BUILT ENVIRONMENT, HOUSING & TECHNOLOGY

EHHT 6223

SUBMITTED BY:
MOHD FAHMI BIN AHMAD JAMIZI
BEHP22106112
FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCE
BACHELOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY (HONS)

SUBMITTED TO:
MR. SUNDARA RAJAN A/L MAHALINGAM
TITLE: IMPACT OF BUILT
ENVIRONMENTS ON
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
INTRODUCTION
 Definition of Built Environment

● Physical and built-up infrastructure that

supports human activity
● Shapes spatial and social dynamics of
cities and communities
● Encompasses all human-made structures
and spaces
● Includes housing, workplaces, schools,
hospitals, roads, parks, public
transportation, and utility systems
● Provides the setting for daily life and
activities
● Consists of buildings, transportation
networks, public spaces, utilities, and
infrastructure.

Sources : Malaysian Institute of Planners (2021)

 Definition of Environmental Health

● Branch of public health that focuses on the

interaction between human health and the
environment
● Includes assessment, control, and
prevention of environmental factors that
can affect human health
● Addresses issues such as air and water
pollution, hazardous waste, and food safety
● Ministry of Health Malaysia is responsible
for ensuring environmental health
● Monitors water quality
● Enforces food safety regulations
● Enforces Law Act 342

Sources : Ministry of Health Malaysia, 2021

 The relationship between Build Environment
and Environmental Health

● The quality of the built environment can

directly affect human health
● Poor indoor air quality, inadequate
sanitation, and exposure to environmental
toxins can lead to respiratory illnesses,
infectious diseases, and chronic health
conditions
● The built environment has a significant
impact on the quality of life and well-being
of individuals and communities, including
health, safety, social interactions, and
economic opportunities

Sources : Malaysian Institute of Planners, 2021

DISCUSSION
 What is Urban Heat Island (UHI)?

● A phenomenon where urban areas experience higher temperatures

than surrounding rural areas
● Factors contributing to UHI include increased heat absorption,
reduced evapotranspiration, and anthropogenic heat emissions
● UHI has significant impacts on the environment, human health, and
energy consumption
● A study conducted in Malaysia in 2015 by Lim et al. observed UHI
effects in several cities, including Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Johor
Bahru
● Urban areas in Malaysia experienced temperatures 1-4°C higher than
surrounding rural areas during the daytime
● Factors contributing to UHI in Malaysia include urbanization, land
use change, and climate change.

Sources : Mitigation of the Urban Heat Island of the City of Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia (2015)
 How does Urban Heat Island (UHI) happen?

● UHI occurs due to modification of natural land surface and built

environment in urban areas
● This modification causes changes in surface energy balance and
heat storage
● Urban areas experience higher temperatures compared to
surrounding rural areas due to this modification
● Natural land surfaces in rural areas have less modification which
leads to lower temperatures

Sources : Mitigation of the Urban Heat Island of the City of Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia (2015)
 What modification of natural land and
sources leads to Urban Heat Island (UHI)?

● Urbanization: Conversion of natural land cover to buildings, roads,

and infrastructure, reducing evapotranspiration and heat storage
● Land Use Change: Removal of vegetation and installation of
impervious surfaces like pavements and buildings, reducing natural
cooling effect
● Anthropogenic Heat Emissions: Heat released from human activities
such as transportation, industry, and energy consumption
● Urban Geometry: Compact and tall urban structures reduce shade
and increase heat concentration at street level
● Urban Design: Features like narrow streets, tall buildings, and lack of
green space contribute to UHI effect

Sources : Mitigation of the Urban Heat Island of the City of Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia (2015)
 How does Urban Heat Island (UHI) impacted
environmental health?

● UHI can lead to environmental and health problems such as increased air pollution, heat
stress, and heat-related illnesses.
● UHI can cause smog formation, a type of air pollution that can aggravate respiratory
illnesses.
● UHI can increase the risk of heat-related illnesses, particularly among vulnerable
populations such as the elderly and children.

Sources : Mitigation of the Urban Heat Island of the City of Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia (2015)
CONCLUSION
 Conclusion

● UHI is a significant environmental issue in Malaysia's highly urbanized cities

● UHI leads to an increase in temperature, air pollution, and heat-related illnesses
● Urgent need for mitigation measures to reduce UHI and improve environmental and
health outcomes
● Proposed measures to mitigate UHI include green roofs, urban forestry, and sustainable
urban planning
● Studies in Malaysia provide evidence of the impact of UHI on environmental health and
the effectiveness of mitigation measures
● Findings can inform policy decisions and urban planning strategies to address UHI
impact in Malaysia and other urban areas globally.

Sources : Mitigation of the Urban Heat Island of the City of Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia (2015)
RECOMMENDATION
 Recommendation

● Increase green spaces with parks, green roofs, and green walls to absorb heat and
reduce overall temperature.
● Use cool roofing and reflective pavements to reflect sunlight and absorb less heat.
● Implement urban design strategies like increasing building density to shade streets and
reduce heat absorption.
● Promote sustainable transportation like cycling, walking, public transportation, and
electric vehicles to reduce heat generated by traffic.
● A multifaceted approach involving urban planning, sustainable design, and public
awareness campaigns is needed to mitigate urban heat island in Malaysia.

Sources : Mitigation of the Urban Heat Island of the City of Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia (2015)
REFERENCE
● Abu Bakar, S. H., Maulud, K. N. A., Omar, W. M. W., & Juahir, H. (2015). Urban heat island intensity assessment using Landsat TM5 images
in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Journal of Advanced Research in Earth Sciences, (2), 1-9.

● Jacobsen, J. (2018). Understanding the Built Environment: An Overview. In The Routledge Handbook of Transport Economics (pp. 39-53).
Routledge.

● Lim, C. H., MatJafri, M. Z., Abdullah, K., & Wong, C. Y. (2015). Urban heat island effect on climate change in Kuala Lumpur and its
mitigation strategies. Procedia Environmental Sciences, 30, 233-238. doi:10.1016/j.proenv.2015.10.040

● Malaysian Institute of Planners (2021). The Role of Planners in Building Sustainable Communities. Retrieved from
https://www.mip.org.my/the-role-of-planners-in-building-sustainable-communities/

● Ministry of Health Malaysia (2021). Environmental Health. Retrieved from https://www.moh.gov.my/index.php/pages/view/1291