CAFA notes

Register NOW for the JANUARY 2027 ALE Architects Board Exam FACE-TO-FACE Review!

2026-01-18T13:30:00.001+08:00

(View our other top notchers here: ALE BOARD top notchers)

ATLAS-CDC Review Center announces the schedule for the face-to-face review classes for the Architecture Board Exams for JUNE 2026 at its Kamuning, Quezon City Main Branch. The review classes consist of the BASIC COMPREHENSIVE COURSE (consisting of all subjects in Day1 of the exam, i.e., Professional Practice, Building Laws, History and Theory of Architecture, Planning, Architectural Interiors, Tropical Design, Structural Conceptualization, Building Materials, Building Construction, Building, Utilities, and Estimating), BASIC DESIGN COURSE (with focus on Rule 7&8 of the NBCP and estimating), and the REFRESHER COURSE (consisting on review of common and recent questions given in the board exams for all subjects).

Aside from the regular face-to-face sessions, students will have access to many of our online quizzes and our very innovative mobile app for online learning modules and mobile quizzes. This mobile app content can be viewed even if there is no internet available and a FUN way to review!

Early Bird Discount is available for those who will pay in full in advance. Honor Graduates, UAPGA/UAPSA, JrPIA, ASAPhil Officers/Members, and National Thesis Competition winners are also eligible for additional discounts if enrolled in a Full-Package Course (3-course full review). Discounts range from 10% up to 100%.

100% FREE for Summa and Magna Cum Laude
50% off for Cum Laude; School TOP Architectural THESIS Awardee (1st placer); UAPSA/UAPGA/ASAPhil/JrPIA/PIASA National Board Executive officers (National President, National Executive Vice-President, Area Vice-Presidents, Secretary-General, National Treasurer, National Auditor, District Directors) & Chapter Presidents; 50% off for Board Exam Retakers former AtlasCDC Students
30% off for School Top Thesis Awardee (2nd-3rd placer); Board Exam Retakers from other Review Centers
20% off for UAPSA/UAPGA/ASAPhil/JrPIA/PIASA National Executive Directors, National Committee Chairs & Chapter Officers; School TOP Architectural THESIS Awardee (4th-6th placer)
15% off for UAPSA/UAPGA/ASAPhil/JrPIA/PIASA Chapter Directors & Chapter Committee Chairs; School TOP Architectural THESIS Awardee (7th-10th placer), BARKADA PROMO (Group of 10)
10% off for UAPSA/UAPGA/ASAPhil/JrPIA/PIASA Member; BARKADA PROMO (Group of 5)
UAPSA/UAPGA/ASAPhil/JrPIA/PIASA National Officers and Chapter Presidents can get a 100% discount if accompanied by 15 or more paying Full Package students from the same school and batch.

Discounts are also available for board exam retakers:

For exam retakers who took their last review from other centers: 30% off from the Full-Package (3-course) Review
For exam retakers who took their last review from Atlas CDC: 50% off from the Full-Package (3-course) Review; 50% off for Basic Design/Rule 7&8 Review only; or 50% off for Refresher Review only

Full-Package students will also have the privilege to attend for FREE an INTENSIVEE 2-day SPECIAL COACHING to be conducted by Ar. Mark Tapawan and Ar. Rey S. Gabitan.

Enroll Now!
For online registration, go to the end of this post.
EMAIL TO: atlascdcreview@gmail.com
CALL or TEXT TO: 0917-554-1209 (Globe) or 0928-463-6416 (Smart) or (02)-7091-8257 (landline)
2nd flr., FORAB Bldg., 121 Kamuning Road, Quezon City (see map at end of this post)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AtlasCDC/
OR https://www.facebook.com/atlascpedreview/

BASIC COMPREHENSIVE COURSE SCHEDULE
Sec B1 starts August 17, 2026
Sec B2 starts August 15, 2026

Note: The schedule may change due to the availability of review specialists and the weather.

BASIC DESIGN COURSE SCHEDULE

REFRESHER COURSE SCHEDULE

Course Fees:

REGULAR STUDENTS

Note: Online Classes have higher registration fees.

SPECIAL DISCOUNTS

Rule 7&8 Class Workbook printed copy and the official Rule 7&8 book (the one to be used in the exam) is also available for purchase.

OUR NEW LOCATION

PLS. REGISTER BELOW FOR THE REVIEW (Face-to-Face Sessions)!!!

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You can view our complete list of topnotchers here: ARCHITECTURE BOARD EXAM TOPNOTCHERS

JOIN US HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ARCHITECTURE IN THE PHILIPPINES: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2611891139012983/

WATCH A SAMPLE LECTURE FOR OUR DESIGN/RULE 7&8 CLASS:

Architecture Online Review for the JANUARY 2027 ALE

2026-01-18T11:01:02.964+08:00

ATLAS CDC Review has been very successful in its online review program which has been very much appreciated by review students all over the country helping them in their review and consequently passing the exams. With this, AtlasCDC still continues with the ARCHITECTURE E-REVIEW COURSE for those who opt for an online mode instead of the usual face-to-face sessions. This will allow more chances for those who are working or for those who are in the provinces or even if working abroad (for the SPLBE). Reviewing for the board exams in the convenience of their own rooms or work/study places will be a better alternative. With this scenario, ATLAS-CDC Review Center is very proud to announce the opening of the ONLINE REVIEW course for Architecture in preparation for the JUNE 2026 ALE!

The E-Review Course will cover ALL the subjects in the exam: BASIC COMPREHENSIVE COURSE (consisting of all subjects in Day 1 of the exam, i.e., Professional Practice, Building Laws, History and Theory of Architecture, Planning, Architectural Interiors, Tropical Design, Structural Conceptualization, Building Materials, Building Construction, Building, Utilities and Estimating), BASIC DESIGN/RULE 7&8 COURSE (with focus on Rule 7&8 of the NBCP and estimating), and the REFRESHER COURSE (consisting on review of common and recent questions given in the board exams for all subjects).

A FREE 2-day intensive SPECIAL COACHING shall also be given to those who are enrolled in the 3-course Full Package Review.

AVAIL of HUGE Early Bird Discounts PLUS ADDITIONAL Special Discounts will also be available for the following:

📍 40% off for Latin Honors: Summa/Magna/Cum Laude; School TOP Architectural THESIS Awardee (1st placer)

📍 30% off for AtlasCDC Retakers; School TOP Architectural THESIS Awardee (2nd-3rd placer)

📍 20% off UAPSA / UAPGA / ASAPhil / JrPIA / PIASA / ArkiFORUM National Board Executive officers; School TOP Architectural THESIS Awardee (4th-6th placer)
📍 15% off for UAPSA / UAPGA / ASAPhil / JrPIA / PIASA / ArkiFORUM District/Chapter Directors & Chapter Committee Chairs; Board Exam Retakers form other review centers; School TOP Architectural THESIS Awardee (7th-10th placer); BARKADA Group of 10 Promo

📍 10% off for UAPSA / UAPGA / ASAPhil / JrPIA / PIASA / ArkiFORUM Member; AtlasCDC Alumni in another review course; BARKADA Group of 5 Promo

The online review will be delivered through the Moodle platform and will contain lecture videos and other review activities such as e-quizzes and forum discussions that will make your e-learning comparable to a classroom environment! Moodle is the world's most popular learning management system. It provides an effective online teaching and learning experience in a collaborative, private environment using your desktop, laptop, or even cell phone. Additional quizzes focusing on latest board exam topics and questions can be accessed via Canvas and Google Quiz.

Below is the page of ATLAS-CDC Online Review at Moodle but you can only access the site if you are already a registered user.

We also now have another mode for learning! We recently introduced our mobile app learning modules and quizzes which are interactive and fun way of learning. Once, you have access to any learning module or quiz, you can still view them even without an internet! Our mobile app offers more efficient and creative ways to review for the board exams. Our students praise its ease of use and capability for delivering quality content easily.

Enroll Now!

For on-line registration, go to end of this post.
EMAIL TO: atlascdcreview@gmail.com
CALL or TEXT TO: 0917-554-1209 (Globe) or 0928-463-6416 (Smart) or (02)-7091-8257 (landline)
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AtlasCDC

ARCHITECTURE E-REVIEW COURSE SCHEDULE
Classes start August 17, 2026 (OL-1); August 22, 2026 (OL-2)

Basic Comprehensive Course + Rule 7&8/Design

Design/Rule 7&8 Review Schedule

Refresher Course Schedule

FREE 2-day SPECIAL COACHING for

FULL-PACKAGE (3-course) STUDENTS. DON'T MISS THIS VERY USEFUL OPPORTUNITY!!!

FEE for 3-COURSE FULL-PACKAGE REVIEW (Basic Compre, Design Rule 7&8, Refresher + Special Coaching):

Note:

All Full-Packaged Students will have FREE access to the Basic Comprehensive Review Materials and Refresher Review Materials (handouts) via our mobile app. If the student wishes to purchase ring-bind copies of the 4-volume review materials, pls indicate your intent in the registration form.
Design Class Workbook printed copy and the Rule 7&8 book (the one to be used in the exam) can also be purchased.
An additional fee shall be charged for the delivery of books and handouts.
The fee also includes access to both Moodle and Zoom platforms and our innovative mobile app review tool.
Moodle access for Basic Comprehensive subjects is for 60 days per subject. Additional access time can be availed upon payment of additional fees. (P100/day)
Moodle access for Design/Rule 7&8 is limited to 30 days only given on the same schedule as Zoom access. Additional access time can be availed upon payment of additional fees (P100/day)
Moodle access for the Refresher course is for 20 days only or until the last day of board exams. Additional access time can be availed upon payment of additional fees. (P100/day)
All Moodle access will automatically stop during the last day of the board exams, including those who availed of an extension.
All registration fees charged will be refunded (excluding the cost of books purchased) once the reviewee places in the Top Ten and attends the Testimonial Dinner with a testimonial message.
Special Coaching Fee*
* Special Coaching is FREE for Full-Packaged Students (3-course)

PAYMENTS ARE NON-TRANSFERABLE TO ANOTHER PERSON.
For 3-course Full-Package Students: A NON-REFUNDABLE FEE OF P5,000.00 IS TO BE CHARGED IF STUDENT (for 3-course Full-Package Students) WITHDRAWS FROM THE COURSE before START OF CLASSES. IF THE COURSE IS NOT COMPLETED FOR THIS REVIEW BATCH AND THE STUDENT WANTS TO CONTINUE TO ANOTHER REVIEW BATCH, A TRANSFER FEE AMOUNTING TO P5,000.00 SHALL LIKEWISE BE CHARGED FOR THE RE-ENROLLMENT.
For Design/R7&8 Course or Refresher Course ONLY Students: A NON-REFUNDABLE FEE OF P2,500.00 IS TO BE CHARGED IF STUDENT WITHDRAWS FROM THE COURSE BEFORE START OF CLASSES. IF THE COURSE IS NOT COMPLETED FOR THIS REVIEW BATCH AND THE STUDENT WANTS TO CONTINUE TO ANOTHER REVIEW BATCH, A TRANSFER FEE AMOUNTING TO P2,500.00 SHALL LIKEWISE BE CHARGED FOR THE RE-ENROLLMENT.

REGISTER BELOW FOR THE ONLINE REVIEW!!!

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You can view our complete list of topnotchers here: ARCHITECTURE BOARD EXAM TOPNOTCHERS

JOIN US HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ARCHITECTURE IN THE PHILIPPINES: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2611891139012983/

WATCH A SAMPLE VIDEO OF OUR DESIGN CLASS:

Registration for the JULY 2026 Master Plumber Board Exams Review (MPLE)

2025-10-19T13:38:00.001+08:00

ATLAS-CDC Review Center is pleased to announce the review schedule for the JULY 2026 Master Plumber Licensure Examinations . Atlas CDC Review Center has been producing topnotch Master Plumbers since the MPLE Review was introduced in 2018.

We have registered a 100% passing in the February 2018 MPLE for the first batch of Full-Package Course students and has garnered the third place in the July 2018 MPLE courtesy of Engr. Jim Albert DL de Roxas from Lyceum of the Philippines University, Batangas Inc. In the July 2019 MPLE, Engr. Chris Marie H. Honculada of Bohol Island State University placed Top 2 in the exams. In the recent February 2023 MPLE, we also produced two topnotchers. Engr. Jonald P. Esogon from the Technological University of the Philippines - Visayas landed as TOP 8 and Engr. Kris Kristofferson D. Simbulan from Don Honorio Ventura State University was Top 9.

