forest is still in its early stage,

collaboration is critical and would facilitate spreading of new novel ideas for environmental

protection threats. (K.K Sahu, M.Sahu, Recent Research in Science and Technology, 2014)

The research shows that the vertical garden had an efficiency lower than that commercial

swamp coolers gives (11% up to 90%). This could represent a notable reduction in the energy

demands for cooling, if the green panels were connected to a building‟s air conditioning

system in series. (M.J.M Davis et al, International Conference on sustainable design,

engineering and construction, 2015)

3. AIR POLLUTION ISSUES OF NANJING, CHINA

Air pollution being the significant cause of 1 in 3 deaths in China, new academic research

suggests, in some parts of the country, ordinary everyday life would be as deadly as smoking

cigarettes. According to a recent study conducted in 74 cities, analyzed totally 3.03 million

deaths recorded in 2013, and found a shocking fact that 31.8% of them could be linked to

smog formation. The research done by academicians at China‟s Nanjing University, found

that the atmospheric air was most toxic in nature in the cities of Baoding, Shijiazhuang and

Nanjing. Each of the above city reported more than 30,000 deaths in 2013 that could be linked

to worsen air pollution.



Figure 2 Pink skyline seen over Nanjing in China‟s Jiangsu province, 2015

Source: dailymail.co.uk

Shocked residents witnessed a rare pink sky (Figure 2) of smog blanketing the city of

Nanjing in east China‟s Jiangsu province on 23 December 2015. The unusual phenomenon is

a result of the sunset glow through the smog, not a combination of pollutants. During this time

PM 2.5 levels – tiny hazardous airborne particles – exceeded 900 micrograms per m3 air

(AQI). Smog levels in the city were ten times higher than levels signaled safe by the World

Health Organization. The real time AQI of Nanjing is shown below, which states „Unhealthy‟

regarding air pollution level.

Figure 3 Real time AQI of Nanjing, China as on 14-11-2017

Source: http://aqicn.org/city/nanjing/

4. VERTICAL FOREST IN NANJING

China, a nation experiencing rapid urban growth and an air pollution issues, is all set to get its

first vertical forest. Vertical forest is basically the high rise buildings which covered with trees

and plants which in turn absorb carbon dioxide, filter dust from surrounding air and produce

oxygen. They are also a typical way of planting more number of trees and setting the habitats

for wild animals in cities that are suffocated for space. The project in the eastern city of

Nanjing is an idea of an Italian architect Stefano Boeri, who built world‟s first vertical forest

Bosco Verticale in Milan consisting of two high-rise residential buildings at 110 and 76

meters.



Figure 4 (a) Vertical Forest Towers, Nanjing, China (b) Vertical Forest Lifecycle concept

Source: Stefano Boeri Architetti/Facebook

The Nanjing vertical forest will be higher than Milan‟s Bosco Verticale, with two

neighboring towers at 200 and 108 meters tall. The towers will house a 247-room luxury

hotel, offices, shops, restaurants, a food market, conference and exhibition spaces, a museum,

a rooftop club and a spectacular green architecture school. The skyscrapers will be designed

to hold 1100 trees from 23 local species and 2500 cascading plants and shrubs, which will be

cumulatively providing 25 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) absorption every year and release

about 60 kg of oxygen per day.

Some of the Chinese cities has the most polluted air in the globe. In December 2016, air

quality become so worse that 24 cities across China were put on „red-alert‟.

In such scenario, the concept and quick execution of vertical forest in one of the most

polluted city, has really turned on things positively towards pollution mitigation as well as

sustainability achievement.

5. AIR POLLUTION ISSUES OF NEW DELHI, INDIA

Right now, China is leading the world in the number of deaths due to air pollution, anyhow

India has been quickly catching up. Globally, the number of deaths increased to 4.2 million in

2015, as compared to 3.5 million in 1990 which is primarily ascribed to fine particulate matter

(PM) 2.5. More than 50% of these deaths occurred in China and India with about 1.1 million

lives lost prematurely in each of these countries.

The national capital has been in the news time and again for its dangerously high pollution

levels, and the ban on sale of fire crackers, odd-even vehicle days, and restrictions on

movement within city premises, indoor air purifiers and gas masks are but mere reactions.



Figure 5 Dr. KK Agarwal, President Indian Medical Association showing AQI in Delhi on November

7. 2017

Source: www.twitter.com/ANI

The air quality index touched the “severe” category in the first week of November (2017),

hitting 448 on a scale of 500 for the second time this year (2017). The root cause of the smog,

which fills the corridors of Delhi without fail every winter, is yet to be tackled. Several

studies and government committees have highlighted that burning coal, petrol, diesel, gas,

biomass and waste, along with industries, power plants, and firecrackers are major

contributors of pollution.

Figure 6 Real time AQI of New Delhi, India as on 14-11-2017

Source: http://aqicn.org/city/nanjing/

5.1. Impact of Crop Residue burning on Delhi’s air pollution

Every winter, Delhi is enveloped in thick smoke as neighbouring agrarian states burn crops.

An estimated 35 million tonnes of residual crops are set ablaze in Punjab and Haryana, which

make up 12-60 percent of Delhi‟s air pollution.

