UNIVERSITY OF MALTA

UNIVERSITY RESEARCH ETHICS COMMITTEE

Check list to be included with UREC proposal form Please make sure to tick ALL the items. Incomplete forms will not be accepted.

YES NOT APP.

1a. Recruitment letter / Information sheet for subjects, in English X

1b. Recruitment letter / Information sheet for subjects, in Maltese X

2a Consent form, in English, signed by supervisor, and including your contact details X

2b Consent form, in Maltese, signed by supervisor, and including your contact details X

3a In the case of children or other vulnerable groups, consent forms for parents/ guardians, in English X

3b In the case of children or other vulnerable groups, consent forms for parents/ guardians, in Maltese X

4a Tests, questionnaires, interview or focus group questions, etc, in English X

4b Tests, questionnaires, interview or focus group questions, etc, in Maltese X

5a Other institutional approval for access to subjects: Health Division, Directorate for Quality and Standards in Education, Department of Public Health, Curia...

X

5b

Other institutional approval for access to data: Registrar, Data Protection Officer Health Division/Hospital, Directorate for Quality and Standards in Education, Department of Public Health…

X

5c Approval from person directly responsible for subjects: Medical Consultants, Nursing Officers, Head of School… X

Received by Faculty office on

Discussed by Faculty Research Ethics Committee on

Discussed by university Research Ethics Committee on

UNIVERSITY OF MALTA

Request for Approval of Human Subjects Research Please type. Handwritten forms will not be accepted

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You may follow this format on separate sheets or use additional pages if necessary. FROM: Mark Vella48, Camivel,Triq tal-Gurgier Birzebbugia

PROJECT TITLE: ‘Delivering Insights through Typologies of Place’

TELEPHONE: 21657265

E-MAIL mark.b.vella.10@um.edu.mt

COURSE AND YEAR: Master in Architecture and Urban Design (2015/16), Year 2

DURATION OF ENTIRE PROJECT: from 21st June 2015 to 29th January 2016

FACULTY SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Dr. Edwin Mintoff

ANTICIPATED FUNDING SOURCE: (include grant or contract number if known) 1. Please give a brief summary of the purpose of the research, in non-technical language. The research concerns the sustainability of city peripheral development in the Maltese scenario and how this can be achieved through cultural planning. This research focuses on the area of Smart City Malta and the surrounding settlements. Contents of the research would include; the relevant theory and literature; an account of the historical evolution of the urban-rural areas in Malta; site observation, analysis and data collection on relevant themes and issues such as land use, urban morphology, types of open spaces and their qualities, promotion of culture; focused interviews; and possible interventions. The research investigate how such areas can be developed.

2. Give details of procedures that relate to subjects' participation (a) How are subjects recruited? What inducement is offered? (Append copy of letter or advertisement or poster, if any.)

Interviews with technical persons are organized via e-mail to obtain their approval explaining the subject under study and what information would ideally be required from them. The interviews are digitally documented. A letter to be sent to subjects is attached at the end of this document.

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(b) Salient characteristics of subjects—number who will participate, age range, sex, institutional affiliation, other special criteria: Considering the nature of the study and of the site these would be difficult to quantify. The technical people such as planners, mayors, and those responsible for the running of Smart City Malta, are potential subjects and interviews would seek qualitative answers. (c) Describe how permission has been obtained from cooperating institution(s)—school, hospital, organization, prison, or other relevant organization. (Append letters.) Is the approval of another Research Ethics Committee required? The subject have not been approached as yet. (d) What do subjects do, or what is done to them, or what information is gathered? (Append copies of instructions or tests or questionnaires.) How many times will observations, tests, etc., be conducted? How long will their participation take? Participation would obviously depend on the will of the subject to participate. Information gathered would deal with people perceptions and beliefs about the site in question, what uses and amenities should be provided on site, whether or not such developments are welcomed or not and what elements are mostly sought after. The interviews are meant to study possible interventions and solutions and document people perceptions and experience. Attached is a list of possible questions to be asked.