For this FEBRUARY 2026 MPLE review, we opened two sections:

ONLINE Mode via ZOOM for live discussions & access to recorded videos and online quizzes in the MOODLE LMS and CANVASS LMS platforms and access to mobile app quizzes (EVERY SUNDAY)
FACE-TO-FACE Mode sessions with a limited number of seats plus access to recorded videos and online quizzes in the MOODLE LMS and CANVASS LMS platforms and access to mobile app quizzes (EVERY SUNDAY). (NOTE: enrollees should reach a minimum of 20 students for face-to-face mode)

AtlasCDC has introduced the use of a Mobile App for our Review Materials and practice quizzes. This innovative and engaging platform makes the review process lightweight (no heavy books to carry). The mobile application is a very progressive microlearning solution with advanced LMS features and enables learners to implement knowledge almost immediately into their review program. The mobile learning management system (LMS) is designed for easy use and fun to engage with for students.

HUGE DISCOUNTS are available for EARLY BIRD Enrollees + Special Discounts for Honor Graduates, Board Exam Topnotchers, and former students of Atlas CDC.

100% special discount for ALE topnotchers (Top 10 placers) who were former students of ATLAS-CDC
100% special discount for board topnotchers (Top 1-5 placers) in Architecture, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Sanitary Engineering
100% special discount for honor graduates (summa or magna cum laude) of BSArch, BSCE, BSME, BSSE, BSEE, BSIE, BSManE, BSECE, BSAE, BSChE, etc.
50% special discount for honor graduates (cum laude) of BSArch, BSCE, BSME, BSSE, BSEE, BSIE, BSManE, BSECE, BSAE, BSChE, etc.
50% special discount for board topnotchers (Top 6-10 placers) in Architecture, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Sanitary Engineering
50% special discount for MPLE Retakers from AtlasCDC
40% special discount for former Atlas-CDC ALE Reviewees
20% off for Barkada Rate (Group of 5 Regular Students)
20% special discount for MPLE Board Exam Retakers (not former students of AtlasCDC)

Please check the schedule below:

The Refresher Course and Special Coaching will focus on recent board exam questions.

Course Review Fee will be as follows:

For more info, pls contact us at cellphone no. 0917-554-1209, 0928-463-6416 or at landline numbers (02)-7091-8257.

You may email us also at atlascdcreview@gmail.com

Please register below for the Review Course:

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REQUIREMENTS FOR MASTER PLUMBER BOARD EXAM APPLICATION:

Architecture Online Review for the JUNE 2026 ALE

2025-06-09T09:03:00.000+08:00

A FREE 2-day intensive SPECIAL COACHING shall also be given to those who are enrolled in the 3-course Full Package Review.

AVAIL of HUGE Early Bird Discounts PLUS ADDITIONAL Special Discounts will also be available for the following:

📍 40% off for Latin Honors: Summa/Magna/Cum Laude; School TOP Architectural THESIS Awardee (1st placer)

📍 30% off for AtlasCDC Retakers; School TOP Architectural THESIS Awardee (2nd-3rd placer)

📍 10% off for UAPSA / UAPGA / ASAPhil / JrPIA / PIASA / ArkiFORUM Member; AtlasCDC Alumni in another review course; BARKADA Group of 5 Promo

Below is the page of ATLAS-CDC Online Review at Moodle but you can only access the site if you are already a registered user.

Enroll Now!

ARCHITECTURE E-REVIEW COURSE SCHEDULE
Classes start January 26, 2026 (OL-1); January 31, 2026 (OL-2)

Basic Comprehensive Course + Rule 7&8/Design

Design/Rule 7&8 Review Schedule

Refresher Course Schedule

FREE 2-day SPECIAL COACHING for

FULL-PACKAGE (3-course) STUDENTS. DON'T MISS THIS VERY USEFUL OPPORTUNITY!!!

FEE for 3-COURSE FULL-PACKAGE REVIEW (Basic Compre, Design Rule 7&8, Refresher + Special Coaching):

Note:
All Full-Packaged Students will have FREE access to the Basic Comprehensive Review Materials and Refresher Review Materials (handouts) via our mobile app. If the student wishes to purchase ring bind copies of the 4-volume review materials, pls indicate your intent in the registration form.
Design Class Workbook printed copy and the Rule 7&8 book (the one to be used in the exam) is can also be purchased.
An additional fee shall be charged for the delivery of books and handouts.
The fee also includes access to both Moodle and Zoom platforms and our innovative mobile app review tool.
Moodle access for Basic Comprehensive subjects is for 60 days per subject. Additional access time can be availed upon payment of additional fees. (P1,500.00 for 30 days)
Moodle access for Design/Rule 7&8 is limited to 30 days only given on the same schedule as Zoom access. Additional access time can be availed upon payment of additional fees (P750.00 for 10 days)
Moodle access for the Refresher course is for 30 days only or until the last day of board exams. Additional access time can be availed upon payment of additional fees. (P750.00 for 10 days)
All Moodle access will automatically stop during the last day of the board exams, including those who availed of an extension.
All registration fees charged will be refunded (excluding the cost of books purchased) once the reviewee places in the Top Ten and attends the Testimonial Dinner with a testimonial message.
Special Coaching Fee*
* Special Coaching is FREE for Full-Packaged Students (3-course)

PAYMENTS ARE NON-TRANSFERABLE TO ANOTHER PERSON.
For 3-course Full-Package Students: A NON-REFUNDABLE FEE OF P5,000.00 IS TO BE CHARGED IF STUDENT (for 3-course Full-Package Students) WITHDRAWS FROM THE COURSE before START OF CLASSES. IF THE COURSE IS NOT COMPLETED FOR THIS REVIEW BATCH AND THE STUDENT WANTS TO CONTINUE TO ANOTHER REVIEW BATCH, A TRANSFER FEE AMOUNTING TO P5,000.00 SHALL LIKEWISE BE CHARGED FOR THE RE-ENROLLMENT.
For Design/R7&8 Course or Refresher Course ONLY Students: A NON-REFUNDABLE FEE OF P2,500.00 IS TO BE CHARGED IF STUDENT WITHDRAWS FROM THE COURSE BEFORE START OF CLASSES. IF THE COURSE IS NOT COMPLETED FOR THIS REVIEW BATCH AND THE STUDENT WANTS TO CONTINUE TO ANOTHER REVIEW BATCH, A TRANSFER FEE AMOUNTING TO P2,500.00 SHALL LIKEWISE BE CHARGED FOR THE RE-ENROLLMENT.
All fees charged will be refunded once the reviewee places in the Top Ten.

REGISTER BELOW FOR THE ONLINE REVIEW!!!

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You can view our complete list of topnotchers here: ARCHITECTURE BOARD EXAM TOPNOTCHERS

JOIN US HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ARCHITECTURE IN THE PHILIPPINES: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2611891139012983/

WATCH A SAMPLE VIDEO OF OUR DESIGN CLASS:

Determining the Development Potential for an R-1 zoned Property

2024-12-19T11:43:00.002+08:00

Here are examples to determine the Development Potential of different types of lots in an R-1 zone using the Development Controls under Rules 7&8 of the Revised IRR of PD 1096 or the National Building Code of the Philippines (NBCP).

Example No. 1:

SINGLE DETACHED HOUSE
R-1 ZONED PROPERTY
TOTAL LOT AREA (TLA): 301 SQ. METERS
INSIDE LOT
14-METER WIDE FRONTAGE FACING SOUTH
12-METER WIDE ROAD

Example No. 2:

SINGLE DETACHED HOUSE
R-1 ZONED PROPERTY
TOTAL LOT AREA (TLA): 365.5 SQ. METERS
THROUGH LOT
17-METER WIDE FRONTAGE
12-METER WIDE ROAD AT THE NORTH & SOUTH SIDES

ATLAS-CDC Angeles City Review Classes for JUNE 2021 ALE

2020-08-19T09:28:00.002+08:00

ATLAS-CDC Review Center Angeles City announces the schedule for the review classes for the Architecture Board Exams for JUNE 2021. The review classes consist of the basic review (comprehensive consisting of all subjects in the exam), design review (with focus on Rule 7&8 of the NBCP and estimating), and the refresher class (consisting of review of common questions given in the board exams for all subjects). Early Bird Discounts and Discounts for Honor Graduates, UAPGA/UAPSA/ASAPhil/JrPIA officers and members are available. We also have a special rate for exam retakers.

The Review Classes will be held at the ILead Institute of Learning at Santo Entierro Street, Sto. Cristo, Angeles, Pampanga

Enroll Now!

EMAIL TO: atlascdcreview@yahoo.com / atlascdcreview@gmail.com
For on-line registration, go to end of this post.
CALL landline at 02-374-9851
CALL or TEXT at: 0917-801-8531 (Globe)
Manila Office: 2nd flr., Franisa Bldg, 76 Kamuning Road, Quezon City
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AtlasCDC

START OF REVIEW CLASSES: February 8, 2021

Review Fee:

PLS. REGISTER ONLINE BELOW:

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Architecture Review Course for JUNE 2021 Architects Licensure Exam

2020-08-19T09:27:00.002+08:00

ATLAS-CDC Review Center announces the schedule for the review classes for the Architecture Board Exams for JUNE 2021. The review classes consist of the BASIC COMPREHENSIVE COURSE (consisting of all subjects in Day1 of the exam, i.e., Professional Practice, Building Laws, History and Theory of Architecture, Planning, Architectural Interiors, Tropical Design, Structural Conceptualization, Building Materials, Building Construction, Building, Utilities and Estimating), BASIC DESIGN COURSE (with focus on Rule 7&8 of the NBCP and estimating), and the REFRESHER COURSE (consisting on review of common and recent questions given in the board exams for all subjects).

Early Bird Discount is available for those who will pay in advance. Full Package students are eligible for discounts available to Honor Graduates, UAPGA/UAPSA, JrPIA, ASAPhil Officers/Members and National Thesis Competition winner. Discounts range from 10% up to 100%.

Full-Package students will also have the privilege to attend an EXCLUSIVE 2-day SPECIAL COACHING to be conducted by Ar. Mark Tapawan and Ar. Rey S. Gabitan.

Enroll Now!
For on-line registration, go to end of this post.
EMAIL TO: atlascdcreview@yahoo.com / atlascdcreview@gmail.com
CALL landline: 02-8374-9851
CALL or TEXT TO: 0917-801-8531 (Globe)
2nd flr., Franisa Bldg, 76 Kamuning Road, Quezon City (see map at end of this post)
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AtlasCDC/
OR https://www.facebook.com/atlascpedreview/

BASIC COMPREHENSIVE COURSE SCHEDULE
Sec 1 starts January 25, 2020
Sec 2 starts January 30, 2020

BASIC DESIGN COURSE SCHEDULE

REFRESHER COURSE SCHEDULE

Note: Reservation Fee is non-refundable. All fees charged will be refunded once reviewee places in the Top Ten.

NOTE: CLASSES MAY BE MOVED TO A NEW LOCATION IN QC TO ACCOMMODATE SURGE OF NUMBER OF STUDENTS!!!

REGISTER BELOW FOR THE REVIEW!!!

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Design E-Review for JAN2021 ALE

2020-08-19T09:26:00.003+08:00

In view of the limitations brought forth by the Covid-19 virus and the new normal to become the standard for almost all activities, ATLAS CDC has come with the ARCHITECTURE DESIGN E-REVIEW COURSE for those who will opt for an online mode instead of the usual face-to-face sessions, reviewing for the board exams in the convenience of their own rooms or work/study places. With this scenario, ATLAS-CDC (formerly ATLAS-CPED) Review Center is very proud to announce the opening of online review course for DESIGN/RULE 7&8 for Architecture in preparation for the JANUARY 2021 ALE!

The E-Review Course will cover the BASIC DESIGN COURSE (with focus on Rule 7&8 of the NBCP and estimating)

The online review will be delivered thru the Moodle platform and which will contain lecture videos and other review activities such as e-quizzes and forum discussions that will make your e-learning comparable to a classroom environment! Moodle is the world's most popular learning management system. It provides an effective online teaching and learning experience in a collaborative, private environment using your desktop, laptop or even cellphones.

