Abstract:
Residential projects, specifically condominiums with a minimum of 80 rooms or a floor area exceeding 4,000 sqm, require an environmental impact assessment (EIA). One of the criteria that has been in place since 1992 is the amount of green space, which has not been updated over the past 30 years to meet current needs. This research aims to study ways to improve the current green space regulations. The research framework involves 1) studying the characteristics of green spaces which were evaluated according to EIA regulations in 2018, and 2) identifying possibilities for improving and developing the aforementioned criteria. The study findings can be divided into two aspects. First, documentary research revealed that all types of green spaces exceeded the minimum criteria set, which aligns with information from an interview of an EIA consultant, stating that the most important factor in creating green spaces is to meet the minimum criteria. Based on the minimum criteria of 1 sqm /1 person, the average green space per person was found to be 1.07 sqm. The second influential factor is the selection of tree species, as the trees are used to calculate carbon absorption. However, the interview with a landscape architect found that the species listed in the reference created in 1995 and still in use today are not practical. This inconsistency between the reported species and the actual project proves that the carbon absorption criteria cannot be practically implemented due to the outdated species listed. The in-depth interviews with experts led to proposed guidelines for improving green area regulation, including: 1) increasing the minimum criteria of 1 sqm /1 person to better accommodate the higher population density in current residential areas, 2) evaluating and revising criteria related to the environment and quality of life to align with environmental conditions, and 3) updating and ensuring practical implementation of carbon absorption criteria to promote environmental quality.