Have you ever dreamed of creating a new world from scratch? A place where we can rethink the unsustainable patterns that have led to overcrowded cities, dwindling natural resources, and the impacts of climate change? While some suggest we should look to Mars, there’s another frontier right here on Earth: the ocean, which covers 70% of our planet. But how feasible is it to live in the ocean?
We’ve already seen underwater hotels and submarine laboratories, but a large-scale underwater city remains a fantasy due to challenges like intense pressure and lack of oxygen and light. Instead, the idea of building cities on top of the water is gaining traction. Coastal cities have been expanding into the ocean for years, often using harmful land reclamation techniques. But what if we designed cities to float?
Floating villages exist worldwide, and innovative ideas are emerging to scale them up. The concept involves creating a functional neighborhood within a protected harbor, adjacent to a dense coastal city. With 90% of the world’s major cities facing sea level rise in the coming decades, could floating cities be the solution?
A company called Oceanix, along with international collaborators, has proposed a sustainable floating city concept at the United Nations. This design aims to support 10,000 residents, addressing needs like food, waste, water, energy, and mobility. Oceanix City moves away from flashy futuristic designs, opting instead for a nostalgic neighborhood feel.
The team chose a pontoon structure for shallow, sheltered harbors over a semi-submersible design suited for the open ocean. These structures are flexible, modular, and resistant to tsunami and earthquake damage when designed for water physics. The hexagon shape provides stability and can be combined to create sheltered harbors, growing in a fractal pattern.
To sustain itself, Oceanix City will harness energy from offshore wind turbines and a technology called OTEC, which uses temperature differences between surface and deeper waters. Solar panels and wave energy will also play a role. The team believes a mix of high- and low-tech solutions, along with minor lifestyle adjustments, is crucial.
The plan includes embracing a plant-based diet to conserve resources, using greenhouses, orchards, aquaponics, and aeroponics systems. Waste will be minimized through reusable packaging, recycling, and composting.
Oceanix aims to benefit the marine ecosystem with structures that allow sunlight penetration and technology that minimizes environmental impact. They are collaborating with the Global Coral Reef Alliance on Biorock technology, which attracts coral and marine life, acting as a wave break and dampening storm surge effects. Floating structures offer a unique connection with the water and a sense of ownership over the ocean.
The modular design of Oceanix City allows it to adapt to the needs of both itself and the coastal city it adjoins. Lessons learned on the water, such as food growth, energy generation, and waste management, can be applied back on land.
We won’t immediately jump into a full-fledged city. These projects could start in various ways. Tech companies like Google or Facebook could create floating campuses or data centers. Disney might be a good candidate for a floating resort city. The first village for Oceanix could even be a university.
So, how close are we to living in the ocean? Closer than you might think. Once we partner with an interested city or state, we can quickly get a prototype in the water and build from there. Oceanix City provides a tool to adapt to climate change challenges, and we will likely see more cities expand onto floating structures in the next 20 years. The technology is ready; let’s create these structures in anticipation of future needs.
Imagine you are an urban planner tasked with designing a floating city. Consider factors such as sustainability, energy sources, and community needs. Create a detailed plan or model and present it to your classmates. Discuss the challenges and benefits of your design.
Participate in a debate on whether humanity should focus on developing floating cities or colonizing Mars as a solution to Earth’s challenges. Research and present arguments for both sides, considering environmental, economic, and social impacts.
Conduct a case study analysis of Oceanix City. Evaluate its design, sustainability features, and potential impact on urban living. Discuss how this model could be adapted to different coastal regions worldwide.
Join a workshop to explore sustainable living practices that could be implemented in floating cities. Experiment with aquaponics, solar energy setups, or waste recycling techniques. Share your findings and how they could be applied to enhance life on a floating city.
Engage in a virtual reality experience that simulates daily life on a floating city. Reflect on the lifestyle changes and adaptations required. Discuss your experience with peers and consider how these insights could influence future urban planning.
**Sanitized Transcript:**
DO YOU EVER GET THE URGE TO BUILD A NEW WORLD? FROM SCRATCH? TO RE-THINK THE UNSUSTAINABLE PATTERNS THAT HAVE LED TO OVERCROWDED CITIES, DWINDLING NATURAL RESOURCES, AND THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE? SOME SUGGEST WE SHOULD CUT OUR LOSSES AND MOVE TO MARS. AFTER ALL, WE’RE QUICKLY RUNNING OUT OF FRONTIERS HERE ON EARTH, EXCEPT FOR THE OCEAN, WHICH COVERS 70% OF OUR PLANET. HOW CLOSE ARE WE TO LIVING IN THE OCEAN? WE’VE ALREADY BUILT UNDERWATER HOTELS AND SUBMARINE LABORATORIES. AN ATLANTIAN METROPOLIS WOULD BE AMAZING, BUT THERE ARE REASONS SUCH A VISION IS PURELY FICTIONAL. INTENSE PRESSURE, A LACK OF OXYGEN AND LIGHT MAKE LARGE-SCALE UNDERWATER LIVING EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE.