Another option being provided is the Live Discussions using ZOOM/Google Meet at times and dates in schedule.

You can choose your option for the online mode or you may opt to gain access to the Moodle platform and at the same participate in the Live Discussions thru Zoom

Below is the page of ATLAS-CDC Online Review at Moodle but you can only access the site if you are already a registered user.

Enroll Now!

For on-line registration, go to end of this post.
EMAIL TO: atlascdcreview@yahoo.com / atlascdcreview@gmail.com
CALL landline: 02-374-9851
CALL or TEXT TO: 0917-801-8531 (Globe) / 0908-8653-829 (Smart)
2nd flr., Franisa Bldg, 76 Kamuning Road, Quezon City (see map at end of this post)
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/atlascpedreview/

ARCHITECTURE DESIGN E-REVIEW COURSE SCHEDULE

Course Fee:

Moodle ONLY (P5,000.00)

Zoom/Google Meet ONLY (P5,000.00)

Moodle and Zoom/Google Meet (P5,500.00)

Note: Additional fees will be charged for handouts and Rule 7&8 book plus corresponding delivery fees.

Note: Registration fees charged will be refunded once reviewee places in the Top Ten.

REGISTER BELOW FOR THE DESIGN E-REVIEW!!!

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Architecture E-Review Course for JANUARY 2021 Architects Board Exam

2020-08-19T09:26:00.000+08:00

In view of the limitations brought forth by the Covid-19 virus and the new normal to become the standard for almost all activities, ATLAS CDC has come with the ARCHITECTURE E-REVIEW COURSE for those who will opt for an online mode instead of the usual face-to-face sessions, reviewing for the board exams in the convenience of their own rooms or work/study places. With this scenario, ATLAS-CDC (formerly ATLAS-CPED) Review Center is very proud to announce the opening of online review course for Architecture in preparation for the JANUARY 2021 ALE!

The E-Review Course will cover ALL the subjects in the exam: BASIC COMPREHENSIVE COURSE (consisting of all subjects in Day 1 of the exam, i.e., Professional Practice, Building Laws, History and Theory of Architecture, Planning, Architectural Interiors, Tropical Design, Structural Conceptualization, Building Materials, Building Construction, Building, Utilities and Estimating), BASIC DESIGN COURSE (with focus on Rule 7&8 of the NBCP and estimating), and the REFRESHER COURSE (consisting on review of common and recent questions given in the board exams for all subjects). Enrolment is limited to Full-Package course ONLY consisting of the three courses mentioned: Basic Comprehensive Course, Basic Design Course and Refresher Course.

Below is the page of ATLAS-CDC Online Review at Moodle but you can only access the site if you are already a registered user.

Enroll Now!

ARCHITECTURE E-REVIEW COURSE SCHEDULE
Classes start August 22, 2020

You can also participate in our live discussions via ZOOM or GOOGLE MEET with the following schedule:

Note: Additional Delivery Fee shall be charged for the handouts and book

Note: Reservation Fee is non-refundable. All fees charged will be refunded once reviewee places in the Top Ten.

REGISTER BELOW FOR THE REVIEW!!!

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Face-to-Face Review or Online Review? Your Choice!

2020-08-19T09:25:00.000+08:00

Which do you prefer? Face-to-face Review or Online-Review?

ATLAS-CDC offers both modes of review. You can enroll in our face-to-face review or opt for an online review for the JANUARY 2021 ALE.

Review sessions for online review will start on August 2020. Face-to-face Review will also start tentatively on August 2020.

Enroll now and avail of EARLY BIRD DISCOUNTS!

(Note: For social distancing measures, we will only accept up to a maximum of 45 students per class for face-to-face review)

For more information and online registration, please visit: https://atlas-cdc.blogspot.com/2017/08/review-schedules.html

Review Schedule for January 2018 Architecture Board Exams

2017-07-17T07:32:00.001+08:00

ATLAS-CPED Review Center announces the schedule for the review classes for the Architecture Board Exams for JANUARY 2018. The review classes consist of the basic review (comprehensive consisting of all subjects in the exam), design review (with focus on Rule 7&8 of the NBCP and estimating), and the refresher class (consisting of review of common questions given in the board exams for all subjects). Early Bird Discounts and Discounts for UAPSA and UAPGA officers and members, as well as Honor Graduates are available. Group Packages at lower rates is also available.

Enroll Now!

EMAIL TO: atlascped@yahoo.com / atlascped@gmail.com
For on-line registration and payment, pls email above.
CALL or TEXT TO: 0917-587-4827(Globe) / 0927-8217-787 (Globe)
2nd flr., Franisa Bldg, 76 Kamuning Road, Quezon City (see map at end of this post)
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/atlascpedreview/

DOWNLOAD SCHEDULE HERE

REGISTER BELOW FOR THE REVIEW!!!

DaTE at ANC channel

2010-07-05T15:12:00.000+08:00

Review Materials

2009-10-12T17:41:00.001+08:00

1. It is where the current plans of cities where based including literature, arts...
a. Byzantine
b. Greek
c. Roman

2. Optical Correction made in Column...
a. entasis

3. Identify the door (with beam above)...
a. trabeated

4. Identify the Lot (almost corner with culdesac at the other side)...
a. Through Lot
b. Corner Lot

5. What percentage if all plans of the architect where used on the same second project...
a. 90
b. 80

6. Identify the system, where two adjacent color and opposite ...
a. Triad
b. Split Complimentary
c. Complimentary

7. Identify the arrow it represents ... (building plan with arrow lines)
a. Terminating in space
b. Pass through space
c. Pass near the space

8. Where should the shorter side of the basketball court be oriented ....
a. North-South
b. East-west

9. Who is reponsible to shorten the time and lessen the cost...
a. Project Manager
b. Architect

10. Who is the the owner of plans, construction documents ....
a. Architect

11. Who should not sign architectural plans...
a. engineer
b. Architect

12. Who should secure the building permit...
a. Client
b. architect

13. After a change of of use (renovation) of the building, what should be secured...
a. fire inspection certificate

14. Before a building can be used, what should be secured ...
a. building permit
b. Occupancy permit

15. What is being planned by the HLURB.....
a. Comprehensive land use plan

16. After the plan being pass through the sanggunian, who will implement....
a. NHA
b. DPWH

17. What is used in order to determine the function/traffic....
a. Grid
b. Floor pattern

18. If all the people converge in one place in the city, it is called....
a. Monocentric
b. central Business district
c. Polycentric

19. What happens if the majority of the population proceed to the city...
a. unavailability of low cost housing
b. loss of jobs

20. identify the bond
a. Flemish
b. Running bond
c. English bond
d. English garden bond
_____|__|______|__|_____
___|______|__|______|__|
_____|__|______|__|_____
___|______|__|______|__|
_____|__|______|__|_____
___|______|__|______|__|

21. Identify the road (angled from the vertical road)
a. Service road
b. Culdesac
c. Interior road

22. Identify the figure..
a. Foldable partition

=====\ /\ /
\/ \/

23. What is the method of compensation
a. 5% upon signing of contract, 50% ...
b. 10 percent upon signing of contract, 50%...
c. 5%, 40% ....

24. In vernacular architecture, it is where the cups, utensils are kept...
a. cusina
b. banguerahan

25. The origin of bahay na kubo comes from...
a. Balai which means house, Kubo which means cube.

26. What is the frieze in modern day houses,
a. beam
b. gutter

27. It is also (designed) (called) as beam
a. Corbel
b. Wall Footing

28. Identify the arch (looks like a trefoil)
a. ogee
b. lancet

29. The early (christian) period can be characterized with .....
a. simple pediment with dome on top

30. when a (hot air) enters a room, what happens...
a. hor air Air rises

31. What is not covered by fire regulation.....
a. Unrestricted fire zone

32. A line is ...
a. A shadow
b. A point that has direction and ...

33. the intersection of the (center) of the (arch/vaults) is called ..
a. boss

34. Intentify that part of the vault ....
a. (rib cage)

35. Style characterized by horizontal lines and window tracery ...
a. mannerism

36. A spanish architect who designed the Sagrada Familia...
a. Antonio Gaudi

37. What (character/method) did Frank Gerry used in his (approach/design)...
a. (Deviating) from (typical/regular) showing the external functions...

38. Identify the figure (4 large circular column in plan with smaller columns in between coupled/group together) ...
a. Combined/grid/clustered

39. Identify the column (almost semi circular in plan flushed to the wall)
a. Engaged column

40. (Something about) arch (can span greater distance than lintel)
a. made of small stones

41. The (arrangement) of (forms/ volume)
a. Composition
b. massing

42. The character where the design is continous (that can be found on the other parts of the structure)
a. Rhythmn
b. Unity

43. Using (downlight/pinlight) indirect lighting in (a store)
a. Gives dramatic effect

44. Style that characterised by (vertical/parallel) and tracery on (windows)
a. (early christian)

45. What is (the purpose of) a fortress...
a. to protect the (owner) from enemy attact
b. (military installation)

46. A plan drawn by a draftsman under the supervision of a registered and licensed architect, (who owns the said documents) (responsible)
a. Architect of record

47. Under the National Building Code IRR, what is the length of signange that can project to a street assuming it is arcaded ...
a. 0.90 m
b. 1.00 m
c. not more than 1.20 m

48. In what (services/phase) does the scope of (helping/arranging) for the clients (to bid out for the contractor)....
a. Contruct documents phase (mind the spelling, it is "CONTRUCT")
b. Construction phase

49. If an architect assumes the function of going to the project site (monitoring)
what (services) ....

a. Full time project supervision
b. Project supervision

50. Indentify the spacing (1 1/2) of the column
a. distyle
b. pycnostyle

51. What is the most (ideal) for a residential resort to develop especially if it is facing a lake
Figure... (the drawing of the slope is more exaggerated than the written figure)
a. 2 percent slope
b. 5 percent slope
c. 10 percent slope
d. 15 percent slope or more

52. Same figure (slope) what is the most expensive for the plumbing to be develop...
a. 2 percent slope
b. 5 percent slope
c. 10 percent slope
d. 15 percent slope or more

53. The study in relation to ... volume
a. Antropomtery
b. ergonomics

54. What type of window where most air can pass .....
a. casement
b. awning

55. (something about) Renovation
a. changes with respect to the original plan...

56. Where can be the pyramid of Cheops be found ...
a. Egypt

57. It is an Indian gateway
a. Torii
b. pailou
c. Torana

58. It is the basis of architectural (sytle)
a. Culture

59. The (termination) between wall and ceiling. Identify the figure...
a. Cyma reversa
b. Cyma recta
c. (cove)

60. What is the minimum habitable area ....
a. 6.0 sq.m.

61. When the spaniards came, they noticed that the house where easily destoyed during typhoon, What type of house was introduced by them...
a. Bahay na bato
b. Bungalow

62. A semi circular area on the end side of the church
a. apse

63. (Something about estimate)
a. (quantity surveyor)

64. Where does Planning services fall...
a. Regular services
b. (Special) Allied Services

65. Identify the figure (a complex building plan)
a. Space within a space
a. (Cross space)

66.

67. (Mostly found) (common) in China and Japan
a. Pagoda

68. Plans, (Perspective), "MODELS", they are...
a. instruments of practice

69. Who keeps the logbook
a. owner
b. Architect

70. type of building (arcade) open (space) on
a. one side
b. two sides
c. all sides

71. What (method) in plannig so all concerned are given....
a. Heirarchy
b. (Organization chart)

72. As an architect, you where commisioned to do the (masterplan) ...
a. Direct all department heads ...
b. Study all existing laws that (has relation) ...

