Sunday, December 1, 2019

Learning Portfolio: Critical Reflection

1. Module learning

At first, I had this mindset of not being able to speak well in front of a crowd due to my confidence level. But through this module, it has shaped me into becoming a more confident person. Even though I was nervous during the presentation in class, I managed to overcome my fear of speaking in front of the entire class. To be able to speak fluently and confidently, I have practiced many times before the actual presentation in order to pace myself well so as to prevent myself from stuttering a lot times when trying to find the right words when speaking. 

In order to improve on my communication skills, I feel that I should try and speak more English at home since usually Chinese is being spoken. This would allow me to speak more comfortably and fluently in English. To work on teamwork, my group mates and I have also met up to rehearse for the presentation, so as to improve our flow during the actual day. 

2. Project Learning

For presentation skills, I found out that I have the courage to actually be able to speak confidently in class but I should also continue to work on my grammar mistakes when speaking. To boost my confidence level, I feel that I should take more initiative in trying to speak up in class whenever chances are given, such as to answer questions etc. 

As for the others, I feel that all of them has done well and has greatly improve after the mock presentation. But I feel that for some of them, they should try and be more familiarise with their own part so as to refrain from looking at the slides often. Also for a minority, they should learn to speak clearer so as the people at the back can hear properly. For writing skills, I feel that I should work on my grammar and vocabulary more as I tend to make mistakes in using the correct words to express my views.

3. The Presentation Showcase

For the group called ‘PEWS’, their overall presentation is nicely done and most of them is confident and fluent when speaking. They are also clear and concise about their idea by having only one idea to elaborate on. Also, I find their animation for the presentation slides much better as compared to other groups. Since I’m a visual learner, it helps me to really visualise how it would be like if their idea was implemented. I feel that as a presenter it is not only about speaking well but also on the visual aspect of the slides. 

A colourful and interactive slide would help to engage the audience more. Not only that, as a presenter, it would be better to refrain from referring to their phone for the script. For their statistics portion, feel that it would be better if they would make it bigger in order to highlight its importance and not just cramping it all into a pie chart. Lastly, to allow the audience to focus more, for those who are waiting for their turn to present, they should sit down so all the attention is to only one speaker at a time.

Monday, October 21, 2019

Annotated Summary

According to a research article, “Design and Optimization of Solar Carport Canopies for Maximum Power Generation and Efficiency at Bahawalpur”, (Umer et al., 2019) states that with the growth of human population and countries that are developing rapidly, there will be an arise in problems with power sources. As such, there is a need to find alternative sources like renewable energy, mainly solar. The most ideal place of installing photovoltaic (PV) system would be on rooftops as there are lesser obstructions. Pakistan’s geographical location is said to have the highest period with sunlight and due to that, lots of solar energy can be harnessed. A dual row carport framework is utilized as it requires minimal structure assist and with a smaller expanse. By comparing the different roof structure, a monopitch canopy with a 10° tilt is the best option. There is a significant increase in the amount of solar energy being harnessed for all the months with a 10° tilt except from May to July, unlike duopitch canopy that only works better with a 5° tilt. One of the main advantages of having PV system on roofs would be helping to lower the interior car temperature and this in turn aid in lessening the harm on the paint work. Last but not least, it decreases the usage of fossil fuels which for prolong can be detrimental towards the environment as burning them would emit greenhouse gases.

With Singapore being a tropical country, I feel that it is feasible to incorporate this research of Pakistan into my project, and solar energy can be harnessed to act as an alternative energy to replace burning of fossil fuels to generate energy. This would lead to Singapore's sustainability and economically, it could be a good investment to install PV systems on the rooftop of car park.

References

Umer. F., Aslam. M. S., Rabbani. M. S., Hanif. M. J., Naeem. N., Abbas. M. T. (2019). 
Design and Optimization of Solar Carport Canopies for Maximum Power Generation and Efficiency at Bahawalpur. Retrieved 18 October 2019, from http://downloads.hindawi.com/journals/ijp/2019/6372503.pdf

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Summary Reader Response Draft 3: Tapping Tech for Smoother Traffic



In the article “Tapping Tech for Smoother Traffic”, Tay (2018) expresses the need for Singapore to come up with more refined approaches by the 21st century to overcome an increasing vehicle population. Comparing the solutions, replacement of Area Licensing Scheme (ALS) to Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) system had the biggest impact as it omits having officers to check on the passes. To identify blockage and keep track of the vehicles’ speed, cameras are installed on the expressways by the Expressway Monitoring & Advisory System (EMAS). Having a better traffic flow, it decreases the time taken for people to travel to designated places. Singapore aims to continue upgrading the transportation services and improving road safety. With technology advancement, it has made it possible for an undergoing satellite ERP system in the future. This pursuing plan allows Singapore to keep moving forward in conjunction with substantial transport strategies and with citizens as focal point. Based on the points stated, it is necessary to keep on upgrading Singapore’s transport services to optimize road usage while having the mindset on how to serve the citizens better.

