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What is it? Sustainable infrastructure aims to create a balance between natural and manmade organized structures in an attempt to create sustainable living. The focus is mainly on government policies and technology, which enables urban planning and architecture to promote a self-sustaining agriculture. The word sustainability does not mean the ability to live of itself as is commonly believe. Instead it suggests the ability to endure the impact from vehicles, general damage weathering and poor maintenance. Globally, infrastructure is deteriorating and is in need of replacing or enhancement. Subsequently new technology has been developed which allows these systems to handle large populations in urban areas while retaining a long term life expectancy of up to a hundred years. Such technology is being used internationally, including developing countries such as India. Which technology is being used in India? The new self healing technology protects surrounding paving and foundations from damage when these facilities are impacted, reducing maintenance and improving the sustainability of urban developments. Indian cities tend to contain a lot of natural substructure which provides filtering source for developers. Self healing infrastructures result in no waste or landfill from maintenance on items of urban development during the entire time of its construction. Going green is an important and current issue in India. The idea that sustainable design can encourage the development of a self-sustaining community appeals to the Indian Government. Subsequently, there has been a growing emphasis on infrastructural knowledge which could improve and update current urban areas without depleting India’s natural resources. The concept of renewable resources therefore goes hand in hand with sustainable infrastructure and its future in Indian urban developments. India is renowned for its high population density and so the design emphasis is on reducing each individual’s ecological footprint through encouraging sustainable living. The design criteria varies from state to state incorporating features such as; public transport network, green buildings and houses which use a variety of energy efficient products, wildlife corridor, connected green spaces, and developments which use renewable or recycled materials and protects local water resources. Does India need more planned infrastructure? In order to promote self-sustaining communities, architects and developers need to realize that they form part of wide ranged regions. The benefits of sustainable infrastructure are already well known; there is no doubt that people want better maintained towns and cities and they will come to expect it. Planning the substructure before it is constructed is an important step to ensuring that the facilities built meets the demands of the local community. The whole picture needs to be established beforehand, taking in to consideration those who are calling for environmentally friendly towns and cities. If the Indian Government wants to continue its drive to lower India’s environmental footprint and maintain sustainability; it must continue to carefully plan urban substructure and facilities which takes in to account the local resources and the self-sustaining need of the local community. Sustainable infrastructure development has become an increasingly important topic for many governments. Mark Long has been tracing the increase in interest and the attempts to improve Infrastructure India, China and Japan.
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Sustainable infrastructure development, Infrastructure India,
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