73. Elements found on both side (centerline) ...
a. Symmetrical

74. what was used in the design... Identify the figure (A facade of 2-3 story with door and a human outline drawing) ...
a. Human scale

75. it (moves) people from (one place to ) another.. direction ...
a. path

76. Which (area) type make wind more unpredictable ..
a. grass area
b. Built up structures
c. valley

77. Where can be found during the roman empire (country) (church) ...
a. (East Roman)
b. (West roman)

78. The basis of modern day (door)
a. post and lintel

79. What is (NOT) ussually employed by the owner in commissioning a small residential project ...
a. referall
b. (direct)
c. competition

80. In what instances where several architect submit a design proposal at the same time...
a. design competition

81. what is R3
a. Medium density housing
b. High density housing
c. (general) density houding

82. What influences contemporay architecture
a. building materials
b. existing law
c. culture
d. all of the above

83. Indentify the figure (planning) used ...
a. radial
b. (Grid)
c. (centralized)

84. (who provides for the CPE - continuing professional education)
a. IAPOA
b. PRC

85. What is the purpose of bill of materials
a. Bidding
b. (loan)
c. construction guide

86.(Which is not a structural plan) does not show ...
a. foundation plan
b. schedules of beam
c. floor framing plan
d. roof framing plan

87. (what is needed for the application of building permit) ..
a. TCT - transfer certificate of Title

88. (Who is responsible for the) implementation of RA 9266
a. Building official

89. Situational .. An architect billed his client with the total of 3,500,000 including there already the 12 percent VAT. ( part of that, aside VAT goes to overheads, expenses, fees, profit.)
How much without the VAT
a. 3,125,000

90. how much is the profit
a. 1M plus plus

91. How much is the tax
owed to the government

a. 375,000

1. For efficiency (identify in the plan) what should be near each other
a. AHU,FCU
b. AHU, Chiller
c. FCU, Chiller

2. Idenfity (Foundation plant in sectional view resting on a concrete)
The foundation is resting on
a. gravel
b. 50 mm concrete mat

3. Identify (riser diagram, indicating a ckt, and light fixtures.)
a. (38) light units

4. What item needs to have its own CKT.
a. ACU

5. In eletric elevator, is the cable that provides electrical power to the car
a. governor rope
b. traveling cable

6. for (maintenance)
stainless steel rail
a. Mirror finish
b. Hairline finish
c. (Satin finish)

7. What could not be achieved by an escalator, walkalator that is possible in a travelator
a. Move trolleys from one level to the next level

8. Identify (steel frames with angle brace - the brace being pointed)
a. Bolted and welded

9. Identify what type of airconditioning was used.
a. Centralized
b. Chilled beam

10. What location is the (Chiller)
a. 2nd floor
b. 3rd floor
c. ground floor

11. where is the (air) in the chocolate room coming from
a. managers room
b. fan thru the toilet

12. usually installed in kitchen (toilets) to expel odors
a. mechanical vent

13. Used/preferred as type of materials on exit on highly ....

a. steel
b. reinforced concrete

14. What happens when someone tries to break a (laminated glass)
a. it will break and turn to smaller pieces
b. it will buckle
c. nothing

15. for (privacy) where one can see the outside and hidden from the outside
a. tinted glass

16. If it breaks, it will turn to smaller pieces without sharpe edges..\
a. tempered glass

17. a residential condiminium is facing a busy street, what solution to lessen the noise if cost is NOT a factor
a. install noise control damper
b. double glazing on windows

18. what floor should be placed in a gym of a fast food maker company
a. (granite)

19. an (industrial) look showroom is having problems with acoustics
a. install (acoustic) ceiling

20. where usually a storm sewer are placed
a. under the sidewalk on short road and under the road on wider road
b. near the curb ...

21. where usally the telephone line are placed
a. under the sidewalk on short road and under the road on wider road
b. near the curb ...

22. How to attached a wood on a concrete panel
a. Dowel

23. how to attached (something like a post)
a. anchor bolt

24. a (150) wall was used, then a 150 x 200 column was designed, why this cannot be used
a. it will buckle
b. interface between the wall and column will crack

25. Identify (metal roof with screw- pointing on screw)
a. self tapping screw

26. What is used to fasten .... (almost similar question)
a. self tapping screw

27. What is the commercial length of long span roofing
a. 18 m
b. 10 m
c. none

28. What is the advantage of using Long span roofing
a. Less joint, less maintenance

29. What is Not a commercial wattage for a flourescent light
a. 100w
b. 20w
c. 40w
d. 36w

30. According to the Accessibility law, what is the mounting height for grab bar
a. 600mm
b. 700mm
c. 900mm

31. Truss is designed with usually a bottom chord...why..
a. Truss normaly cannot span wide distance

32. A small residential project with an area of ... sq. .m. on the second floor will be poured with concrete .. what is the best ...
a. Manual mix
b. Ready mix concrete
c. 2 bagger mixer

33. A ready mix concrete should be test at ...
a. site
b. plant

34. A (hydrologic) soil test should be made ...
a. before excavation
b. after excavation

35. To keep a wall from moving forward, that is (touching) (beside) a soil
a. Loosen up soil to allow water to drain

36. What is the treatment for cracks on wall....
a. Injection of (bonding chemical)

37. Treatment for a soil that was over excavated
a. return the soil, compact and excavate again
b. place metal (something) (gravel)

38.A floor will be laid with new (tiles) on an uneven surface level .. what to do...
a. aplly with leveling grout..

39. What is being used to measure the property line?
a. T square
b. triangle
c. (compass)
d. steel tape

40. What is the least cost to get the right angle
a. brand new plywood
b. 3-4-5 multiple
c. hire a geodetic engineer (surveyor)

41. Identify the drawing (switch in the toilet)
a. Single switch

42. To prevent accident, what (not) to use on pavement .. (or more prone to accident)
a. tiles
b. asphalt

43. In plumbing, if valve is to regulate the flow of water, what is the counterpart in electrical...
a. switch

44. According to the National Plumbing code what is the (minimum) slope...
a. 1/2" : 1m
b. 1/4" : 12 inches

45. Structural .. when torsion is applied .. what happens..
a. twist

46. Concrete breaks without warning, steel takes time, under these design parmeters ... consideration ..
a. Concrete and steel should be design to fall simultaneously
b. Steel should be design to fall first

47. what is Curing..
a. fast drying of concrete
b. retaining of water through hydration

48. another question about concrete...
a. curing

49. Who is responsible for the relocation of points..
a. architect
b. geodetic engineer

50. most common frame materials used in warehouse
a. concrete
b. steel
c. aluminum

51. a form of security
a. CCTV
b. cable tv
c. PBX

52. according to the National Plumbing Code, pipe... support..
a. 3.0 m

53. Indentify ... plumbing (valve in plan)
a. valve near the (source)

54. Identify ... plumbing..
a. No hot water line

55. (Mechanical plan) To control (or identify in the plan) located in the entrance...
a. Air curtain

56. advantage of steel ....
a. takes less manpower

57. Disadvantage of cast in place over pre fab
a. takes time to finish

58. another advantage of steel ...
a. steel has more strength

59. What should be used if a wall will be in contact with the earth/soil
a. Retaining wall
b. (shear wall)

60. about costruction...
a. formwork

61. disadvantage of this material, (esp. typhoon debris)..
a. masonry

62. Old building..PABX..
a. Wiring problem

63. why is acrylic .. versatile...
a. can be used on wood, concrete and steel

64. Disadvantage of (Cementitous) water proofing
a. cannot tolerate more cracks

65. Used to cut intricate patterns
a. Hot wire
b. jigsaw

66. NPC, minumum trap size for shower drain
a. 2"
b. 1 1/2"

67. Uniform light on a wide area
a. flood light
b. Spot light

68. Why is the lenght of the frame of sliding windows (limited to) (1.6m)
a. frame will bent

69. Door folding, what hinge
a. invisible hinge

70. what shoud be avoided in auditorium design, since it tends to (focus) sound
a. irregular
b. rectangular

71. You were commissioned for a music room design... for the floor...
a. wood

72. it has (almost the same) properties of concrete
a. plaster
b. wood

73. (Ultraviolet) sun... pipes...
a. PB
b. IRON

74. Live load
a. human

75. Where is a gutter attached
a. fascia board

76. it serve as Door stopper
a. Basciada

77. window that receives most (air)
a. casement

78. is a mixture of (silica) (lime)
a. cement

79. It the water that flows out of the system is contaminated, what could be the reasons...
a. there is a hole is the piping system
b. a combined line for the (other fixtures)

80. an IT company, building, what should be the consideration...
a. modular furniture, configurable

81. structural question
a. expansion joint

82. powdering of paints... solution
a. do not paint if it is very humid
b. always clean the brush

83. something about joinery
a. butt joint

84. how to lessen the (traffic)
a. tall trees
b. ground grass cover
c. (3) feet wall fence

85. type of hinge used ...
a. concealed hinge

86. material/method for rat proofing
a. plastic
b. steel
c. concrete
d. (poison) lason

87. on plumbing. if....
a. grease trap

88. consideration in the location of septic tank
a. location of water supply

89. about (roofing),
a. c-purlins

90. 45 degree, ...
a. v groove

91. narra, how best preserve, texture, look ...
a. paint
b. varnish
c. laquer

92. complex project ...
a. pert-cpm .. pert.. critical path method

93. advantage of (pvc) roof ....
a. flexible esp. on curve surface

94. noisy floor ....
a. install carpet

95. pvc pipe, how is joined ..
a. fusion
b. solvent cement
c. (teflon tape)

96. indentify .. figure (foundation resting on a conc.)
a. (50mm) concrete

97. very low luminance, consumes too much energy, banned on goverment buildings ..
a. flourescent
b. incandescent bulb

98. how is the (connection) of gutters attached (joined)
a. alumminum rivets

99. what is the properties of .. sound... .
a. (refraction)

100. a client, see below the floor, what glass...
a. tempered glass
b. safety glass
c. glass block
c. laminated glass

101. a sample of (ac) dc current ...
a. generator

102. if 5 bulbs are connected to a series, what happens when you take out one of the bulbs
a. all lights out
b. nothing

103. what is needed if you need to get power from generator (aside from meralco)
a. double throw

104. identify (electrical) the ckt. (AC) unit
a. ckt. (19)

105. which should be (not) used for a pipechase
a. chb
b. drywall
c. shearwall

106. astm .... metal ..
a. (steel bar)

107. structural ... after the concrete...
a. post tensioning

108. how do you determine the adjacent property line (start) (where) on the other side of the road ..
a. middle of the road
a. edge of the other side of the road

109. Identtify figure (angle support, from metal post, angled, supporting a truss/roof overhang)

110. about wall, (not) to use ... (outside) inside
a. 100mm
b. 150 mm

111. affects light in a (room)
a. material texture
b. color
c. (window)

112. there are so many ways to install a window, prior to that, certain (allowance) which window is (not|) included...
a. casement
b. louvre

113. what type of ceiling not to use in high traffic kitchen
a. stainless

114. where should (soil pipe) be placed ....
a. pipechase

115. countours, elevation mark ....
a. topographic map

116. for (cement) (plaster) to hold ...
a. make plaster thin a possible
b. add more (cement)

117. identify (plumbing layout)
a. kitchen sink

118. that slopes, degree (roof)
a. (rafter)

119. what wall should be used if (soil pipe) will run through it
a. drywall
b. 150 chb

120. structural .. concrete (failure)\
a. voids..
121. indenfity size of beam (drawing .. grid)
a. (300 x 400)

122. identify from schedule (drawing ..L/3) face of the column bottom bars.
a. (1600) mm

123. length of beam from shedule
(grid/)

a. (0000) mm

124. length of beam from shedule
(B something)

a. (0000) mm

125. L/5 length of bottom bar
a.

PLANNING 3 REPORTS

2009-10-11T17:13:00.008+08:00

UPLOAD THE LINKS TO YOUR REPORTS IN THE "POST A COMMENT" BOX. (Click on the above title first)

V-1

V-2
Industrial Planning
Commercial Center

V-3

New Blogspot Address

2009-01-29T11:53:00.003+08:00

I am transferring to a new blogspot address combining all my other blogspots http://pupclass.blogspot.com,
http://modern-arki.blogspot.com, and
http://greenarki.blogspot.com.

My new blogspot would be
http://architectureoverload.blogspot.com.

Sorry for the inconvenience and hoping you visit my new site.

Thesis Blog

2009-01-25T21:18:00.002+08:00

I am opening a window for students of architecture to have their thesis works viewed and appreciated by others. I am inviting thesis students to send me their thesis project for publishing here. Please email me the following:
Your Name
School
Thesis Year
Thesis Executive Summary
Pictures of your presentation boards and drawings

Be proud of your work! Share it with others!

Ten Most Unique Church

2009-01-25T10:06:00.003+08:00

1. Harajuku: Japanese Futuristic ChurchThis futuristic protestant church is located in Tokyo and it was first unveiled by the design firm of Ciel Rouge Creation in 2005. The ceiling is specially made to reverberate natural sound for 2 seconds to provide a unique listening experience for worshipers and tourists.

