Identification of Ecosystem Services available in Motijheel CBD and Its Possible Integration with the Pedestrian System

Abstract

This paper starts with a concern about integrating ecological services, deals with GreenTransport System regarding micro-climate regulation, rainwater drainage (water regulation), and recreational/cultural values, relevant for Dhaka metropolitan to sustain and enhance human life within an established urban arrangement. Despite the negative recognition of ecological strain in Dhaka city’s developed areas, natural environments are neither protected nor integrated with the city structure. As Dhaka becomes more urbanized, there is a need to address urban design policies aimed at respecting our natural environment, integrating with open-space systems. Open spaces inside the city remain scattered green patches that have a negligible contribution to environmental qualities and ecological balance. The increase of vehicular traffic load and hard surfaces in the city center reduces livability and endangering ecological stability. Acknowledging this issue, DSP (Dhaka Structure Plan 2016-2035)[1] reveals an Objective UD-06 (Green Network) under “Enhance the Cityscape with Urban Design and Landscape,” regarding integrated landscaped connections through utilizing streetscape. Following that, the objective of this research paper concentrates on finding out where the scope is in the urban street and pedestrian level and what will be the change in the ecological scenario particularly through a case of Central Business District Motijheel, Dhaka. The investigation has been conducted here by several field studies to find out spaces at pedestrian and street levels which can be undertaken in the judicial planning framework, to be utilized for street green infrastructure. In terms of environmental sustainability, the expectation of this research work would be esteeming the integrated non-motorized transport scheme with an absorbent reformed surface at the pedestrian level in an urban setting. Through observation and theoretical analysis, this paper will analyze and compare the percentage around the scope of revitalized ecological scenarios with the existing context accordingly.