Maximizing Land Use

Since the amount of land on earth on earth is limited everywhere,
land reclamation is not a long-term solution.

Land use planning is important to settle conflicts about how the land should be used, maximizing existing land use.


Urban Land Use:

1) Mixed Land Use-

• Mutiple uses of same plot of land
• Allows a limited area of land to be used for different purposes. [advantage]
• Such as, commercial, industrial, residential and leisure.
  

2) High-density buildings [also known as verticalization]-

• Buildings are close together to cater to more needs. [advantages]
• Allows more residential areas to be built, accommodating to the increase in population.
• Also, it allows for more commercial buildings to be built, expanding economic activities.
• Thus, the density in central business district is naturally high.
  

Agriculture Land Use:
[takes place mainly in the rural areas]

1) Terracing-

• Farming on steps cut into hillsides
• Increases the area of arable land, thus maximizing the existing land use [advantage]
  

2) Soil-less farming

• Farming methods like aeroponics and hydroponics are examples of Soil-less farming
• Do not require as much land and at the same time, the quantity of food preduced is not affected at all. [advantage]

3) Irrigation

• Supplies to areas with seasonal rainfall or deserts
• Can also increase yields in existing farmlands by lengtening the growing seasons[advantage]
• Diverting water from main water bodies to provide water for fields

*Advantages are listed together with the points stated above.

Singapore Context:

High-density buildings

• As Singapore is a small country, competition for land is more intense
• Buildings are built close together to allow more residential flats and to accommodate expanding economic activities.
• The density of buildings especially in the central business district is high.
• Skyscrapers are built close together in Singapore