2. Saint Basil's Cathedral: The Red Square 's Colorful Church

The St. Basil's Cathedral is located on the Red Square in Moscow , Russia . A Russian Orthodox church, the Cathedral sports a series of colorful bulbous domes that taper to a point, aptly named onion domes, that are part of Moscow's Kremlin skyline.

The cathedral was commissioned by Ivan the Terrible to commemorate the capture of the Khanate of Kazan. In 1588 Tsar Fedor Ivanovich had a chapel added on the eastern side above the grave of Basil Fool for Christ, a Russian Orthodox saint after whom the cathedral was popularly named.

3. Hallgrímskirkja: Iceland 's Most Amazing Church

The Hallgrímskirkja (literally, the church of Hallgrímur ) is a Lutheran parish church located in Reykjavík , Iceland . At 74.5 metres (244 ft), it is the fourth tallest architectural structure in Iceland . The church is named after the Icelandic poet and clergyman Hallgrímur Pétursson (1614 to 1674), author of the Passion Hymns. State Architect Guðjón Samúelsson's design of the church was commissioned in 1937; it took 38 years to build it.

4. Temppeliaukio Kirkko: The Rock Church

Temppeliaukio Kirkko ( Rock Church ) is a thrilling work of modern architecture in Helsinki . Completed in 1952, it is built entirely underground and has a ceiling made of copper wire. It was designed by architect brothers Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen and completed in 1969. They chose a rocky outcrop rising about 40 feet above street level, and blasted out the walls from the inside. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Helsinki and frequently full of visitors.

5. Cathedral of Brasília: The Modern Church of architect Oscar Niemeyer

The Catedral Metropolitana Nossa Senhora Aparecida in the capital of Brazil is an expression of the architect Oscar Niemeyer. This concrete-framed hyperboloid structure, seems with its glass roof to be reaching up, open, to heaven. On 31 May 1970, the Cathedral's structure was finished, and only the 70 m diameter of the circular area were visible. Niemeyer's project of Cathedral of Brasília is based in the hyperboloid of revolution which sections are asymmetric. The hyperboloid structure itself is a result of 16 identical assembled concrete columns. These columns, having hyperbolic section and weighing 90 t, represent two hands moving upwards to heaven. The Cathedral was dedicated on 31 May 1970 .

6. Borgund Church: Best Preserved Stave Church

The Borgund Stave Church in Lærdal is the best preserved of Norway 's 28 extant stave churches. This wooden church, probably built in the end of the 12th century, has not changed structure or had a major reconstruction since the date it was built. The church is also featured as a Wonder for the Viking civilization in the video game Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings.

7. Las Lajas Cathedral: A Gothic Church Worthy of a Fairy TaleThe Las Lajas Cathedral is located in southern Colombia and built in 1916 inside the canyon of the Guaitara River . According to the legend, this was the place where an indian woman named María Mueses de Quiñones was carrying her deaf-mute daughter Rosa on her back near Las Lajas ("The Rocks"). Weary of the climb, the María sat down on a rock when Rosa spoke (for the first time) about an apparition in a cave.

Later on, a mysterious painting of the Virgin Mary carrying a baby was discovered on the wall of the cave. Supposedly, studies of the painting showed no proof of paint or pigments on the rock - instead, when a core sample was taken, it was found that the colors were impregnated in the rock itself to a depth of several feet. Whether true or not, the legend spurred the building of this amazing church.

8. St. Joseph Church: Known for its Thirteen Gold Domed Roof St. Joseph The Betrothed is an Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church in Chicago . Built in 1956, it is most known for its ultra-modern thirteen gold domed roof symbolizing the twelve apostles and Jesus Christ as the largest center dome. The interior of the church is completely adorned with byzantine style icons (frescoes). Unfortunately the iconographer was deported back to his homeland before he was able to write the names of all the saints as prescribed by iconographic traditions.

9. Ružica Church: Where Chandeliers are made of Bullet Shells

Located over the Kalemegdan Fortress in Belgrade, Serbia, the Ružica Church is La small chapel decorated with... with trench art! Its chandeliers are entirely made of spent bullet casing, swords, and cannon parts..

The space the church now occupies was used by the Turks as gunpowder storage for over 100 years and it had to be largely rebuilt in 1920 after WWI. Though damaged by bombings there was an upshot to the terrible carnage of The Great War. While fighting alongside England and the US , Serbian soldiers on the Thessaloniki front took the time to put together these amazing chandeliers. It is one of the world's finest examples of trench art.

10.Chapel of St-Gildas: Built into the base of a bare rocky cliff

The Chapel of St-Gildas sits upon the bank of the Canal du Blavet in Brittany, France . Built like a stone barn into the base of a bare rocky cliff, this was once a holy place of the Druids. Gildas appears to have travelled widely throughout the Celtic world of Corwall, Wales , Ireland and Scotland . He arrived in Brittany in about AD 540 and is said to have preached Christianity to the people from a rough pulpit, now contained within the chapel.

Heritage Conservation Society Lecture on Church Heritage Conservation

2009-01-24T14:39:00.002+08:00

The Heritage Conservation Society invites everyone to attend "SAVING GRACE: Case Studies on the Architectural Conservation of Heritage Churches Here and Abroad" on Saturday, 31 January 2009, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at the Army & Navy Club Building (now Museo ng Maynila) in Rizal Park.

Speakers will include:

Ms. Tina Paterno, Senior Conservator from New York City
- the Smithfield Church, built in 1925, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
- the Cathedral of the Incarnation, built in 1876, in Garden City, New York;

Archt. Arnulfo Dado, of the National Museum
- San Agustin Church, Intramuros, Manila, completed in 1607 and declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO,
- the Parish Church of San Raymundo de Peñafort, Rizal (Malaueg), Cagayan, built in 1607 and declared a National Cultural Treasure by the NCCA;

Archt. Angel Lazaro, of Angel Lazaro & Associates
- Parish Church of San Andres, in Masinloc, Zambales, built in 1607 and declared a National Cultural Treasure by the NCCA.

Lunch will be served. Minimum donation is P 200 for non-members, P 100 for HCS members, and P 50 for undergraduate students. For more information, please contact the HCS at 521-2239 or hcs_secretariat@ yahoo.com.

URBAN HEAT ISLAND FORMATION IN THE CONTEXT OF URBAN SUSTAINABILITY (Part 5)

2009-01-22T21:38:00.001+08:00

Conclusion and Recommendations

While more definitive studies are continuing, it is clear from the data that the built environment, and corresponding lack of vegetation, is several degrees warmer than nearby natural environments. The increasing effects in tropical mega-cities have created increasing concern for the sustainability of the urban system.

Studies in the urban heat environment have gone a long way. Most of the earlier researches though were focused from the meteorological point of view. The motivation was to see the implications of heat island on weather phenomenon. Another group of researchers tried to study heat environment from an architectural point of view, where their intentions were to provide the ambient temperature and comfort condition inside buildings. The former was of concern of regional scale and the latter was of building scale but none approach it from the scale of a city. However, with the advent of remote sensing and aeronautics research using techniques developed for space technologies, a sudden interest is observed.

Recent studies that have used these technologies have focused on the understanding of land use patterns to heat production and its effect on the lowest layers in the atmosphere. The concern is on how the characteristics of the urban landscape drive this urban heat island effect and how urbanization and growth shape the dynamics of the effect. Parks and greenbelts reduce temperatures while the Central Business district (CBD), commercial areas, and even suburban housing tracts are areas of warmer temperatures. Every house, building, and road changes the microclimate around it, contributing to the urban heat islands of our cities. The urban heat island effect will exist as long as urban areas exist. However, the growth of heat islands can be slowed, and its effects reduced.

The purpose of this paper is to shed light on the urban heat environment, their implications to urban sustainability, and to identify measures to alleviate it. There are many possible measures that exist to make cities more sustainable and habitable and urban planners and policy makers should think this phenomenon seriously before the situation gets worse further. In some affluent cities such as Tokyo, Los Angeles and Atlanta, the problem has been identified as quite serious and major researches are being initiated. Present and future mega-cities like Metro Manila should learn the lessons from these cities and appropriate urban policies should be put into action.

References:

Akbari, H. 1998. “Cool Roofs Save Energy” ASHRAE proceedings, January.

Luvall, Dr. Jeffrey C and Dr. Dale Quattrochi. "Whats hot in Huntsville and what's not: A NASA thermal remote sensing project" 14 Feb 1996
http://www.ghcc.msfc.nasa.gov/land/heatisl/heatisl.htm

Heat Island Group "Air Quality" 27 Apr 2004
http://eetd.lbl.gov/HeatIsland/AirQuality

NASA "NASA Satellite Confirms Urban Heat Islands Increase Rainfall Around Cities" 18 Jun 2002
http://www.gsfc.nasa.gov/topstory/20020613urbanrain.html

“Urban Climate Modifications”

http://www-personal.umich.edu/-rohemma/resint.htm

Wolman, Abel, (1965). quoted by, White, R. & J. Whitney, (1992). "Cities and the Environment: An Overview". In, Stren, R., R. White & J. Whitney, (eds.), Sustainable Cities: Urbanization & the Environment in International Perspective, Boulder, CO.: Westview Press. pp. 8-51.

Rohinton Emmanuel.“Summertime Urban Heat Island Mitigation: Propositions based on an Investigation of Intra-Urban Air Temperature Variations” Architectural Science Review

http://www-personal.umich.edu/-rohemma/resint.htm

Stone, Brian Jr. and Michael O. Rodgers. 2001. Urban Form and Thermal Efficiency: How the Design of Cities Influences the Urban Heat Island Effect . Journal of the American Planning Association 67(2), 186-198.

Cardelino CA, Chameides WL. 1990. Natural hydrocarbons, urbanization, and urban ozone. Journal of Geophysical Research 95 (D9):13971-13979.

Stone, Brian Jr. Urban heat and Air Pollution: An Emerging Role for Planners in the Climate Change Debate. Journal of the American Planning Association , forthcoming.

Stone, Brian Jr. 2004. Paving Over Paradise: How Land Use Regulations Promote Residential Imperviousness . Journal of Landscape and Urban Planning 69, 101-113.

Stone, Brian Jr. 2003. Air Quality by Design: Harnessing the Clean Air Act to Manage Metropolitan Growth . Journal of Planning Education and Research 23, 177-190.

Gorsevski, Virginia; Taha, Haider; Quattrochi, Dale; and Luvall, Jeff. “Air Pollution Prevention Through Urban Heat Island Mitigation: An Update on the Urban Heat Island Pilot Project”. EPA

Estes, Maurice Jr.; Gorsevski, Virginia; Russell, Camille; Quattrochi, Dale; and Luvall, Jeffrey. ”The Urban Heat Island Phenomenon and Potential Mitigation Strategies”. 1999 EPA National Planning Conference.

“Here Comes Urban Heat” Science @NASA

http://rsd.gsfc.nasa.gov/912/urban

Rosenberg, Matt. “Urban Heat Islands: It sure is Hot in the City!”.

http://geography.about.com/library/weekly/aa121500a.htm

“State of Environmental Situation”

http://ncr.denr.gov.ph/introduction/envisituation.html

URBAN HEAT ISLAND FORMATION IN THE CONTEXT OF URBAN SUSTAINABILITY (Part 4)

2009-01-22T21:35:00.003+08:00

Heat Island Mitigation Strategies: The Role of Urban Planning

Till today, urban developers and policy makers are not serious on the implications of the worsening heat environment. The costs as discussed above, are tremendous which would force this effect to be taken seriously into up-coming days. On one hand, there are certain things that might be difficult to change such as urban thermal mass, weather patterns and surface roughness. Elimination of these effects would require complete and drastic new way of thinking in the way cities are built and operate. But on the other hand, there are plenty of corrective measures that can be taken within the existing urban set-up such as increasing vegetation cover, albedo modification, efficient energy consumption and management of heat discharge sources which are possible by supportive urban planning and policy measures.

Increasing vegetative cover

Tree plantation is the most obvious and the easiest way to improve heat environment in existing urban set-ups. Trees help in a number of ways; they provide direct shade to the buildings from solar radiation so that less radiation will reach to the building walls, windows and roof to be absorbed. They also create shades in the soil and concrete pavements to act as heat sink for the buildings and asphalt roads. Increase in water vapor due to evapotranspiration by plant leaves is significant in taking the heat away. Trees also act as pollutants, carbon and noise sink. It helps to mitigate greenhouse effects by consuming carbon dioxide in the photosynthesis process. It is estimated that a street lined with trees can reduce dust particles of about 7,000 particles per liter of air. However, care must be used in choosing the type of trees since some trees give off organic compounds (hydrocarbons) into the atmosphere and contribute to ozone in forming smog.

