A “Smart City” framework was used to investigate and develop visions of alternative futures for a peri-urban superblock north of Bangkok, Thailand. The Smart City framework considers seven smart pillars: environment, economy, energy, mobility, people, living, and governance, with a focus on community wellbeing that is supported by information and communication technology (ICT). A mixed-method approach that included: community and industry surveys, both online and face-to-face (total n = 770); in depth, semi-structured, stakeholder interviews; passive participant observation; and photo-documentation was used to inform and organize the project visions and designs. Several themes emerged from the community surveys and key stakeholder interviews: (i) connected green space is highly valued and effectively links multiple smart pillars, enhancing community wellbeing and resiliency to flooding; (ii) superblock mobility, connectivity, and sustainable development could be achieved through a seamless, integrated public-transit system following the principles of transit-oriented development (TOD); (iii) the superblock should prepare for the implementation of Thailand 4.0 through the improved programmatic and physical integration of local industry, community, and universities, including plans for a Digital Village and co-work space. Example designs that address these considerations and vision alternative futures for the superblock are presented in this Smart City case study.

Air particle cleaning in developing countries in Southeast Asia has become important especially regarding local respiratory health. One of possible solutions is air filtration which is normally used but at high cost. Therefore, this study aims to develop low cost air PM2.5 filtration using integrated lamp, and then investigate filtration performance of adaptive lamp. The integration of fabric filter and floor lamp is designed with fan unit driving force, and then photocatalytic process is applied for increasing air purificative performance. Tests are set in 2.5 m width × 2.5 m length × 2.5 m height bedroom within three regimes: (A) existing filter, (B) integrating fabric filter lamp and (C) adapting TiO2 fiber mop to filter lamp. Based on EPA standard, no regime examined exceeds NAAQs at 35 μg/m3, while regime C with fan speed 2 m/s shows the best performance of air purification. Then the MERV level of filtrative lamp demonstrates MERV15 and MERV16 to identify regime B lamp with 3 m/s fan speed and C lamp with 2 m/s fan speed respectively.

In the era of climate uncertainty in 2019, PM 2.5 situations in Thailand are considered as big impacts to local livings in terms of health and well-being. This paper aims to investigate policies to decrease PM 2.5 levels and to examine reliable networking systems. International and domestic policies are literally found for controlling traffic emission, open burning activities, public health and industrial zoning, when strong satellite networks can be proved by the reliability and accuracy of PM 2.5 data collections, sources and chemicals identifications. Turning to financial loss during the PM 2.5 situation, cost estimations have been accounted in terms of environmental tax, pollution footprint, health mortality, public air cleaning payment, GDP and uncertainty cost of air pollution. The results related to policy can affect local social interventions, if policies match correctly to suitable techniques in this research series. Also real-time prospective warning of local PM 2.5 exceeding is required with accuracy, while all applicable methods are financially comparing in different contexts.

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A Research through Designing approach was used to explore nature-based solutions (NbS) for flood management at the fluvial (regional) and pluvial (local) scales as part of a Smart District visioning study in a peri-urban area north of Bangkok, Thailand. The NbS visions were informed by community surveys (total n = 770) as well as in-depth, semi-structured interviews with community leaders and key stakeholders representing private sector business. Both fluvial and pluvial flooding commonly occur in the study area and the cost of damage incurred by individuals generally exceeds aid remuneration. The surveys revealed that flood insurance was not widely used as a form of resiliency to flood conditions. Furthermore, survey participants generally considered common space and green space unsatisfactory and inadequate to meet community needs. In light of these survey responses, example NbS visions were developed to address community concerns and promote well-being, while concurrently providing resiliency and improved ecosystem services through connectivity of blue and greenscapes. This case study provides a novel linkage between the concepts of NbS, Research through Designing, and Smart City/District, in exploring sustainable and resilient approaches to flood management in the context of tropical, Global South development and also provides a first step towards developing an NbS typology.