Firstly, buses are given more priority when travelling on the road in order to reduce the number of cars on the go. According to the Land Transport Authority’s (LTA) webpage, it states that there is a bus lane scheme that allows for extension of full-day bus lanes by three hours till 11.00pm. This scheme has started since 21 March 2016 and other than buses, only ambulances, police cars and bicycles are approved on the lanes. In my opinion, the extension of operation is a good approach as this ensures the efficiency of being able to bring more people at once with to their destinations using a vehicle. In a long term, it also helps commuters to save transport fees as they would cut down on looking for alternatives ways such as calling for taxis to get to places. Furthermore, according to Ministry of Transport (MOT) website, under Bus Service Enhancement Programme (BSEP), it points out that there will be an increase of the bus’s capacity to fit and carry more people around.

Secondly other than buses, improvements are made to rail network too. According to the news “New stations, line extensions planned for Singapore’s rail network” on Channel News Asia (CNA) website, Chong (2019) mentions the inclusion of two new stations for the North-South Line (NSL) for LTA’s Land Transport Master Plan (LTMP) 2040. With this ongoing action, the ultimate outcome would be to have better connectivity, and it would be more convenient for the people living near the area. Also, based on MOT’s website, there will be upgrades and renewals made to the railway tracks to ensure lesser breakdowns from happening in the future and a smoother journey.

Lastly, LTA has been trying to make transportation services more suitable for the elderly. According to the Ministry of Health (MOH) website, other than taking considerations of having more affordable bus fares for the elderly, LTA plans to impose 50 Silver Zones by 2023. With that, it helps to ensure the safety of the elderly when they are crossing the roads. Based on LTA’s website, with more silver zones, it reduces the rate of accidents among senior citizens, and there will be more reinforcements made to ensure their safety.

It is a need to keep making improvements to Singapore's transportation services in order to have effective road management and at the same time providing citizens with upmost service. Priority to buses, improvements to railways and making buses to be more suitable for elderly are good measures that were implemented.

References

Land Transport Authority. (2019). Road Regulations. Retrieved 26 September 2019,

MOT Singapore. (2019). Gain new perspectives on land, sea & air transport. Retrieved

Chong. (2019). New stations, line extensions planned for Singapore’s rail network.

MOH Singapore. (2019). Go About Easily. Retrieved 29 September 2019, from

Land Transport Authority. (2019). Factsheet: 20 More Silver Zones to Enhance Road

Monday, October 7, 2019

Summary Reader Response Draft 2: Tapping Tech for Smoother Traffic


In the article “Tapping Tech for Smoother Traffic”, Tay (2018) expresses the need for Singapore to come up with more refined approaches by the 21st century to overcome an increasing vehicle population. Comparing the solutions, replacement of Area Licensing Scheme (ALS) to Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) system had the biggest impact as it omits having officers to check on the passes. To identify blockage and keep track of the vehicles’ speed, cameras are installed on the expressways by the Expressway Monitoring & Advisory System (EMAS). Having a better traffic flow, it decreases the time taken for people to travel to designated places. Singapore aims to continue upgrading the transportation services and improving road safety. With technology advancement, it has made it possible for an undergoing satellite ERP system in the future. This pursuing plan allows Singapore to keep moving forward in conjunction with substantial transport strategies and with citizens as focal point. Based on the points stated, it is necessary to keep on upgrading Singapore’s transport services to optimize road usage while having the mindset on how to serve the citizens better.

Firstly, in order to reduce the number of cars on the go, buses are given more priority when travelling on the road. According to the Land Transport Authority’s (LTA) webpage, it states that there is a bus lane scheme that allows for extension of full-day bus lanes by three hours till 11.00pm. This scheme has started since 21 March 2016 and other than buses, only ambulances, police cars and bicycles are approved on the lanes. In my opinion, the extension of operation is a good approach as this ensures the efficiency of being able to bring more people at once with to their destinations using a vehicle. In a long term, it also helps commuters to save transport fees as they would cut down on looking for alternatives ways such as calling for taxis to get to places. Furthermore, according to Ministry of Transport (MOT) website, under Bus Service Enhancement Programme (BSEP), it points out that there will be an increase of the bus’s capacity to fit and carry more people around.