Planting programs can help reduce urban temperatures and make cities greener. Within ten to fifteen years – the time it takes a tree to grow to a useful size – trees placed in strategic locations can reduce heating and cooling costs by an average of 10-20%. Over their lifetimes, trees can be much less expensive than air conditioners and the energy needed to run them.

Well-distributed green parks and water bodies around the urban city act as recreational and aesthetic beauty. Urban planners are concerned with parks and water bodies but their motivation is for aesthetic beauty rather than betterment of heat environment. In the existing urban set-up, metropolitan authorities could encourage green belts around the roadside and plantations. This strategy depend on the local climate condition whether the place of concern is hot-dry or hot-humid in nature. In the hot-dry regions, the evaporation from the soil is minimal, urban parks and water bodies increase water evaporation from both the plants and the soil, consequently the effect on local climate could be significant and desirable. On the contrary, hot-humid regions have low specific evaporation and reduction in the wind speed near the ground is undesirable from the comfort viewpoint (Givoni, 1997).

Albedo modification

Albedo is defined as the ability of the surface to reflect solar radiation. It is different from reflectivity in the sense that reflectivity might only account for visual bands whereas albedo accounts for all the incoming radiation to the surface. It is basically hemispherical reflection of radiation integrated over the solar spectrum (0.3 – 2.5 mm) and includes specular and diffuse reflection (Bretz et al, 1998). Asphalt roads, concrete pavements and corrugated roofs have low values of albedo which form the major part of the dense mega-cities. Low albedo surfaces absorb significant proportion of the solar radiation and contribute in worsening urban heat environment. The mitigation strategy therefore is to improve over-all albedo of the urban surfaces.

Improving the urban albedo, such as for buildings and other surfaces have additional advantages. Apart from facilitating urban surfaces to reflect most of the solar radiation, it also contributes in cooling the buildings so that air-conditioning demand is greatly reduced. Studies have shown that the cooling energy savings from the high-albedo roofs and walls in the buildings are very significant. Any heat island mitigation strategy would be required to identify the opportunities that exist in improving the urban surface albedo. The surface albedo property can be greatly enhanced either by mixing it with some third material that can greatly increase its albedo or replacing the traditional construction material completely. The “cool construction materials” can be used to improve solar reflectance without significant cost additions. The choice of light and white colored surfaces is possible, however, a distinction between the light colored surface and high albedo surface should be well understood since light colored surface only means high reflectivity in the visible band.

The effect of albedo modification by one or combination of various methods at the scale of a city and their implication to the overall temperature is not very much studied. In general, the motivation for such albedo improvement has been observed from the air-conditioning viewpoint at building scale rather than reduction of overall thermal situation at the city scale. Building owners, builders and architects have choice to select color of the rooftops, type of construction materials and other measures. Urban planners and policy makers can change the attitude of the stakeholders by improving building codes with thermal considerations, energy management and appropriate urban planning.

Efficient energy consumption and management of heat discharge sources

Since mega-cities are characterized by high energy consumption, ample opportunities exist to manage energy and the heat discharge sources. As stated earlier, air-conditioning is the major stationary heat discharge sources arising from buildings. Air-conditioning units discharge heat to the urban atmosphere continuously due to the energy consumption inside the buildings in various forms (mainly gas and electricity) and absorbed solar radiation through the building surfaces. Three types of management is important here. First, is to enhance energy efficiencies of the end use appliances and the way of supplying energy. Second, is the energy efficient building design from architecture standpoint. And third, is the location of heat discharge sources. High-rise buildings allow the flexibility of placing the air-conditioning units (or plants) at the height significantly above the ground surfaces and the prevailing wind at the height can effectively swipe away the heat without letting it to concentrate in the urban canopy. Although there could be concern on the costs that would conflict with the optimization of piping, a balance optimum is possible. A mixture of high-rise and medium rise buildings in the dense urban area also enhance the over-all urban ventilation by creating turbulence in wind canopy, the ventilation in such case might be better than the urban area with low density but with buildings of similar heights.

The effect of improving appliance efficiencies in buildings on urban heat environment might be very small without changing the way the energies are supplied into the buildings. A central air-conditioning system is energy and cost-wise more efficient than the smaller units in each rooms or at each floors in the multi-storey structures. District cooling is favorable in the dense urban structure. In individual detached homes, small measures such as shading of air-conditioning units can produce effective results.

Transportation is the major heat discharge source that is mobile and difficult to simulate. It is encouraging that the automobile fuel efficiency is improving but at the same time, concentration of vehicles and traffic congestion is also increasing in the mega-cities and the net effect of which is unfavorable from urban warming standpoint. An exact extent of automobile’s implication on urban heat environment is largely unknown. However, traffic management and reduction in the vehicle idle time in core city areas is expected to greatly relieve the heat island phenomenon.

The anthropogenic heat discharges in the big cities are significant. Major cities in the US are reported to have summer anthropogenic heating in the range of 20-40 W/m2 in comparison to the solar radiation of 700-1000 W/m2 for clear or partly cloudy day at noon (Taha, 1997).

In Los Angeles, the increased power costs the ratepayers about $100,000 per hour, about $100 million per year. It is estimated that about 1-1.5 gigawatts of power are used to compensate the impact of the heat island. Reducing the energy cost would also help in reducing the air pollution problem. By 2015, when the full implementation of reflective surfaces and vegetation comes in full-scale, the state will save about $4 billion per year in reduced cooling energy demand.

In order to combat urban heat island, the air quality has to be improved reducing the level of toxic gases, more trees to be planted, save energy and thus reduce pollution, and thereby save cost of energy and money, and improve the overall livability. Air quality management systems should include abatement and other measures to improve air quality, and to maintain air quality within a defined range. Enacting urban planning legislation to increase the amount of vegetation could see a reduction in temperatures. Another method is to reduce the amount of heat absorbed by civil structures by using construction materials that have high albedo and not prone to heat absorption.

The urban metabolism concept (Wolman, 1965) indicates that environmental quality improvement in urban areas rests on the careful use and removal of energy and matter. In the urban design sense, environment conscious urban designers can use at least three tools for the realization of the goals of energy efficiency, transport reduction and air quality improvement. These are thru zoning laws, building laws, and landscape control. Some attempts at utilizing these tools for the purposes of energy and transportation reduction have already been made (cf. Emmanuel, 1995). Although these attempts are from the temperate climate cities, they offer possible models for hot-humid cities.

In the enhancement of the urban physical environment, quality should be the major goal of climate-conscious design. In order to achieve the design goals of energy efficiency, transportation reduction and air quality improvement, in the tropics, design strategies could take one of the following forms:

Building form guidelines

Activity pattern controls

Control of relationship to natural features

Building Form

Court-yard forms

Orientation

Activity Relationships for Comfortable Moving & Transport Reduction

Shopping Streets

Gathering Places

Provisions for Evening Life (Evenings are tropics' winter).

Pedestrian Paths and Nodes

Network for Cars

Relationship to Natural Features - Landscape Controls

Relationship to Waterbodies

Collection of Rainwater

Topographical Relationships

URBAN HEAT ISLAND FORMATION IN THE CONTEXT OF URBAN SUSTAINABILITY (Part 3)

2009-01-22T21:28:00.006+08:00

Measurement of Heat Island

Several techniques are applied to measure heat islands. The importance of these techniques depends upon the nature of requirements. Micro-scale heat island measurements are done by the temperature sensors and some instrumentation which are fairly accurate and well-established. However, in the viewpoint of large-scale measurements such as a mega-city, these are not useful. Site observation with the help of sensors in a mobile source such as a car is one of the important tools to measure heat island effect but is labor intensive and the result difficult to validate due to varying weather conditions each time the observation is done.

Recently, remote sensing technology with the help of satellite images is commonly being used to get information on heat islands. Remote sensing techniques can be used to obtain the thermal images of the place in concern and provide information on land use. Loss of green surfaces, information on surface reflectivity of solar radiation and buildings can be obtained with the help of satellite images. The comparison between past and present date can show the trend of heat island along with land use information which are very important in identifying the degree of severity of heat island phenomenon in a particular place.

There are inherent problems though of remote sensing technology in the planning process. It can provide thermal images but there is difficulty in segregating the types of thermal sources such as from mobile sources or stationary sources. It provides snapshot of situation without any knowledge of the mechanisms that is going on in the urban system. The land use, building and transportation information could be obtained from remote sensing techniques but it is not possible to see their contribution and sensitiveness on the heat island phenomenon.

The information obtained from remote sensing need to be coupled with numerical climatic models in order to analyze the effect of various planning alternatives of land use and heat discharge to improve the urban heat environment. These models are able to study the physical climatic phenomenon in the urban system. In this sense, remote sensing data along with Geographic Information System (GIS) is a powerful tool in providing information to the numerical models which can study, simulate various planning alternatives and can predict the implications on heat environment. Numerical models are the powerful tools to understand the mechanisms of heat island. These models can be validated with site data measurements or from remote sensing techniques.

The following image is an aerial thermal image of a mall and surroundings located in Huntsville, Alabama. The image, courtesy of NASA, was taken approximately five hours after sunset. The dark shades correspond to cooler temperatures. The mall parking lot (lower left quadrant of the photo) has a temperature of 24.0 degrees Celsius, while a forest, located in the upper right quadrant has a temperature of 17.1 degrees Celsius.

Although satellite data are very useful for analysis of the urban heat island effect at a coarse level, they do not lend themselves to developing a better understanding of which surfaces across the city contribute to or drive the development of the urban heat island effect. Analysis of thermal energy responses for specific or discrete surfaces typical of the urban landscape (e.g. asphalt, building rooftops, vegetation) requires measurements at a very fine spatial scale (i.e., <15m)>

The explosion of new knowledge on the theoretical aspects of urban climate change is not well matched by practical applications. In particular, urban designers and planners are yet to utilize the current knowledge to develop architectural and urban design strategies for the mitigation of the negative effects of urban heat island. This is in part due to some weaknesses in current methods. For example, some of the problems associated with remote sensing techniques hinder the detection of air temperature heat island that directly affects human comfort as opposed to surface temperature heat island. These problems include, difficulties in "seeing" the vertical active surfaces, the not so well defined coupling of surface and air temperatures in urban areas and inhomogeniety of urban surfaces leading to a patch work of emissivity and albedo. The problem with urban-rural difference method in general is that it assumes weather over time remains constant. Furthermore, the intra-urban differences are ignored. It is pointed out that it is the intra-urban climatic difference that is of value for urban planners and designers interested in mitigating the negative effects of UHIs. In other methods, it is assumed that rural climate is somehow "natural" to the area. However, in the context of rapid global urbanization, there are very few rural areas remaining with their "natural" climates intact.

URBAN HEAT ISLAND FORMATION IN THE CONTEXT OF URBAN SUSTAINABILITY (Part 2)

2009-01-22T21:27:00.000+08:00

Implications of Urban Heat Island Formation

Typical urban surfaces, such as concrete and asphalt, get much hotter than vegetated surfaces during the day. They store the energy and release it at night, thus creating a dome of warmer air over the city. Hypothesized to result, in part, from the elevated heat capacity and waterproofing effect of urban construction materials, the urban heat island effect is believed to promote ozone formation, increase energy consumption, and exacerbate human and environmental heat stress (Cardelino and Chameides 1990). The increased heat of our cities increases discomfort for everyone, requires an increase in the amount of energy used for cooling purposes, and increases pollution. However, the exact nature of implications depends upon geographical and local climate situation. The major unwanted implications of urban heat island are thermal discomfort, increased cooling demand and air pollution.

Urbanization has a tremendous impact on air quality, both over the city and the surrounding countryside. Air quality attainment becomes a critical problem and is exacerbated by urban growth. We know that usually warm air rises above and leads to the development of a low-pressure area and cold air gushes in. but in cases of urban heat island, the warm air gets trapped in by the weight of the pollutants, which affects the air quality and makes the air heavier to rise.

