The team identified 14 cake shops from 6 commercial centres around Choa Chu Kang area for our study. Using field observations and surveys, the team used GIS to create spatial layers as well as commercial nodes based on sources provided by SLA HDB and URA. They then plotted the location of the cake shops and the address points to map out the service areas. The hotspots were identified based on the highest number of intersection of service areas. The team geocoded the clinics and placed buffer zones ranging from 100 to 400 meters using the multi ring buffer tools. They also superimposed the clinic buffered zones against the hotspots areas to determine the areas that are least accessible to medical facilities which are the underserved high risked areas. The team deduced two hot zones in the north and the south over 8 to 9 service areas. They also discovered that these hotspot are not easily accessible to medical facilities.

Environment Issues

2. Millennia Institute (Beautifying our rivers)

The team investigates the source of river pollution using GIS. Surveys were conducted to investigate the concerns toward the state of Kallang River among park visitors. A GPS equipment was used to record the coordinates of the rivers. Multiple ring buffer zones of at least 10m between a golf course and the river were suggested to reduce the relatively more alkaline surface runoff into the river. The team also suggested additional methods of reducing algae growth and setting up more signages.

Collection of pH value, dissolved oxygen and temperature was done through collecting of water samples at each of the 32 points of the Kallang River and analysed. The team found that with water becoming more alkaline, the amount of algae was also higher.

3. Temasek Junior College (Environmental appraisal of the CBD)

The project attempts to identify sectors of Singapore’s Central Business District (CBD) which require regeneration and face-lifts. Using the analytical intelligence of GIS, the team hopes to find correlations between aspects of the environment that are complementary in a bid to help the Singapore government more efficiently carry out regeneration projects in the CBD, thus making the CBD a more environmentally pleasing place for the community. Through their project, they were able to identify within the CBD, areas which are less pleasant then others in a bid to highlight to Singapore’s government, the specific places that require attention and regeneration so that action can be taken to improve on these areas. The project essentially makes use of an environmental appraisal of the CBD based on 13 criterions that we have derived, to differentiate sectors of pleasant environments and sectors of deprivation in the CBD. By mapping each of the 13 criterions on different layers in the GIS software, we are able to find correlations between any two or more of the 13 criterions. From their input, the team found the least appealing place in the CBD to be the areas around Cross Street and Peking Street, Clifford Pier, Hong Kong Street and Upper Pickering Street.

Business/Commerical Issues

4. Raffles Junior College (A location selection model for low-cost businesses)

The team collected and processed a wide-range of data across different locations in Bishan. Using GIS, the team analysed and plotted data to enable entrepreneurs who are starting up low-cost businesses to search for and select the optimal location for their shop. Unlike major corporations which can hire consultants, SMEs and entrepreneurs lack the resources to survey and differentiate the geographic variation of market groups and compare rental prices, and hence are unable to choose the optimal location to set up shop. The objective is then to select the ideal location based on business needs such as youth traffic, adult traffic, rental prices and comparatives, across the different spatial distributions.

The team noticed that a distinct positive relationship between rental prices and human traffic. Using a map, the team observed that rental prices are affected primarily by the flow of human traffic. Hence the team derived that as the flow of human traffic increases, the demand for that shop space also increases.

5. National Junior College (Optimisation of land use for retail in Punggol through GIS)

The team seeks to provide evidence and solutions for the lack of retail coverage in Punggol through the use of GIS. GIS is used to quantify the potential impact of a new retail complex in Punggol site suitability. 40 people surveyed revealed Punggol residents are concerned about the lack of middle-tier retailing and services such as cinemas, fast food outlets and banking services. Using GIS, the team mapped out key address points, lower-tier, middle-tier and high-end retailers. The team concluded that the best location for a future mid-tier shopping complex built in Punggol will be at the ear located near the MRT station, as suggested by Punggol residents in survey.

6. Anderson Junior College (“The price is right” (for home-buyers))

The aim is to locate the best possible living spaces in Sengkang based on a few considerations. Newlyweds are in a fix when they look out for homes. Financial, location and others are carefully considered. The team plotted selected facilities on a map. They then provided information of each facility such as the name, address, etc. The team also created buffer zones set for each different type of facility. The distance of the buffer zones is based on the function, the population capacity and the accessibility of each facility. Field surveys have indicated that the top three priorities of most couples buying homes are: price, transport, availability of markets.

Childcare issue

7. NUS High School (Childcare or Childscare?)

The team investigates the availability and accessibility of childcare centres in popular residential areas (eastern and western) for young or existing families. The project focuses on comparing Tampines DGP and Bukit Batok DGP because they are popular Development Guide Plan (DGP) zones in Singapore. Both DGP zones have also shown increasing trends of young families settling in these two regions.

The team conducted field and telephone surveys on the maximum capacities, strengths, waiting list, subsidies and fees per month of centres. Coordinates were generated by visiting them on site and using GPS handheld device to track and locate their locations. Other information data came from population census and MCYS. The results mapped out showed that the childcare centres in Bukit Batok were more aggregated while the child care centres in Tampines spread out more evenly.

It is useful to apply GIS to tracking the clusters and accessibility of child care centres. The data created can be used to study other relational datasets such as attendance and any HFMD outbreak for better management.

Community preparedness Issue

8. Saint Andrew’s Junior College (Project Vigilant)

The project is designed to aid the Toa Payoh community in the event of a terrorist attack. Using GIS, the team has constructed a user-friendly map that displays the locations of the various possible help facilities and the high-risk areas to aid relief efforts. The target audience for the map are potential victims in the high-risk areas and official aid providers. The team hopes to educate the Toa Payoh community on the locations of the nearest help facilities as well as the shortest routes from the nearest hospitals to holding areas for the wounded, through the GIS map.