WHAT WE COULD DO IS BUILD A CITY ON TOP OF THE WATER. COASTAL CITIES HAVE BEEN EXPANDING INTO THE OCEAN FOR DECADES, OFTEN USING DESTRUCTIVE LAND RECLAMATION TECHNIQUES. BUT WHAT IF WE DESIGNED CITIES TO FLOAT? FLOATING VILLAGES EXIST ALL OVER THE WORLD, AND SOME INNOVATIVE IDEAS HAVE SURFACED FOR SCALING THAT UP. IT’S ABOUT CREATING A WORKING NEIGHBORHOOD THAT COULD SIT WITHIN A PROTECTED HARBOR, ADJACENT TO A DENSE COASTAL CITY. 90% OF THE WORLD’S MAJOR CITIES WILL BE DEALING WITH THE EFFECTS OF SEA LEVEL RISE IN THE COMING DECADES. AS SEA LEVEL RISE BEGINS TO AFFECT OUR FOUNDATIONS, COULD IT PROVIDE THE FOUNDATION NEEDED FOR SUCH AN EXPERIMENT? A COMPANY CALLED OCEANIX THINKS SO. ALONGSIDE INTERNATIONAL CONTRIBUTORS, OCEANIX AND ITS TEAM OF DESIGNERS AND ENGINEERS RECENTLY UNVEILED A CONCEPT FOR A SUSTAINABLE FLOATING CITY AT THE UNITED NATIONS. THE DESIGN AIMS TO SUPPORT 10,000 RESIDENTS, ACCOUNTING FOR FOOD, WASTE, WATER, ENERGY, AND MOBILITY.
THE DESIGN OF OCEANIX CITY MOVES AWAY FROM FLASHY, FUTURISTIC PROPOSALS AND REFLECTS A NOSTALGIC NEIGHBORHOOD FEEL. THE TEAM STARTED WITH A SIMPLE CHOICE: THEY OPTED FOR A PONTOON STRUCTURE FOR SHALLOW, SHELTERED HARBORS OVER A SEMI-SUBMERSIBLE DESIGN SUITED TO THE OPEN OCEAN. THESE STRUCTURES, BEING FLEXIBLE AND MODULAR, ARE RESISTANT TO TSUNAMI AND EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE IF DESIGNED FOR THE PHYSICS OF WATER.
FOR ANY FLOATING BODY ON A WATER SURFACE, THERE ARE SIX FORCES THAT ACT ON IT: SURGE, SWAY, HEAVE, ROLL, PITCH, AND YAW. THE HEXAGON SHAPE PROVIDES STABILITY IN WATER AND CAN BE COMBINED TO CREATE SHELTERED HARBORS. THIS SYSTEM OF GROWTH CONTINUES IN A FRACTAL PATTERN.
SO, AN AQUATIC, EARTHQUAKE-RESISTANT STRUCTURE THAT GROWS OUTWARD? I’M ONBOARD. BUT WITHOUT WORKER BEES AND A QUEEN, HOW DOES THIS COLONY SUSTAIN ITSELF? ENERGY CAN BE HARVESTED FROM OFFSHORE WIND TURBINES AND A TECHNOLOGY CALLED OTEC, WHICH USES THE DIFFERENCE IN TEMPERATURE BETWEEN SURFACE AND DEEPER WATERS TO GENERATE ENERGY. IN ADDITION TO WIND TURBINES, OCEANIX CITY WILL RELY ON SOLAR PANELS AND WAVE ENERGY. THE TEAM BELIEVES A MIX OF HIGH- AND LOW-TECH SOLUTIONS, ALONG WITH MINOR LIFESTYLE ADJUSTMENTS BY RESIDENTS, IS CRUCIAL.
THE PLAN INCLUDES EMBRACING A PLANT-BASED DIET TO SAVE RESOURCES. GREENHOUSES, ORCHARDS, AQUAPONICS, AND AEROPONICS SYSTEMS WILL BE USED. WASTE WILL BE MINIMIZED THROUGH REUSABLE PACKAGING, RECYCLING, AND COMPOSTING.