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(e) Which of the following data categories are collected? Please indicate ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. Data that reveals – race or ethnic origin NO

political opinions NO religious or philosophical beliefs NO trade union memberships NO

health NO

sex life NO genetic information NO

3. How do you explain the research to subjects and obtain their informed consent to participate? (If in writing, append a copy of consent form.) If subjects are minors, mentally infirm, or otherwise not legally competent to consent to participation, how is their assent obtained and from whom is proxy consent obtained? How is it made clear to subjects that they can quit the study at any time? Persons providing technical information need not necessary be daily users of the site. The subjects are approached via e-mail in order to obtain their consent, explain what information is required and why their participation would be beneficial. Attached is a sample letter of consent and the questions will be provided beforehand. 4 .Do subjects risk any harm—physical, psychological, legal, social—by participating in the research? Are the risks necessary? What safeguards do you take to minimize the risks? No 5. Are subjects deliberately deceived in any way? If so, what is the nature of the deception? Is it likely to be significant to subjects? Is there any other way to conduct the research that would not involve deception, and, if so, why have you not chosen that alternative? What explanation for the deception do you give to subjects following their participation?

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No. 6. How will participation in this research benefit subjects? If subjects will be “debriefed” or receive information about the research project following its conclusion, how do you ensure the educational value of the process? (Include copies of any debriefing or educational materials) A copy of the dissertation study can be sent to those contacted via e-mail. Any valuable results, needs for further investigations, and proposals highlighted during the study might be of value for them.

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TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR APPROVAL IN TERMS OF THE DATA PROTECTION ACT

Personal data shall only be collected and processed for the specific research purpose.

The data shall be adequate, relevant and not excessive in relation to the processing purpose.

All reasonable measures shall be taken to ensure the correctness of personal data.

Personal data shall not be disclosed to third parties and may only be required by the University

or the supervisor for verification purposes. All necessary measures shall be implemented to

ensure confidentiality and, where possible, data shall be anonymised.

Unless otherwise authorised by the University Research Ethics Committee, the researcher shall

obtain the consent from the data subject (respondent) and provide him with the following

information: The researcher’s identity and habitual residence, the purpose of processing and

the recipients to whom personal data may be disclosed. The data subject shall also be informed

about his rights to access, rectify, and where applicable erase the data concerning him.

I, the undersigned hereby undertake to abide by the terms and conditions for approval as attached to this

application.

I, the undersigned, also give my consent to the University of Malta’s Research Ethics Committee to process my personal data for the purpose of evaluating my request and other matters related to this application. I also understand that, I can request in writing a copy of my personal information. I shall also request rectification, blocking or erasure of such personal data that has not been processed in accordance with the Act.

Signature:

APPLICANT'S SIGNATURE: I hereby declare that I will not start my research on human subjects before UREC approval DATE 11th September 2015

FACULTY SUPERVISOR’S SIGNATURE I have reviewed this completed application and I am satisfied with the adequacy of the proposed research design and the measures proposed for the protection of human subjects. DATE 11th September 2015

Return the completed application to your faculty Research Ethics Committee To be completed by Faculty Research Ethics Committee We have examined the above proposal and advise Acceptance Refusal Conditional acceptance For the following reason/s:

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Signature Date

To be completed by University Research Ethics Committee We have examined the above proposal and grant Acceptance Refusal Conditional acceptance For the following reason/s: Signature Date

Focused Interviews with Technical PeopleLetter of consent – sample

Good Afternoon,

I am a student reading for the Masters in Architecture and Urban Design at the University of Malta. As part of the fulfilment for the course students were requested to carry out a dissertation research. The research concerns the sustainability of city peripheral development in the Maltese scenario and how this can be achieved

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through cultural planning. I am taking the area of Smart City as a basis for investigation. Knowing your commitments and possible experiences of the site and matters related to such development I would like to ask for your opinion on certain issues related to the site and development. Your responses would be beneficial for the assessment of the site and the collection of data in this research project. Any personal data and information will be kept confidential, and anonymous.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Regards,Mark Vella

Update invitation letter:

