Improving of Social Values of Seawalls in Singapore

Written by Pong Siang Nee

Seawalls line much of Singapore’s coasts as the main form of coastal protection but therein lies a gap in existing literature relating to the social aspect of seawalls. Guided by a lived values framework, this research aimed to identify and increase the understanding of the social values of seawalls in Singapore.

This research was done through conducting semi-structured interviews with coastal park users. Results from the interviews showed that social values relating to health, belongingness, self-actualisation and safety are inherent in seawalls, and recommendations on improving seawalls to enhance these identified values revolved around the structure of seawalls and amenities and activities surrounding it. This research has provided evidence that there is great potential of seawalls to be tapped on, but the safety of seawalls must first be ensured. Therefore, cross-disciplinary discussion of methods to redesign seawalls should also be carried out before reaching a compromise between redesigning seawalls to enhance its social values and fulfilling its main function to protect coasts.

“This UROP has been an invaluable and rewarding journey that has given me the chance to better understand what research is about and a short experience of being a researcher. This whole process felt like writing a mini honours thesis and made me less afraid of the process if I were to take it up in the future! It has also allowed me to better appreciate and find relevance in concepts taught in classes that are applicable to real-world problems.”