Secondly other than buses, improvements are made to rail network too. According to the news “New stations, line extensions planned for Singapore’s rail network” on Channel News Asia (CNA) website, Chong (2019) mentions the inclusion of two new stations for the North-South Line (NSL) for LTA’s Land Transport Master Plan (LTMP) 2040. With this ongoing action, the ultimate outcome would be to have better connectivity, and it would be more convenient for the people living near the area. Also, based on MOT’s website, there will be upgrades and renewals made to the railway tracks to ensure lesser breakdowns from happening in the future and a smoother journey.

Lastly, LTA has been trying to make transportation services more suitable for the elderly. According to the Ministry of Health (MOH) website, other than taking considerations of having more affordable bus fares for the elderly, LTA plans to impose 50 Silver Zones by 2023. With that, it helps to ensure the safety of the elderly when they are crossing the roads. Based on LTA’s website, with more silver zones, it reduces the rate of accidents among senior citizens, and there will be more reinforcements made to ensure their safety.

With the continual of transportation improvements, Singapore has made a vast development in terms of making the country safer for the citizens as well as coming up with never ending measures to tackle road issues.

References:
Land Transport Authority. (2019). Road Regulations. Retrieved 26 September 2019, from https://www.lta.gov.sg/content/ltaweb/en/roads-and-motoring/road-safety-and-regulations/road-regulations.html
MOT Singapore. (2019). Gain new perspectives on land, sea & air transport. Retrieved 29 September 2019, from https://www.mot.gov.sg/About-MOT/Land-Transport/Public-Transport/Buses/
Chong. (2019). New stations, line extensions planned for Singapore’s rail network. Retrieved 26 September 2019, from https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/new-mrt-stations-lines-lta-master-plan-11564622
MOH Singapore. (2019). Go About Easily. Retrieved 29 September 2019, from https://www.moh.gov.sg/ifeelyoungsg/how-can-i-age-in-place/go-about-easily
Land Transport Authority. (2019). Factsheet: 20 More Silver Zones to Enhance Road Safety by 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2019, from https://www.lta.gov.sg/apps/news/page.aspx?c=2&id=89008989-648d-4650-acf3-1ed6fed48ce1

Monday, September 30, 2019

Summary Reader Response Draft 1: Tapping Tech for Smoother Traffic


In the article “Tapping Tech for Smoother Traffic”, Tay (2018) expresses the need for Singapore to come up with more refined approaches by the 21st century to overcome an increasing vehicle population. Comparing the solutions, replacement of Area Licensing Scheme (ALS) to Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) system had the biggest impact as it omits having officers to check on the passes. To identify blockage and control vehicles’ speed, cameras are installed on the expressways by the Expressway Monitoring & Advisory System (EMAS). Having a better traffic flow, it decreases the time taken for people to travel to designated places. Singapore aims to continue upgrading the transportation services and improving road safety. With technology advancement, it has made it possible for an undergoing satellite ERP system in the future. This pursuing plan allows Singapore to keep moving forward in conjunction with substantial transport strategies and with citizens as focal point. Based on the points stated, it is necessary to keep on upgrading Singapore’s transport services to optimize road usage while having the mindset on how to serve the citizens better.


Firstly, in order to reduce the number of cars on the go, buses are given more priority when travelling on the road. According to the Land Transport Authority’s (LTA) webpage, there is a bus lane scheme that allows for extension of full-day bus lanes by three hours till 11.00pm. This scheme has started since 21 March 2016 and other than buses, only ambulances, police cars and bicycles are approved on the lanes. In my opinion, the extension of operation is a good approach as this ensures the efficiency of being able to bring more people at once with a vehicle to their destinations. In a long term, it also helps commuters to save transport fees as they would cut down on looking for alternatives ways such as calling for taxis to get to places. Furthermore, according to Ministry of Transport (MOT) website, under Bus Service Enhancement Programme (BSEP) there will be an increase of the bus’s capacity to fit and carry more people around.