Dear Perit Sciortino,

I am a student reading for the Masters in Architecture and Urban Design at the University of Malta. As part of the fulfilment for the course students were requested to carry out a dissertation research. The research concerns the sustainability and planning of city peripheral development in the Maltese scenario and how this can be achieved.  I am taking the area of Smart City as a basis for investigation. Knowing your commitments and possible experiences of the site and matters related to such development I would like to ask for your opinion and insights on certain issues and challenges related to the site and its development. Your responses would be beneficial for the assessment of the site and the collection of data in this research project. Any personal data and information will be kept confidential, and anonymous.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Regards,Mark Vella

Contact List:

ex-Minister Austin Gatt current MP Claudio Grech Perit Paul Camilleri Adrian Mallia (Adi Associates) (Environmental Assessment) (Thursday 10:00a.m.) Tony Valvo - (Xagħjra Mayor) Perit Ruben Sciortino (who was/is monitoring the works) (Friday 2:00p.m) David Sutton (Transport Malta) Kalkara Local Council (Elaine Caruana) Ing. Norman Zammit (Current Smart City Manager) Residents, Shop owners, and users of space

(awaiting reply) (interviewed) (meeting date set)

Sample of Questions1. The development adopts sustainability practices and strategies in terms of

the building techniques and urban design practices. Such developments are usually targeted to balance unsustainable patterns of suburban

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communities, retrofitting existing places well-outside main city centres. How these developments and its effect on the construction industry, local communities, landscape, heritage and planning were studied and what lessons can we learn that can be applied elsewhere? What can be done when there is a lack of interest from the local community to participate in participatory meeting and practices?

2. The area is identified as having potential for land reclamation and increasingly we are realising the important role that maritime transport, amongst other forms of transport that can be considered, could play in our local economy and sustainability of the transportation system, whilst the cultural heritage could have been assets better exploited for the benefit of the local community. Could the built heritage and maritime opportunities have been better linked with the proposed development?

3. An advantageous characteristic of the IT sector is the versatility that it can locate itself in remote locations thus benefiting remote communities that find it hard to access high held job opportunities, access affordable housing prices and reduce business operation costs. How was the location of such development chosen, it is ideal when considering the demographic characteristics of the region it is built in with the lack of third level education and poor connectivity to other urban places?

4. What opportunities retrofitting and investment in declining areas, infrastructure (road network upgrades waste management, employment provision, creating ICT infrastructure, water and sewage infrastructure etc.), unused developed exist?

5. What are the challenges that were faced in the design and planning process? What are the challenges nowadays, since the development did not perform as predicted in the economic report and now that the first phase is completed?

6. Decentralised system are becoming effective and technology is being developed and implemented in new masterplan strategies that aims to contribute towards reducing CO2 emissions and green house gases. What energy sources and technology was envisaged, for instance CHPs, water harvesting techniques, and passive technology? (resource management, water, energy, waste, use of LEED)

7. Why the land uses and open spaces were organised in such a way and what influenced such planning decisions?

8.

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Urban Renewal:

1. How well transport and land use are integrated within each other? Ease of accessibility via public transport.

2. How effective are the measures taken to promote sustainable forms of transport? (multimodal transport, car sharing, bicycle facilities and showers…)

3. How legible is the space and proposed development to find your way around? How successful is the visual and physical connectivity and accessibility for social contact and legibility?

4. How successful were mitigation measure to reduce the environmental impacts of development? e.g the use of green infrastructure to mitigate green-house gas emissions, integrate parking spaces within landscaping and filtrate water flows.

5. How adequate are the seating arrangements and outdoor microclimate?

Community, Business, Employment and Economy:

1. To what extent do you think community facilities such as pubs, cafes, play area, recreational and leisure facilities, school and parks are satisfactory?

2. How the amenities provided can affect the quality of people’s lifestyle? How healthy lifestyle choices are being promoted and encouraged, if any? E.g. walkable neighbourhoods, community facilities provided like gym etc.

3. Cleanliness of the site?4. Diversity of economic activities?5. How adequate is the provision of educational facilities? Does it relate to

the type of jobs provided on site? 6. To what extent the accommodation mix reflect the needs and aspiration of

the local community? If there is any?7. To what extent the tenure mix reflects the needs of the community?8. How influential is the provision of broadband access towards the success

of the functioning of the place?

Urban Design:

1. How specific is the design to the scheme?2. How successful the scheme employed the use of

a. existing buildings,b. landscape and c. topography?

