Imagine, cities on water
Dear Editor,
Our planet’s population is always increasing, and with this, so too the many problems presented to humanity caused by this increase and climate change:
1) Rising sea levels could devastate coastal cities.
2) How and where will the food needed to feed our planet’s population come from?
3) Since 1880, the worlds average sea level has risen by eight to nine inches, one-third of that increase has occurred over the past 25 years.
3) Rising sea levels are eroding the coasts of land masses at an alarming rate.
4) Rising sea levels are flooding coastlines and contaminating freshwater supplies.
5) An estimated 41 per cent of the world’s population live within 62 miles of the coastline.
6) In addition, cities built on the coastline tend to sink over time.
Regions like New Orleans, Kolkata, Bangkok, Ho Chi Min, Jakarta, London, and New York face increasing pressure from flooding and salt water intrusion.
The Earth is drying up. Drought has spread throughout our planet, especially in those areas that mass produce/ grow our food. Whether due to climate change or simply the planet’s climate cycle, drought has taken away our precious fertile land masses, giving us desert in return.
The Earth’s underground aquifers are being depleted at an alarming rate and three-quarters of the planet is covered by water, yet 96.5 per cent of this water is unpotable. What to do?
Do you remember the movie Waterworld? The planet was covered in water, and the surviving population lived on boats and artificial floating devices. The possible solution to the world’s problems can be found in this movie’s premise — we can use the water that surrounds us.
Floating cities could combat this problem, but no one has ever built such a marvel before. Not so. Off the coast of South Korea, such an ambitious project is underway, known as Oceanix Bruan.
Neighbourhoods would be interconnected to one another and the mainland via bridges. A living area will be developed, creating living spaces, lodging platforms, areas for community activities and recreation.
Employment will be centred around research and development of the project and fulfilling the neighbourhoods’ needs. A temperature-controlled atrium at its centre, the floating city would have its own centre for hydroponic agriculture, and each neighbourhood would be secured firmly to the ocean floor with enough slack to take into account the movement of the ocean. Biorock — a material that is produced using low electric currents applied to materials that become stronger than concrete yet are buoyant — will be used to make the buildings and surfaces of this city.
The floating city will be pedestrian-friendly, with no roads. Electric vehicles are to be used.
Each neighbourhood will have its own water treatment and recycling plant. Turning salt water into drinkable water will fulfil the new city’s needs.
The first segment will be completed by 2026 at a cost of approximately US$630 million. Estimates of US$10,000 per square metre have been bandied about, but with further development and research the project will present the world with a far more affordable living option.
Imagine, a livable, prosperous island that is self-supporting in every way. Such imaginative and bold projects will hopefully pave the way for Earth’s transformation into an all-inclusive living space.
Steven Kaszab
Bradford, Ontario
skaszab@yahoo.ca