OCEANIX ALSO AIMS TO CONSIDER LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS THAT BENEFIT THE MARINE ECOSYSTEM. STRUCTURES WILL INCLUDE CUTOUTS TO ALLOW SUNLIGHT TO PENETRATE, AND SOME WILL USE TECHNOLOGY THAT MINIMIZES ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT. THEY’RE WORKING WITH THE GLOBAL CORAL REEF ALLIANCE ON A TECHNOLOGY CALLED BIOROCK, WHICH HELPS ATTRACT CORAL AND MARINE LIFE, ACTING AS A WAVE BREAK AND DAMPENING STORM SURGE EFFECTS. FLOATING STRUCTURES OFFER A UNIQUE CONNECTION WITH THE WATER AND A SENSE OF OWNERSHIP OVER THE OCEAN.
WHAT MANY ARE AFTER WITH THESE PROPOSALS IS A CHANCE TO START FRESH. THE MODULAR DESIGN ALLOWS THE CITY TO ADAPT TO THE NEEDS OF BOTH ITSELF AND THE COASTAL CITY IT ADJOINS. LESSONS LEARNED ON THE WATER, SUCH AS FOOD GROWTH, ENERGY GENERATION, AND WASTE MANAGEMENT, CAN BE APPLIED BACK ON LAND.
WE WON’T IMMEDIATELY JUMP INTO A FULL-FLEDGED CITY. THESE PROJECTS COULD START IN VARIOUS WAYS. TECH COMPANIES LIKE GOOGLE OR FACEBOOK COULD CREATE FLOATING CAMPUSES OR DATA CENTERS. DISNEY MIGHT BE A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR A FLOATING RESORT CITY. THE FIRST VILLAGE FOR OCEANIX COULD BE SOMETHING LIKE A UNIVERSITY.
SO, HOW CLOSE ARE WE TO LIVING IN THE OCEAN? WE MIGHT BE CLOSER THAN YOU THINK. ONCE WE PARTNER WITH AN INTERESTED CITY OR STATE, WE CAN QUICKLY GET A PROTOTYPE IN THE WATER AND BUILD FROM THERE. WE WORK ON MANY CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PROJECTS. OCEANIX CITY PROVIDES A TOOL TO ADAPT TO CHALLENGES. WE WILL SEE MORE CITIES EXPAND ONTO FLOATING STRUCTURES IN THE NEXT 20 YEARS. THE TECHNOLOGY IS READY; LET’S CREATE THESE STRUCTURES IN ANTICIPATION OF FUTURE NEEDS.
FOR MORE EPISODES OF ‘HOW CLOSE ARE WE?’, CHECK OUT THIS PLAYLIST AND LET US KNOW IN THE COMMENTS WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE US INVESTIGATE NEXT. THANKS FOR WATCHING!
Floating – Referring to structures or systems that are buoyant and rest on the surface of a body of water. – Engineers are developing floating solar panels to harness energy without occupying land space.
Cities – Urban areas with high population density and infrastructure, often facing unique environmental challenges. – Sustainable urban planning is crucial for cities to reduce their carbon footprint and improve residents’ quality of life.
Ocean – A vast body of saltwater that covers most of the Earth’s surface and plays a critical role in climate regulation and biodiversity. – The health of the ocean is vital for maintaining global climate stability and supporting marine ecosystems.
Sustainability – The practice of meeting current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, often focusing on environmental, economic, and social dimensions. – Implementing sustainability in engineering projects can lead to long-term benefits for both the environment and society.
Energy – The capacity to do work, which can be derived from various sources such as fossil fuels, wind, solar, and nuclear power. – Transitioning to renewable energy sources is essential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change.
Design – The process of planning and creating structures, systems, or products with specific functions and aesthetics, often considering environmental impact. – Eco-friendly design principles are increasingly being integrated into architecture to minimize environmental impact.
Marine – Relating to the sea or ocean, especially concerning the organisms and ecosystems found there. – Marine conservation efforts are crucial for protecting biodiversity and ensuring the health of ocean ecosystems.
Ecosystem – A community of living organisms interacting with each other and their physical environment, functioning as a unit. – The destruction of coral reefs can have devastating effects on the entire marine ecosystem.
Waste – Materials that are discarded after use, often requiring proper management to minimize environmental impact. – Innovative waste management strategies are necessary to reduce landfill use and promote recycling.
Climate – The long-term patterns of temperature, humidity, wind, etc., in an area, significantly influenced by natural and human factors. – Climate change poses significant challenges to global agriculture, water resources, and biodiversity.
