Location of

Dongtan,

China

Artist’s impression of the harbour, Dongtan

Artist’s impression of East Village and East Lake, Dongtan

Key features of Dongtan, China:

Work – industrial and commercial areas

Residential areas – wind turbines reduce energy,

housing has local shops, nurseries and health

centre nearby

Environment – 60% of land is intended to be

green space

Transport – integrated system (like Curitiba) with solar powered water taxis, hydrogen cars

Energy – 65% supplied by rice waste…….also

solar and wind power

Waste – 90% recycling of waste, human sewage

for composting

Sustainable Urban Living – Masdar, Abu Dhabi

Sustainable Urban Living – Masdar City

This urban development is a project in Abu

Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates. The aim is to

construct an eco-friendly city. It is being built by

the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company and a

British design firm.

When complete the city will rely entirely on solar

and other renewable energy sources, with a

zero-carbon, zero-waste ecology. The city is

being constructed 17 kilometres south-east of the

city of Abu Dhabi, beside Abu Dhabi

International Airport. The city is intended to be

completed by 2025.

7

The projected cost of building the city was US$22 billion

and initially it was thought it would take eight years to

complete. Construction began in 2008 and the first six

buildings of the city were completed and occupied in

October 2010. However, due to the impact of the

worldwide financial crisis final completion is now not

expected until 2025.

In addition, it is thought that up to 60,000 workers will

commute to the city from nearby Abu Dhabi and

surrounding regions. Movement of people and goods

within the city will be via a personal rapid transit (PRT)

system, with existing road and railways connecting to

other locations outside the city.

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When complete the city will cover 6

and will be home to 50,000

people and 1,500 businesses.

The lack of motor vehicles together with a high

perimeter wall which is designed to keep out the hot

desert winds will mean that the narrow shaded streets

will help channel cool breezes throughout the city,

reducing the need for excessive air conditioning.

9

Masdar City is one of the first urban areas to use a

Personal Rapid Transit system. These are believed to be

the most efficient systems available. The ground level

and elevated tracks are electric powered and

computer controlled. The 2–4-person ‘pod’ cars and

the infrastructure required are relatively inexpensive to

construct and run.

Personal Rapid Transit system