https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/11/6452

Based on the findings from a recent study by the authors which examined factors affecting diffusion of photovoltaics (PV), while comprehensively considering the local PV and construction industry as well as characteristics of the built environment, this paper proposes a holistic strategy for PV implementation into Singapore’s built environment. It consists of (1) a multilevel mechanism framework, encompassing eleven mechanism categories of instruments and activities and (2) a general design framework including design principles, general project instructions and the main design guidelines. Relying on a survey conducted among PV experts on established mechanisms, the present study suggests that building codes (e.g., fire safety, structural safety, etc.) and initiatives and incentives related to PV/building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) should be the highest priority for authorities, followed by assessment of BIPV/PV properties, working toward social acceptance, conducting research projects and information exchange, and education and training activities. Considering all three pillars of sustainability, the design framework is based on the following interrelated design principles: (1) compatibility and coherence with the local context, (2) technical soundness, (3) economic viability, (4) user-centered design, (5) connecting with community and socio-cultural context, and (6) adaptability and flexibility. Despite Singapore’s scarcity of land, the established design guidelines cover a wide spectrum of solutions, including PV integration into both buildings and non-building structures. The synthesis of the two interconnected and inseparable frameworks aims to create an environment conducive to long-term widespread PV integration and stimulate the deployment of BIPV, which should help Singapore and other cities reduce their dependency on imported fossil fuels, while also making them more livable and enjoyable.

In the context of the globalisation of R&D activities, many urban and regional economies have attempted to create specific places in the hope of developing and embedding these activities. In this paper, it is argued that it is insufficient for such places to provide just physical infrastructure and investment benefits. Understanding actor-specific strategies and their enrolment in innovation networks and enabling institutional pre-conditions are equally important in embedding R&D activities. Based on a study of one such place—the Singapore Science Park— this paper explores the realities of science park formation. It is found that adequate institutional thickness and local embeddedness apply only to a small number of R&D firms in the Park. The paper also examines the myth that spatial proximity to R&D institutions and organisations automatically results in collaborative R&D efforts. The study shows that, for science parks to be more than a form of glorified property development, there is an urgent need for a fundamental transformation in the prevailing thinking of economic planning, R&D policies and urban development.

First conceptualised in Singapore’s first National Technology Plan in 1991, the idea of creating a new integrated R&D and innovation hub in Singapore languished until it was incorporated into a broader Technopreneurship 21 (T21) strategy announced in 1998, and was officially launched in late 2001. In the 20 years since, the innovation district has made significant development progress, but not quite in the manner as presented in a number of prior studies that have adopted a “top-down rational planning” narrative. Taking an evolutionary view, we argue that the actual development of One-North was significantly shaped by a number of critical actors as well as external environmental factors, and its evolutionary trajectory deviated from its original plan. Our evolutionary narrative provides insights on the role of champions in large scale innovation projects, and the need to integrate physical space development within a comprehensive innovation ecosystem development strategy. © 2022, Universitat de Barcelona, Facultad de Economia y Empresa. All rights reserved.

Purpose: This study aims to explain how hotel guests form attitudes toward facial recognition technology in Singapore by integrating technology acceptance model (TAM), privacy calculus theory and personal innovativeness. Design/methodology/approach: A self-administered online questionnaire was developed with measurements adopted from past research. Guests who stayed in four- or five-star hotels in Singapore were recruited via systematic random sampling. Structural equation modeling was conducted to examine the proposed integrated models. Findings: Results showed that hotel guests performed calculative cognitive processes, weighing the benefits and risks of using facial recognition check-in system. Contradictory to the past research which suggested that trust activates both perceived risk and benefits, this study demonstrated that trust independently directed consumer attention on the benefits gained while risk perception was triggered by privacy concern. Furthermore, the current study revealed that the ease of use of facial recognition check-in system could possibly backfire. Practical implications: The research indicates that the effort to adopt new technology in the hotel industry is promising in view of the growing millennials and Generation Z population who are digital natives. Furthermore, the current study highlights ways to elevate institutional trust and divert consumers’ attention from risk perception to enhance their positive attitude and behavior toward accepting facial recognition check-in system. Originality/value: This study integrated TAM with privacy calculus theory and personal innovativeness in examining the acceptance of facial recognition check-in system in the hotel industry in Singapore. This study is also the first, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, to investigate the relationships among privacy concern, perceived risk, institutional trust and perceived benefits, as well as their effects on consumers’ attitudes and behavior toward the biometric system. © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited.

There is an increased concern about aircraft flypast noise, especially for residents living near an airport. Airlines typically fly at lower heights near the airports for taking off and landing. In this study, we measured the aircraft flypast noise near the Singapore Changi Airport, and the measurement locations were about 1.5 km away from the tip of the nearest runway. For the incoming flights, the average continuous sound pressure levels for the 12 aircraft recorded were 69.6 dB(A) and 77.8 dB(C), with an average difference of 8.3 dB between dB(A) and dB(C) scales. The plane flypast noise for the taking-off aircraft was significantly higher than that of incoming aircraft. The average continuous sound pressure levels for the 17 aircraft were equal to 75 dB(A) and 84 dB(C). The present study has shown a significant difference in the noise level between taking off and landing and between A-weighting and C-weighting measurements. © 2021 Elsevier Ltd