3. How much does the scheme feel like a place with local distinctiveness (type of open spaces and their qualities inherent to the place? Was this ever used or considered?

4. How well are open spaces and streets defined by the building layout and its organisation?

5. How adequate tall building are for the site?

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6. Does the building take priority over the streets and car parking so the roads does not dominate the environment?

7. Is the parking provision well integrated into the landscaping so it supports the streetscape?

8. Are the streets pedestrian, cycle and vehicle friendly?9. Does the scheme integrate with the existing streets, paths and

surrounding development?10. Are public space and pedestrian route overlook and do they feel safe?11. Does it enhance civic pride? 12. Image branding and marketability of the scheme to attract investment and

people.

Design and Construction:

1. How successfully designed is the public space?2. How successful are the management practices put in place?3. Do the building exhibit architectural qualities?4. Do internal spaces and layout allow for adaptation, conversion or

extension?5. How advances in construction technology were implemented to enhance

its performance, quality and attractiveness?6. Do building or spaces outperform statutory minima, such as building

regulations?7. How successful were the use of LEED certificate and point system to

achieve sustainability? How important was the use of this tool to achieve sustainable practices?

Resource Management:

1. Utilization of renewable energy sources (localized energy production etc..)2. Reuse and recycling of water 3. Heat island effect mitigation measures. (e.g. use of materials)4. Effectiveness of louvers and shading devices5. Effectiveness of indoor ventilation systems and intelligent lighting control

systems to achieve comfort. 6. Effectiveness of onsite waste collection, separation and recycling7. Minimization of noise, dust pollution and waste during construction 8. Landscaping species used stimulates local ecology and biodiversity.9. How important it is to implement a food strategy for the management of

produce, ensure marketability, adopt water efficient techniques for cultivation, promote research initiatives and eco-tourism, sustain biodiversity, and promote the use of organic products?

Planning:

1. To what extent community needs and aspirations were incorporated within the scheme?

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2. The importance of data collection before and after construction? E.g. eco-auditing and resource consumptions etc.

3. The adequacy of decentralised systems for water management, energy and heat generation, and food production.

4. __5. __6. __

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The Themes: Employment, Economy, Businesses and Community Urban renewal: Transport, accessibility and human health and well-being Resource Management:

o Watero Energyo Wasteo Ecologyo Food

Urban Design Planning

Goals and ObjectivesTheme Objectives Goals

Urban Renewal Transportation and Accessibility

Integrating transportation system with land use

Multi-modal transportation systems, including sea ferriesProvision of bicycle racks and shower facilitiesProvision of electricity charging poles for electrical vehiclesResource sharing and carpooling systemsPromote resource efficient transportation making use of clean energy productionIntegrate parking facilities with green landscaping infrastructureRetain visual connectivity and accessibility for social contact and legibility.

Human health and well-being

Create and identify a safe walkable environment for pedestrian and bicycle transport to reduce car dependency

Use of intelligent transport system to monitor consumption and user satisfactionUsing green infrastructure to capture CO2 emissions and create an enhanced experienceRelate scheme to its contextCreate comfortable public seating arrangements and adequate outdoor micro climate for stayingRe-use existing brownfield and dilapidated sites for redevelopment (min 80% brownfield land)

Theme Objectives Goals

Employment, Business, Economy,

Community Create opportunities for community

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and CommunityPromote healthy life style choicesUnleash people’s potential and improve the quality of their lifeProvide broadband accessProvision of communal spacesCreate a network of open spaces, a hierarchy of open spaces that reflects a desired social structure

Make community facilities and equipment accessible for all

Social cohesion and development that is fairly distributed across territories

Economy Provision of community facilities, retail and leisure areas, touristic opportunities, and healthcare provision Provision of a stimulating environment that is clean and inviting as well as tranquil giving a sense of repose providing pleasant viewsPhasing of development to finance development from revenuesCreate a diverse economyProject must be feasible and leave a return on investmentReduce employee expenses and provision of services

Education and Employment

Provide educational facilities and required courses for the jobs envisioned to cater for the local community and help achieve goals of sustainable development (exogenous and indigenous resources)Local and regional forged employment workforce in construction processes and jobs created Achieve 1:1 housing job balanceDevelopment to act as an incubator for educational opportunities and jobs

Theme Objectives Goals

Planning Planning and Process

Create an understanding of community needs and aspiration to deliver good design and address community needsAdopted multi-disciplinary approaches and participationConsultation processes with stakeholdersFormulation of impact assessment on the social, environmental and economic domains and transportationUse bottom-up and top down approaches (e.g.