Secondly other than buses, improvements are made to rail network too. According to the news “New stations, line extensions planned for Singapore’s rail network” on Channel News Asia (CNA) website, Chong (2019) mentions the inclusion of two new stations for the North-South Line (NSL) for LTA’s Land Transport Master Plan (LTMP) 2040. With this ongoing action, the ultimate outcome would be to have better connectivity and it would be more convenient for the people living near the area. Also, based on MOT’s website, there will be upgrades and renewals made to the railway tracks to ensure lesser breakdowns from happening in the future and a smoother journey.

Lastly, LTA has been trying to make transportation services more suitable for the elderly. According to the Ministry of Health (MOH) website, other than having more affordable bus fares for the elderly, LTA plans to impose 50 Silver Zones by 2023. With that, it helps to ensure the safety of the elderly when they are crossing the roads. Based on LTA’s website, with more silver zones it reduces the rate of accidents among senior citizens and there will be more reinforcements made to ensure their safety.

With the continual of transportation improvements, Singapore has made a vast development in terms of making the country safer for the citizens as well as coming up with never ending measures to tackle road issues.

References:
Land Transport Authority. (2019). Road Regulations. Retrieved 26 September 2019, from https://www.lta.gov.sg/content/ltaweb/en/roads-and-motoring/road-safety-and-regulations/road-regulations.html
MOT Singapore. (2019). Gain new perspectives on land, sea & air transport. Retrieved 29 September 2019, from https://www.mot.gov.sg/About-MOT/Land-Transport/Public-Transport/Buses/
Chong. (2019). New stations, line extensions planned for Singapore’s rail network. Retrieved 26 September 2019, from https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/new-mrt-stations-lines-lta-master-plan-11564622
MOH Singapore. (2019). Go About Easily. Retrieved 29 September 2019, from https://www.moh.gov.sg/ifeelyoungsg/how-can-i-age-in-place/go-about-easily
Land Transport Authority. (2019). Factsheet: 20 More Silver Zones to Enhance Road Safety by 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2019, from https://www.lta.gov.sg/apps/news/page.aspx?c=2&id=89008989-648d-4650-acf3-1ed6fed48ce1

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Summary Reader Response Outline

Summarized Article’s Main Point + Thesis Statement:
Singapore aims to continue upgrading the transportation services and improving road safety for citizens. It is a need to come up with more refined approaches by the 21st century to overcome an increasing vehicle population.

I. More Priority Given to Buses
II. Improvements to Rail Network
III. Making Transportation Services More Suitable for Elderly

My Thesis Statement:
It is necessary to keep on upgrading Singapore’s transport services to optimize road usage while having the mindset on how to serve the citizens better.

IV. More Priority Given to Buses
a.      Bus land scheme to extend bus operating hours.
b.     Extension of full-day bus lanes by three hours till 11.00pm helps to increase efficiency of buses.
c.      Bus Service Enhancement Programme to increase bus capacity.

V. Improvements to Rail Network
a.      New stations to be added to North-South Line.
b.     LTA’s Land Transport Master Plan (LTMP) 2040. Better connectivity and more convenient for the citizens.
c.      Upgrades and renewals made to the railway tracks.

VI. Making Transportation Services More Suitable for Elderly
a.      Having more affordable bus fares and impose Silver Zones.
b.     50 Silver Zones by 2023 helps to ensure the safety of the elderly when they are crossing the roads.
c.      Reinforcement to road safety to reduce accident rates.

VII. Conclusion: With the continual of transport improvements, Singapore has made a vast development in terms of making the country safer for the citizens as well as coming up with never ending measures to tackle road issues.

Monday, September 23, 2019

Summary Draft 2: Tapping Tech for Smoother Traffic

In the article “Tapping Tech for Smoother Traffic”, Tay (2018) expresses the need for Singapore to come up with more refined approaches by the 21st century to overcome an increasing vehicle population. Comparing the solutions, replacement of Area Licensing Scheme (ALS) to Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) system had the biggest impact as it omits having officers to check on the passes. To identify blockage and control vehicles’ speed, cameras are installed on the expressways by the Expressway Monitoring & Advisory System (EMAS). Having a better traffic flow, it decreases the time taken for people to travel to designated places. Singapore aims to continue upgrading the transportation services and improving road safety. With technology advancement, it has made it possible for an undergoing satellite ERP system in the future. This pursuing plan allows Singapore to keep moving forward in conjunction with substantial transport strategies and with citizens as focal point.

Learning Portfolio: Critical Reflection

1.  Module learning At first, I had this mindset of not being able to speak well in front of a crowd due to my confidence level. Bu...