Farmers often take this step to save costs and to save time between crops. The Punjab

government sought Rs 100 per quintal from the central government to discourage farmers

from burning crop stubble. Table 1 Estimation of Biomass burnt

Rice Area (mh) Rice-Wheat Area

(mh)

Rice Straw Output

(mt)

Rice Straw Burnt

(mt)

Punjab 2.9 2.6 22.0 18.7

Haryana 1.3 1.0 7.5 3.0

Western UP* 1.3 0.7 4.4 1.3

Total 5.5 4.3 33.9 23.0 *Nainital, Haridwar, Dehradun districts of Uttarkhand; Meerut, Saharanpur, Bareilly divisions of UP; mh –

Million Hectares; mt – Million Tonnes

Source: National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS)



Despite this, the Delhi Pollution Control Board marked 1,011 cases of stubble burning

across the state until November 7, 2017.

Figure 7 Satellite view of annual crop burning in India, resulting in smoke

Source: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov

6. NEED OF VERTICAL FOREST IN DELHI

In Delhi, pollution is one of the most critical problems faced by the public and technical

authorities. As per World Health Organization (WHO) report, Delhi is the fourth most

polluted city in the world regarding the suspended particulate matter (SPM). The growing

pollution is not only responsible for increased health problems as well as constitutes to

various environmental degradation.

6.1. Bengaluru with vertical greenery system

An initiative of SayTrees, the organic garden has come to Hosur Road Electronics City

Flyover where over 3,500 saplings of 10 different species have already been planted. With an

automated drip irrigation system installed within the garden, the plants will get their daily

dose of 100 milliliters of water. Each side of the vertical garden comes with a unique design.

According to SayTrees, all pillars of the flyover will soon be covered with these gardens.

Figure 8 Vertical Greenery System installed in Electronic City flyover, Bengaluru

Source: saytrees.org



And the benefits of this biodiversity are manifold. As described by SayTrees, the gardens

will help reduce urban heat island effect and smog; purify outside polluted air; act as a sound-

proofing barrier; create a healthy habitat for birds and insects; increase real estate value; and

much more.

6.2. Delhi needs a Green solution

From the great example from China in leading, and from the internal friend Bengaluru

following, it is the right time to adopt vertical forest concept as the rapid and sustainable

solution for Delhi‟s air pollution issue.

The major metro cities of India respectively Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata fortunately

locates on a sea coast where the intense air pollutants can have a positive plume pattern effect

along with sea wind. Such advantage naturally misses with Delhi since it is surrounded all

sides by land.

The Delhi government stated that many of the industrial units are not located in industry

specified zones. Increase in traffic density also being another important issue regarding the

pollution growth.

While comparing the land area of Delhi and Nanjing, we can easily understand the

situation of Delhi regarding the need of vertical forest for curtaining air pollution issue.

China‟s Nanjing having 6596 Km2 while Delhi is having only 1484 kM

2 as their land area.

But Delhi is having 10 times more air pollution comparing to Beijing, China, report says.

Being all the major factors such as transport mode, vehicle population, human population,

crop burning issue of neighbouring states and lack of sea coast like other metro cities in India,

Delhi being in the right place and time of executing a vertical forest towers in the New Delhi

NCR.

7. NOVEL SOLUTION BY AUTHORS

Since urban development directly and indirectly depletes the vegetation on a land area,

bringing back the green space in to the urban space will only be the solution for various urban

pollution related issues. In such sense, vertical forest, vertical farming, vertical greenery

system would come to the picture as a solution for urban development issues. Why we cannot

adopt the vertical green concept in a horizontal scale? By having such an idea, as the author

of this paper, we would like to share our novel approach as a solution for urban development

issues. Yes, the solution is “Construction of bridges across an urban region which is meant for

having vertical green modules”.

Concept of vertical forest towers would need to face certain disadvantages like special

structural design, increase in dead load, irrigation design requirements, flies and unwanted

insects spreading, etc.

Our proposed design of a novel bridge would consist of shorter width of decking say 2m

which would consist modules of green vegetation throughout its length. So as to provide the

maintenance assistance, the decking would have an aisle in-between the green modules. Since

the load from the green modules is lesser comparing to the ordinary traffic load, this type of

bridge would not need thicker sections.

It would also be visually pleasant if an urban city is having an elevated forest within the

shape of a bridge across its terrain. By having various stretches across a city, this type of

Elevated Forest concept will help an urban city in many ways such as mitigating the air



pollution by sequestrating CO2, allowing the unconventional farming practice on a bridge,

aesthetic values, and a sustainability achievement.

8. CONCLUSIONS

The AAP-led Delhi government on November 14 (2017) urged the National Green Tribunal

(NGT) to direct neighbouring states in the National Capital Region to implement the Odd-

Even car rationing scheme. The reactions from the government which is under consideration

for the pollution issue in Delhi in recent days, will not be a permanent solution. The officials

and the technical authorities should understand the fact that climate change is happening

around us in the real time. Delhi needs not only a permanent solution, a green solution as

well. Will our AAP-led government make any breakthrough initiative?

REFERENCES

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