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community GIS, participatory planning practices and mental maps)Planning of the construction process and phasing of developmentTesting of scenariosUse of LEED and BREAM certification and point systems to achieve sustainability targetsMixed land use planning approaches Use of context sensitive approach and analysisGood Governance and skilled professionalsUsing brownfield and existing developed sites for development (min 80% brownfield land)Use noise mitigation measures (e.g. urban greenways)Data collection after and before development Image branding and marketability

Theme Objectives Goals

Urban Design Townscape Accessibility, connectivity and safety requirementsOptimum density ad density gradation (min. 45dpha or 100ppha, depends on site location)PermeabilityPublic realm and enclosure of spaceContextual analysis and survey techniques suitable for the urban processMassing and volume of a humane scale (these can include projections and set-backs, height-to-width ratios, skyline plot sizes and width and frontages)Placing of tall buildingsProvide a townscape strategy that protects the qualities of the streetscape and townscape so the residents, business and visitors can enjoy and be protected (elements may include: views, materials, siting, louvers, signs, walls, building form, siting, and open space quality and form). Provide a design narrative and conceptTesting of optionsRespond to civic pride and improve public realm (example creating enclosure)Provide a legible environment and street networkEnhanced architectural quality to create a rich environmentUtilisation of green infrastructure, energy and micro-climate principles to be incorporated into the urban form

Public Realm Create an enhanced living experience to stimulate the sense

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Social and built typological diversityLocal distinctiveness (making use of local qualities)Promote biodiversity by design

Provision of an open space networkPrivate-Public interfaces and transitionsProvide services within walkable distanceFormulation of management plansUse green corridors

Theme Objectives Goals

Resource Management

Water Rainwater and storm water harvesting

Sewage treatment and reusing of secondary waterAdopt green infrastructure to percolate and filtrate water to ground aquifersWater saving devices installed within fittings and appliancesThe urban structure and street must follow topographical inclinationsGreywater recovery systemsWork with or enhance existing infrastructure

Energy Adequate building depth to create cross ventilation (18m in depth)Utilisation of renewable energy sources (e.g. marine and tidal energy, wind power and solar collection, roof PV panels)CHP plants to generate localised heat and energy for cooling Smart grid to distribute extra energy generatedSelf-sufficient lighting fixturesUse of ventilated and insulated facadesUse of light-coloured non-absorbent surfaces to reduce heat island effectTransport systems that are energy efficient and make use of renewable and clean energyControlled indoor ventilation systems and intelligent lighting control systems to achieve maximum comfortUtilisation of louvers and shading devicesBuilding orientation and use of passive technology Separation of ceiling and wall joints

Smart and IT infrastructure to monitor consumption and study behaviour patterns and auditing of consumption

Waste On site waste collection and separationRe use of heat to generate power

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Using organic waste for farming and compost in gardens and agricultureConsider end of life phase of building elementsProvide a flexible building layoutMinimize construction waste and consider reuse of existing structures were possible prior demolitionMinimize noise and dust pollution due to constructionEducation for waste minimisation and sustainable development

Ecology Enhance and protect seawater and terrestrial biodiversityUtilise a diversity of species to create a rich and diverse landscapeProvide an open space network that stimulates local ecology and biodiversityLocal food productionBio-filtration and bio-retention systems

Theme Objectives Goals

Food Food Promotion of eco-tourismResearch initiatives and student opportunitiesUse of IT and Smart Technology to monitor crops, control temperature assist in the food production processSustain biodiversity and ecologyUse water efficient techniques Plot are of adequate size (min 120 sqm) to make better use of open space provisionLetting of land for food productionEnsure marketability and quality of producePromote use of organic products to minimize use of fertilizers

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