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The impact of rapid urban population growth on social stability:
Why do people move to cities? Because cities offer well-developed transportation systems, medical care, and living facilities. Most importantly, they provide ample job opportunities and higher wages compared to rural areas. Nineteen urban agglomerations house over 70% of the nation's population, meaning that 980 million people across the country reside in cities.
Such a large population requires cities to have sufficient building density to cope with it. Here's a look at high-density housing:
Of course, this is only the worst-case scenario. If you also live in a city, you'll easily notice that there are more and more houses like this, densely packed together, with everyone crammed into one building. Before the urban population was so large, you might not have had neighbors above, below, or to the sides, but with the rapid increase in urban population, neighborhood problems have become increasingly apparent, or rather, more likely. These neighborhood problems are mainly caused by noise:
Furthermore, due to the difficulty in resolving noise issues, many people are increasingly resorting to violent means: using noise-generating devices, arguing, fighting... These are all real-world phenomena.
Neighborhood noise may seem like a minor issue, but when these problems become more numerous and severe, affecting a larger population, they cease to be minor and their impact on social stability becomes only a matter of time.
How to keep neighborhood noise levels in line with rapid urbanization is a systemic issue that requires not only education on individual issues but also enforcement measures such as the law.
I. Personal handling methods
1. Communication is the solution. This is the simplest yet most difficult approach, as most neighborly noise issues will worsen with communication. How you communicate and handle the situation is highly dependent on your interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence. Generally, start gently. Don't go upstairs to confront your neighbor in anger. Understand that their movement and dragging chairs are primarily due to a thin floor. Their noise level might be slightly higher than others, but it's still within their normal range. They may not realize the noise is bothering you. Record a video to let them know you're being disturbed, rather than deliberately causing trouble. The best way to build a friendly relationship with your neighbors is to make them more mindful of the noise, and for you to be understanding. Of course, this doesn't apply to completely unreasonable neighbors.
2. Soundproofing. Most people have no idea what soundproofing is. This concept, which should have been popularized during the initial construction phase of a house, is delayed because the experience is only felt after moving in. Since soundproofing needs to be done from the bare shell of the house, and floor soundproofing further isolates the interior space from the walls to solve noise, the details and procedures are extremely complex. Ironically, most upstairs noise can be solved simply by laying vibration-damping pads on the floor, but because almost no one knows this, downstairs neighbors have to install suspended ceilings-a method that is ineffective, difficult to construct, reduces ceiling height, and is expensive.
3. I won't go into methods like calling the police or reporting noise here. This is because most upstairs noise issues are impossible to determine, and the police can only act as mediators, let alone the property management. However, industrial noise, weekend renovation noise, noise from downstairs KTVs, bars, electrical rooms, etc., can all be resolved by calling the police or reporting noise. The reporting numbers are 110 (police, for neighborhood noise) and 12369 (environmental protection bureau, for industrial and commercial noise).
II. National Handling Methods
1. Control floor slab thickness. The international standard for floor slab thickness is 15-20cm, while in China it is 8-12cm. Developers, in order to speed up construction and save money, generally use 8cm. The current standard for impact sound insulation is 85 decibels, but this standard is actually insufficient for comfortable living. Improving relevant standards should be part of the measures taken.
2. Control floor height. In China, the average floor height is 2.5m. This height shortens the distance between the floor and the upstairs neighbors, increasing social density. Furthermore, the floor height must be considered in relation to ceiling installation. Ceiling installations for sound insulation typically shorten the ceiling space by 5-6cm, and if the floor height is too low, there will be insufficient space for a suspended ceiling.
3. Controlling plot ratio. In the future, the plot ratio of buildings in China will only increase. Most major cities have already developed their housing projects, leaving many vacant. Therefore, they are actively recruiting residents; for example, Wenzhou offers a subsidy of 50,000 yuan for residency. A high plot ratio means a large resident population, naturally leading to a more diverse range of character and social standing. The chances of finding good neighbors will be extremely slim. This doesn't mean no more buildings will be constructed, but rather that the height and width of residential buildings can be controlled.
4. Conduct rigorous property inspections to ensure the building meets relevant acoustic standards. The location of elevator shafts and the external environment must no longer be overlooked; properties must meet these standards before being approved for sale.
5. Include vibration-damping flooring renovations in mandatory measures;
6. The sound insulation standard and floor slab thickness of the house must be indicated in the property listing;
7. Neighborhood noise issues will be included in the credit system;