Urban heat islands and air pollution are closely related in an urban system. Besides discomfort, urban heat islands also heavily contribute to an increase in smog production -- a serious environmental air quality health problem which especially affects breathing for children and seniors. The additional temperature acts as catalyst to enhance photochemical reaction, which increases the particles in the air, and thus contributes to the formation of smog and clouds. The presence of ozone creates smog and is the major environmental problem in many cities around the world. Smog is formed when air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and Volatile Organic Compunds (VOCs) -- mainly coming from cars and power plants -- combine with high outside temperatures, usually during hot summer months. Researchers have co-related that smog event increase by ten percent for each increase of 5˚F in temperature (EPA, 1992). Simply stated, smog formation is directly related to air temperatures -- the higher the air temperature -- the more smog that will be produced. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a drop in air temperature of just a couple of degrees in urban areas can reduce levels of smog on the order to 5 percent to 10 percent, sometimes up to 20 percent -- by slowing down the cooking rate of smog.

Apart from ozone, some bio-genic hydrocarbons from emissions of automobiles are also expected to increase due to increased temperatures. A significant amount of SOx, NOx, and CO emissions take place from the evaporative losses during tank filling and transportation of petroleum products in the mega-cities.

The UHI effect prolongs and intensifies heat waves in cities, making residents and workers uncomfortable and putting them at increased risk for heat exhaustion and heat stroke. In addition, high concentrations of ground level ozone aggravate respiratory problems such as asthma, putting children and the elderly at particular risk. During periods of extreme heat, even trained athletes have been known to die from heat stroke and/or exhaustion. The extreme temperatures caused by UHIs will undoubtedly place a burden on the country’s healthcare system.

In terms of economic and infrastructure costs, additional cooling energy demand of electricity in commercial and residential buildings during summer is expected to be tremendous. Increased demand for energy can cost consumers and cities thousands of additional money in air-conditioning bills in order to maintain comfort levels. In the city of Los Angeles alone, estimates of up to 100 million dollars are spent on energy each year. The air-conditioning equipments discharge heat (which is derived from electricity produced elsewhere) in the urban atmosphere which ultimately contribute to the raising urban temperature. Further, the air-conditioning demand and outside temperature are very closely related thus requiring additional cooling load. This additional cooling load is again provided by electricity, a large portion of which is wasted as heat to urban atmosphere. Studies have shown that for each degree Fahrenheit the daily average temperature increases, electric power demand increases by nearly two percent (Akbari).

Beyond posing a threat to human health and raising air conditioning costs, the heat island effect can also cause physiological stress in other animals, change the mix of plants and animals that live in the area, and even lead to changes in the distribution of pathogens.

Moreover, added heat in cities can destabilize and change the way air circulates around cities. Rising warm air may help produce clouds that result in more rainfall around urban areas. Mostly during the warmer months, the added heat creates wind circulations and rising air that can produce clouds or enhance existing ones. Under the right conditions, these clouds can evolve into rain-producers or storms.

Modification of the landscape through urbanization alters the natural channeling of energy through the atmospheric, land and water systems. Although large-scale atmospheric and climatic phenomena are global in scope, urban areas cannot be viewed in isolation because the local environment modifies the conditions in the thin air stratum above the ground, generally referred to as the atmospheric boundary layer. As humans alter the natural landscape in the city-building process, the local energy exchanges that take place within the boundary layer are affected. Therefore, modification of the landscape influences the local (microscale), mesoscale, and even the macroscale climate.

Implications in Metro Manila

The worsening heat environment in the mega-cities has created a clear threat to the urban sustainability which is shaded by a surge of international interest in the global warming. The implications mentioned earlier clearly show the importance of improving urban heat environment and their role in ascertaining urban sustainability.

In the past several decades, there has been a worldwide shift from rural to urban areas. In Asia, it was estimated that by the year 2000, the urban population will have grown to 35% of the total population compared to only 21% in 1975. Metropolitan Manila, considered as the 18th largest metropolitan area in the world in 2002, is predicted to reach 25 million by near 2015. The metropolitan region would have to accommodate an increment of 11 million people, 3.5 million in Metro Manila and 7.5 million in the adjoining municipalities. Consequently, Metro Manila will be facing further inflow of populations while the adjoining areas will be facing severe shortage on social infrastructure to cope with the impact of rapid suburbanization.

The rapid growth of Metro Manila poised a tremendous impact on its ecosystem. Its rapid urbanization resulted to congestion and intensification of development activities which:
(1) placed serious strains on supporting structures and rendered existing services inadequate;
(2) resulted to incompatible and conflicting land uses;
(3) encouraged growth on the urban area’s peripheries where basic infrastructure services are not available; and
(4) spoiled the quality of the urban environment

With respect to atmospheric environment, the air quality has deteriorated to a point where people are wondering whether the time has come to wear gas masks. Air quality monitoring stations in eleven strategic locations in Metro Manila showed that the concentration levels of suspended particulate matters, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide are in the up trend. In areas near major thoroughfares, concentration of these three pollutants has already exceeded the levels considered safe by the World Health Organization authorities. Air quality measurements indicate that particulate matter is the overwhelming pollutant of concern followed by lead. Carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide levels occasionally exceed accepted standards but particulate mater concentrations consistently exceed the acceptable limits. Emission inventory showed that 70 percent of air pollutants in Metro Manila are attributable to mobile sources (motor vehicles) and 30 percent to stationary sources (industries and power plants).

Due to the presence of high-rise buildings and the concentration of housing and other infrastructures, a phenomenon known as heat island effect is discernible in Metro Manila (See satellite image). This problem is aggravated by the emission of carbon dioxide, a by-product of fossil fuel combustion by both stationary and mobile sources. The presence of carbon dioxide will produce the so called green house effect which is synergistic with the heat island effect causing the ambient temperatures in the area to rise several degrees warmer than the countryside.

URBAN HEAT ISLAND FORMATION IN THE CONTEXT OF URBAN SUSTAINABILITY (Part 1)

2009-01-22T20:58:00.010+08:00

Introduction

A steady increase in mean global temperatures and violent weather over the previous several decades has provided circumstantial evidence that significant changes in global climate are underway (Stone, 1999). Numerous efforts are underway to understand the cause and to explore the technological and management strategies to minimize the implications.

In recent years, the role of human activities in the process of global climate change has attracted a growing level of attention within the scientific community. Perhaps more significant in the short term, however, is the impact human settlement patterns are having on climates at the regional level. Sustainability of human kind is often linked with global climate change but the climate change at city or regional scale is paid little attention by the policy makers and academicians in both the developed and the developing countries. Changing climate in the dense mega-cities around the world is a well-documented phenomenon. Cities like Bangkok, Manila, Shanghai, Tokyo, Los Angeles and San Francisco are becoming warmer and warmer everyday. The urban heat environment is worsening in other mega-cities around the world regardless of the development stages and its income level. Heat environment is neglected in most cities in terms of awareness, mitigation policies, researches and this poses a clear threat to urban sustainability. Policy makers and the people are less aware of the implications of worsening urban heat environment to the society and the urban system. Contributing to the potential for detrimental ecological impacts within cities in particular is a more regionalized process of temperature change known as the urban heat island effect.

The Urban Heat Island Phenomenon

“Urban Heat Island” is a climatological phenomenon wherein large urbanized regions have been shown to physically alter their climates in the form of elevated temperatures relative to rural areas at their peripheries. Temperatures of urban areas are usually higher (about 2.5 to 6˚C) than those of its surrounding, and this phenomenon have been reported inside dense and highly urbanized cities around the world.

Heat island effects are severe during the summertime in cities of tropical climate zones. Although the phenomenon had been observed in earlier times in winter time in high latitude cities, mostly in Europe and North America, today, major world cities have been suffering from this problem.

Figure 1 shows a graph of the temperature versus the level of urbanization. Although most people know that metropolitan areas tend to be hotter than surrounding locations, little is known about the Urban Heat Island (UHI) Phenomenon. Yet the concept has been known for nearly 200 years. The UHI effect was first recorded as early as 1807, when an English scientist named Luke Howard took data in and about London, England when he noticed that the city of London got heated due to smoke and pollution mainly from coal industries. In 1818, he noticed urbanized areas had temperature increases of about 1.5 degrees compared to rural areas. Since the discovery, the recent problem of urban heat island is a complex one. This problem acquires greater importance in the tropics including the Philippines, where the nighttime rate of air movement is low.

Urban Heat Island Formation

There are many factors to consider in Heat Island Formation. Most importantly, is for a Heat Island to materialize is for an area to become urbanized. Urbanization is considered as prosperity of a country. In the age of modernity, the city economy symbolizes th

e powerhouse of capital accumulation. A city continues to attract entrepreneurship and investment and the clustering of nuclear settlements into urban sprawling.

By year 2025, 80% of the world’s population will live in cities according to a 1999 United Nation’s report. The blue line indicates the trend for the growth of cities. As cities continue to grow, urban sprawl creates unique challenges related to land use planni

ng, transportation, agriculture, housing, pollution, and development. Urban expansion also has measurable impact on environmental process.

Rapid urbanization and population growth in the mega-cities has resulted into massive infrastructure built-up and dense settlements. Urbanization has a dynamic relationship with the physical environment. As cities and urban areas expand (called Sprawl), thousands of hectares in naturally vegetated surfaces are being lost each year -- replaced with asphalt, concrete, rooftops and other man-made materials. While urban growth affects the physical environment (usually negatively), urban environmental changes also affects the qualityof life in these areas. The latter lead to biochemical, epidemiological and psychological responses in the urban dwellers.

Urban Sprawl not only results in the loss of native habitats (where animal and plant species are becoming extinct or endangered), but creates Urban Heat Islands -- where man-made materials such as asphalt store much of the sun's energy producing a dome of elevated air temperatures over the urban area. In urban areas, buildings and paved surfaces have gradually replaced preexisting natural landscapes. As a result, solar energy is absorbed into roads and rooftops, causing the surface temperature of urban structures to become 50-70˚F higher than the ambient temperatures. As surfaces throughout an entire community or city become hotter, overall ambient air temperature increases. This phenomenon can raise air temperature in a city by 2-8˚F (World Meteorological Organization, 1984).

Dr. J. Marshall Shepherd and colleagues at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md., found that urban areas with high concentrations of buildings, roads and other artificial surfaces retain heat and lead to warmer surrounding temperatures, and create urban heat islands. This occurs because in urban areas, there are fewer trees, and other natural vegetation to shade buildings, block solar radiation and cool the air. In addition, roof and paving materials absorb more of the sun’s rays, causing both surface temperature and over-all ambient air temperature in an urban area to rise. This increased heat may promote rising air and alter the weather around cities.

Man-made changes to the urban environment have been the traditional sources of the worsening urban heat environment. In the process of urbanization, vegetated land surfaces are converted into concrete and asphalt. These changes in the nature of surface have primarily affected solar reflectivity (popularly called albedo), evaporative efficiency and roughness of the land surfaces. Building density and type, amount of road surface, and energy use, as well as local topography and regional wind patterns, all work together to modify a city’s climate. These causes can be classified according to the following - alterations to urban thermal properties, changes in vegetation cover, heat trapping by urban geometry and man-made (anthropogenic) heat input.

Alterations to urban thermal properties

Today’s urbanized cities comprise asphalt roads, concrete pavements, parking lots, buildings and these absorb, store and radiate more heat than the vegetated surfaces. This disrupts the natural radiation balance of the surface resulting into the warmer city. The urban heat island effect is often noticed at night when buildings and other constructed surfaces radiate the heat they have accumulated during

the day.

The most influential property in the formation of urban heat island is that of albedo. Albedo is defined as the ration between the light reflected from a surface and the total light falling upon a surface. As the picture shows, albedo can range greatly. Clearly, the albedo of vegetation is much greater than that of civil structures, resulting in structures absorbing much more solar radiation than trees and plants.

Changes in vegetation cover

Heat islands are created when city growth alters the urban fabric by substituting man-made asphalt roads and tar roofs and other features for forest growth. Apart from radiation balance, vegetation loss is responsible for decreasing evapotranspiration process in which plant uses heat from the air to evaporate water in the leaf transpiration process. The process releases moisture into the atmosphere. This process is similar to sweating in humans, effectively releasing heat into the atmosphere. As the water evaporates from vegetation, heat is taken out of the environment. In that way vegetation act as heat sink. They are also responsible for retaining water into the soil and their absence decrease the ability of the soil to retain water thereby decreasing the evaporation rate. Therefore worsening heat environment is partly responsible for the decreased humidity in mega-cities too. Studies in Tokyo have revealed that the temperature has gone up by 2˚C on average and its humidity has fallen by fifteen percent in the last one hundred year.

