Building bridges to Abu Dhabi and Dubai
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Urban regions around the world, we have learned, are confronted with remarkably similar types of challenges. We have also found that we have much to learn from each other. Mohammed Omar Abdulla, Undersecretary for the Abu Dhabi Department of Planning and Economy, spoke to our group during the mission. He had been to the Puget Sound area a year ago and spoke of building “a friendship bridge” between our two regions. Our recent trip put down some more planks on the bridge.
Note: This column is reprinted from Citiwire.net, which covers the development of large urban regions or citistates.
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Comments:
Posted Tue, May 5, 8:25 a.m. inappropriate
The urban "wonders" of Dubai have been built with slave labor. In a desert with no fresh water, it uses water extravagantly. Its accomplishments, real and questionable, are the result of dictatorial decisions. Let us hope the personal relationships being fostered include some discussion of these matters.
Posted Tue, May 5, 8:53 a.m. inappropriate
It is interesting...many friends who have worked in Abu Dhabi and Dubai are American professionals like the rest of us who have been lucky enough to connect with the idea sponges seeking the "best thinking". The irony of such trade missions is that we travel to see and hear ourselves operating in blank slate contexts. Better to stay here and work the real problems.
Posted Thu, May 7, 12:05 p.m. inappropriate
The Masdar project is hopefully a progressive step forward for the UAE. In order to become a partner in the One Planet Living program (World Wildlife Fund and BioRegional), Masdar agreed to follow sustainability principles, which includes the human dimension.
Posted Sun, May 10, 10:08 a.m. inappropriate
The example of Masdar in the United Arab Emirates, which is mentioned by this article and which Seattle City Councilmember Jan Drago raised during a panel discussion last week ( http://www.seattlepi.com/transportation/405796_transportation01.html ), is of a city being built from scratch to be carbon-neutral, zero-waste, and powered entirely by renewable energy. Beyond the "green" construction techniques, recycling, and energy generation (solar, wind) mentioned in that article, what makes that city sustainable is that cars will be banned within it; all transportation within the city will be accomplished by walking, bicycling, Segways, and for longer trips within the 2.5 square mile city, Personal Rapid Transit (PRT). Their initial PRT system is scheduled to open later this year. There will also be a single light-rail stop within the city which connects to the regional airport and other nearby cities, with a high-speed rail line coming later.