TABLE OF CONTENTS - The Professional Green Building Council

Theme B: Creating a livable, healthy and environmentally viable citiesthis study with the intention of exploring the different characteristics of Bangkok’scommuting behavior and in more detailed daily travel investigations among theparticipants of this survey. The questionnaires consisted of questions aboutindividual travel behaviors, participation in activities related to commuting, andsocial relations or routines likely to influence travel behavior. The main surveyincluded questions about the distance traveled by each method on each day duringa week. In addition, the study utilized simulation software integrating existingsystems such as Sketch Up, Maya, 3D Max, Flash, and Premier programs, whichalso used visual simulation to facilitate the modeling, display and evaluation of theproposed alternative environment.4. LITERATURE REVIEWSWilliams (1990) argued that compact cities were explained with 4 aspects, asfollowing: (1) to be efficient for more sustainable modes of transport. Thepopulation densities are high enough to support public transport and to make itfeasible to operate. Also, because compact cities are high density and mixed use,the theory is that people can live near to their workplace and leisure facilities.Hence, the demand for travel is reduced overall and people can walk and cycleeasily. (2) To be a sustainable use of land by reducing sprawl. Land in thecountryside is preserved and land in towns can be recycled for development. (3) Insocial terms, compactness and mixed uses are associated with diversity, socialcohesion and cultural development. Some also argue that it is an equitable formbecause it offers good accessibility. (4) To be economically viable becauseinfrastructure, such as roads and street lighting can be provided cost-effectively percapita. Many planners and policymakers believe that “sustainable communities areplaces that exhibit a compact urban form.” (Beatley, 1995) However, there isdebate about the very definition of a ‘compact city’, and in particular what policiesneed to be undertaken to achieve urban compaction, let alone whether theseparticular policies in fact do contribute to sustainability. According to (Breheny,241