Heat trapping by urban geometry

Another important reason for worsening of heat environment is the change in the wind pattern. Urban infrastructures increase surface roughness and they lower wind speeds which could have carried away surface heat gain. The formation of urban canopy changes the wind pattern and does not allow wind to enter or to swipe away from the near ground surface effectively, trapping heat inside the canopy

The canyon structure that tall buildings create enhances warming. During the day, solar energy is trapped by multiple reflections off the buildings while the infrared heat losses are reduced by absorption. The city also changes the overall cooling action of the wind by channeling it into narrow streets. The geometry of high vertical walls and narrow streets also increases the summer heat cities as the high sun is reflected downward and is absorbed, and then reradiated, by the often rocklike street and building surfaces.

Man-made (anthropogenic) heat input

In order for cities to thrive, energy production is a necessity. Great amount of heat is released into the environment by powerplants. Transportation is also contributes large amounts of heat, which is evident to those stuck in rush hour traffic. Clearly, everyday human activity required for a functional society only aggravates the heat island problem. The biggest contributions are from areas of high industrialization, airports and seaports. These areas have enormous energy expenditures, and are highly unlikely to contain vegetation.

Mega-cities are characterized by high population density, high per capita energy consumption and their demand for energy is fulfilled in the physical forms such as electricity, oil, gases and coals which are ultimately discharged as heat into the urban atmosphere. Direct heat discharges are usually categorized as stationary and mobile. Heat discharge from buildings by air conditioning units is the single major source of stationary heat discharge. Although many industrial plants and industries are located far from the cities, still some of them are located in the cities which release heat directly into the urban environment. However they usually discharge heat from tall chimney stacks that are usually easy to swipe away by the wind breeze. Automobiles discharge large amount of heat that is mobile in nature. In the city centers and high traffic zones, the concentration of this discharged heat further increases by congestion and presence of fuel inefficient vehicles. A closer look into a mid-size vehicle for urban driving cycle suggests that nearly thirteen percent of total input energy is converted into the useful work while the rest dissipates as heat.

The cumulative effects of all these factors cause urban environment to be hotter than the surrounding areas. Similar to the effects of global warming, such “urban warming” can have substantial implications for air quality and human health within affected regions Increasing at a rate of 0.25 to 2˚F (0.1 to 1.1˚C) per decade, the heat island effect within the urban cores of rapidly growing metropolitan regions may double within 50 years (McPherson, 1994). In light of the roughly 2.9 billion new residents to arrive in urban regions between 1990 and 2025, there is a pressing need to ascertain the implications of urban warming for metropolitan regions and to identify potential strategies to counteract regional climate change.

Acids Cause Heart Attacks and Strokes NOT Cholesterol!

2009-01-22T20:28:00.003+08:00

Dear chona,

A new national study has shown that nearly 75 percent of all patients hospitalized for a heart attack or stroke had normal or low cholesterol levels. According to current savants this would indicate they were not at high risk for a cardiovascular event, according to current national cholesterol guidelines.

Specifically, these patients had low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels that met current guidelines, and close to half had LDL levels classified in guidelines as optimal (less than 100 mg/dL).

According to Dr. Robert O. Young, Director of the pH Miracle Living Center, "if you have normal or low blood cholesterol and are living and acidic lifestyle and diet you are at a higher risk for a stroke or heart attack than someone with cholesterol over 300 mg/dl."

"High blood cholesterol indicates that the body is trying to buffer excess dietary and/or metabolic acid. This is a good thing. Cholesterol is good not bad. Acid is bad and the cause of stroke and heart attacks," states Dr. Young.

"Almost 75 percent of heart attack patients fell within recommended targets for LDL cholesterol, demonstrating that the current guidelines may not be low enough to cut heart attack risk in most who could benefit," said Dr. Gregg C. Fonarow, Eliot Corday Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine and Science at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and the study's principal investigator.

"Unfortunately, Dr. Fonarow and Cordsay just don't get it. Cholesterol is not the problem. The problem is a person's acidic lifestyle and dietary choices," states Dr. Young.

While the risk of cardiovascular events increases substantially with LDL levels above 40-60 mg/dL, current national cholesterol guidelines consider LDL levels less than 100-130 mg/dL acceptable for many individuals. The guidelines are thus not effectively identifying the majority of individuals who will develop fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events, according to the study's authors.

"Persons who are at risk for a heart attack or stroke are persons who live an acidic lifestyle and diet, such as:

1) Lack of adequate exercise. You should exercise every day for at least 1 hour. And you should be sweating which helps to remove dietary and metabolic acids from the blood and tissues.

2) Eating animal proteins. Cut out all animal proteins for plant proteins, such as Hemp meal or protein. Hemp protein has twice the protein content than animal protein.

3) Eating dairy products. There are no substitutes for dairy products.

4) Vinegar. Never use it. IT is poisonous!

5) Mushrooms and algae. They break the body down and recycle it back to the earth.

6) Corn, corn starch and corn syrup. It is a strong acid and should never be consumed!

7) Peanuts. They are full of mold.

8) Eggs. Eggs are for creating a baby chick not for eating. They are full of bacteria. Approximately 38,000,000 million per egg. Eggs are dirty and filthy of the blood and tissues. They also activate the immune system to clean up the bloody mess.

9) Chocolate. Two acids - theobromine and methylbromine - they both kill.

10) Any form of sugar with the last 3 letters of "ose' or "tol." For example, sucrose or maltose, or Xylitol or Mannitol. All sugar in all of its forms is toxic to the body and should never be consumed.

These are the top ten acidic food choices that destroy a body and lead to heart attack or stroke," states Dr. Young.

Researchers also found that more than half of patients hospitalized for a heart attack had poor high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels, according to national guidelines.

"If you want to be healthy you need healthy fats. The healthiest of all the fats are the polyunsaturated Omega 3's found in flax seed and hemp seed. I suggest eating at least 2 to 3 ounces of healthy oil or fat a day. This helps to increase the high-density lipoproteins, " states Dr. Young.

Published in the January issue of the American Heart Journal, the study suggests that lowering guideline targets for LDL cholesterol for those at risk for cardiovascular disease, as well as developing better treatments to raise HDL cholesterol, may help reduce the number of patients hospitalized for heart attack in the future.

"Sounds like good advise from the allopathic point of view but is is way off the target. The key is to decrease acidic foods and drinks and increase exercise, alkaline foods and drinks, especially the long chain fats or Omega 3's," states Dr. Young.

Researchers analyzed data from 136,905 patients hospitalized for a heart attack nationwide between 2000 and 2006 whose lipid levels upon hospital admission were documented. This accounted for 59 percent of total hospital admissions for heart attack at participating hospitals during the study period.

Among individuals without any prior cardiovascular disease or diabetes, 72.1 percent had admission LDL levels less than 130 mg/dL, which is the current LDL cholesterol target for this population. Thus, the vast majority of individuals having their first heart attack would not have been targeted for effective preventative treatments based on the criteria used in the current guidelines.

The team also found that half of the patients with a history of heart disease had LDL cholesterol levels lower than 100 mg/dL, and 17.6 percent of patients had LDL levels below 70 mg/dL, which are guideline targets for LDL cholesterol in those at fair risk and at high risk for cardiovascular disease, respectively.

The study also showed that HDL cholesterol, or "good cholesterol, " levels have dropped in patients hospitalized for heart attack over the past few years, possibly due to increasing rates of obesity, insulin resistance and diabetes.

Researchers found that 54.6 percent of patients had HDL levels below 40 mg/dL. Developing more effective treatments to boost HDL levels may help reduce the number of patients hospitalized for heart attacks, according to the authors.

"We found that less than 2 percent of heart attack patients had both ideal LDL and HDL cholesterol levels, so there is room for improvement, " said Fonarow.

Fonarow said that only 59 percent of patients in the database had their lipid levels checked upon admission, which should be increased, since these early measurements can often help guide treatment decisions.

He also noted that only 21 percent of patients in the study were taking lipid-lowering medications before admission, despite almost half having a prior history of cardiovascular events, which would prompt treatment.

"Bottom line, heart attacks and strokes are caused by acidic lifestyles and diets. If you want to reduce the risk for heart attack and stroke the focused needs to be placed on the personal lifestyle and dietary choice - and that choice needs to move to a more alkaline lifestyle and diet," states Dr. Young.

As someone that looks to improve their health we are pleased to offer you this free audio, an excerpt of a powerful two hour interview with Dr Robert O. Young and Anthony Robbins. (it is free to listen!)

Click here to listen: http://www.phmiracl eliving.com/ championsofhealt h.mp3

I trust you'll enjoy this...

Not part of our healing alkaline community?
Visit our website at:

www.phmiracleliving .com

To learn more about the science of Dr. Robert and Shelley Young go to:

www.articlesofhealt h.blogspot. com

'Miracles happen not in opposition to nature, but in opposition to what we know of nature.' St. Augustine

'Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic' ....Arthur C. Clarke

'There are only two ways to live your life. One, is as though there are no miracles. The other is as though everything is a miracle.' Albert Einstein

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Statement of the Heritage Conservation Society on the Laoag Central Elementary School

2009-01-16T23:41:00.002+08:00

Education handed over to the malls
The sad desecration of our built education heritage

It is sad to note that as the Philippines strives to move forward into the new millennium, we have forgotten to understand the true meaning and value of what makes us a people, a nation, and a country as a whole. The random destruction and desecration of our historic sites manifests total disregard for the past, the contributions of our forefathers, and the collective suffering of our people.

This is true particularly in the unwarranted need to promote growth through the demolition of historic sites and structures for what is today perceived as the most needed infrastructure project around, the shopping mall.

The historic city of Laoag, Ilocos Norte is one case in point. The Laoag Central Elementary School, built in 1929, is a fine example of educational architecture designed to provide first class instruction even in the farthest reaches of our archipelago. Designed in accordance to the Gabaldon Law (which stipulated that education is for all thus necessitating the construction of school buildings far and wide), these centers of education and the symbolism architecture they provide have shaped, molded and inspired generations upon generations of Filipinos. For a building, historic in its significance in the annals of Ilocos history if not Filipino history, its unwarranted destruction and conversion into another center of consumerism is another sign of our low regard for our rich cultural past.

Some sectors claim that the building and its grounds are ripe for development. Sitting right smack in the center of Laoag, indeed the site is prime real estate. But its building, particularly its main administrative structure, needs to be preserved, conserved and above all saved from the wrecking balls of greed. Even though the building is not yet listed by the National Historical Institute as historic, it is historic no doubt. It is expected of the people of Laoag, Ilocos Norte and the Filipino nation as a whole to preserve the fast dwindling historical buildings still standing.

Heritage is defined not solely as a structure with an official plaque as designated by these government agencies. Heritage is the heart and soul of a people, community, and nation. Heritage embraces the memories of the past. Heritage gives identity to a people, city, place, and country. As such, heritage is rendered with age, grace, beauty, nobility, significance and above all love. For if we love our country, then we should love the vestiges of what this country stands for.

That this historic structure should be demolished for yet another shopping mall, is a complete insult and disregard for love of country.

Heritage Conservation Society
www.heritage. org.ph

Board of Trustees
Gemma Cruz-Araneta (Chairperson & President)
Christian Aguilar
Dr. Nathaniel von Einsiedel, FPIEP
Ivan Anthony Henares
Archt. Rene Luis Mata
Archt. Manuel Maximo Noche
Archt. Melvin Patawaran

Atty. Lucille Karen Isberto (Corporate Secretary)
Adoracion Soriano (Executive Director)

Advisory Council
Archt. Augusto F. Villalon, Ph.D. (Founding Chairperson)
Bambi L. Harper (Founding President)
Archt. Bettina Bonoan
Archt. Dominic Q. Galicia
Amb. Raul Goco
Edda V. Henson
Richard B. Lopez
Juan Miguel Luz
Maria Isabel Ongpin

See also: http://www.ivanhena res.com/2008/ 12/save-laoag- central-elementa ry-school. html

--
Heritage Conservation Society
G/F Museo Pambata Building
Roxas Boulevard, Ermita
Manila, Philippines
Tel. +632 521 2239
Fax. +632 522 2497