Pitch
A blueprint for new green-cities to attract vulnerable populations BEFORE they become climate refugees on a mass (and catastrophic) scale
Description
Summary
The CoLab city model is a design for cities that can house millions using clean energy and sustainable agriculture in entirety while meeting human needs and providing a high quality of life
This proposal is an extension or a "Phase 2" of the proposal submitted in the category Shifting Attitudes and Behaviors Global Civic Center & Capital - the road to a sustainable planet -- a restorative site, a world capital and innovation center, a blueprint for sustainable new cities of the future, providing solutions to the greatest challenges faced by humanity - the need for a large scale city model supplied entirely by renewable energy and sustainable agriculture, desalinized water - providing a high quality of life.
Adaptation: The creation of the above Global Civic Center & Capital develops a blue print for the COLAB CITY MODEL - to be replicated around the world - for fully green cities that can be build quickly and cheaply while providing a higher quality of life to attract populations away from vulnerable areas and also away from needing fossil fuels and land depleting models for sustaining human needs.
- a blueprint for mega cities in arid areas - to reduce the population pressure on ecosystems.
Populations attracted to CoLab cities for the higher quality of life and for safety from sea level rise contribute to decrease in fossil fuels, and reduced pressure on natural systems resulting in a vital reduction of C02.
Is this proposal for a practice or a project?
Project
What actions do you propose?
Based on the blueprint developed in the proposal submitted in the category Shifting Attitudes and Behaviors Global Civic Center & Capital - the road to a sustainable planet
the CoLab City model is a circular city that can accommodate millions while being more attractive and providing a high quality of life having the following essential
POWERED ENTIRELY BY GREEN ENERGY
- EFFICIENT AGRICULTURE INCLUDING HYDROPONICS SUPPLYING THE CITY'S NEEDS FROM WITHIN IT'S GEOGRAPHICAL LIMITS
- AUTOMATED, EFFICIENT TRANSPORTATION PROVIDING ACCESS ANYWHERE WITHIN A MINIMUM DISTANCE
- VISUALLY AND PHYSICALLY HEALTHY ENVIRONMENTS, SAFE AND PLEASANT, WITH EASY ACCESS TO GREEN SPACES AND WATER AS WELL AS TO SERVICES, JOBS, ENTERTAINMENT
NO TRASH - NO LANDFILLS - ALL WASTE IS RECYCLED, INCLUDING EXTENSIVE USE OF COMPOSTING SYSTEMS
DESALINIZED WATER - All water supplied to the CoLab City to come from desalinization as part of the goal of creating the blue print for sustaining human life without depleting water resources.
Sustainable Construction
Building the GCC will include the most advanced and environmental friendly construction methods requiring the extensive use of recycled and renewable materials from around the world - helping clean many existing landfills where reusable materials are available. Usage of wood will be restricted to bamboo and other sustainable construction materials.
POWERED GREEN ENERGY
Finding a model for a vertical axis windmill resembling a tower that blends with the urban environment presents a great source of clean energy at a low cost by requiring minimal transmission costs as it is placed very close to the consumers.
From proposal submitted in Energy Supply Category: Vertical Axis Windmill Tower for densely populated areas
To date there are no large size vertical axis windmills noticeble in in cities or anywhere else. Nor are there many small size vertical axis windmills to provide power of any significance to a city.
This proposal argues that with specific design features it is possible to create a model of a vertical axis windmill that can make them more competitive than what we have seen to date.
In the image below is a spinning "wing" that captures the wind force with flappers that close from the wind pressure in the concave side and close from the wind pressure on the return (concave side) in order to reduce resistance on the return.
Wind towers capturing a large amount of energy with minimal visual impact while being close proximity to consumers (reducing grid costs).
In the image below the tower is shown with "vertical blinds" (or horizontal blinds) - adjustable to parallel direction of the wind - designed to cover the windmills for safety and visual integration. Horizontal blinds serve as solar panels in vertical (hanging) position when there is no wind and absorb the sun rays.
EVERYONE LIVES DOWNTOWN
To make the city both efficient as well as attractive the two major circular boulevards are designated to house most entertainment and work places providing the "downtown" close to anywhere in the city to avoid "clustering."
ACCESS TO GREEN SPACES
Proximity to green spaces is essential for human health and well being. The circular design of the CoLab City model makes it possible to accommodate millions while always being close to large green parks both in the inner as well as outer area of the circular layout. While the city has small parks along the circular layout the occupants are never further than 2 km away from large green spaces within the circle and outside.
YR -20 - Majority of the cities around the world have adopted the Mini Elevated cTrain model, or
A BLUEPRINT FOR CLEAN & AUTOMATED MASS TRANSIT ON A LARGE SCALE
The CoLab city model provides a blueprint for a city of as much as 6 million with automated urban mobility for a mass transit system, powered entirely by renewable energy, at a level of comfort, speed and access, greater or at least equal to cars - at a fraction of the cost of traditional mass transit systems. This feature, replicated around the world would reduce emissions dramatically. 
The model we propose for such a mass transit system is the MINI ELEVATED cTrain design which has won last year's CoLab competition in the Transportation category and received positive reviews from the AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS
This transportation mode is currently submitted under TRANSPORTATION Category Mini Elevated GreenTrains - complete transit solution - powered by green energy
as well as in the ADAPTATION Category Mini Elevated GREEN TRAINS - preparing for flooded subways in coastal cities
The cTrain concept has received interest from the Indian local and state governments: article in The Indian Express
All areas will include the cTrain as part of the fabric of the city - eliminating the necessity of cars except for shopping.
Express and local elevated trains bring fast and easy access anywhere in the city within a few blocks.
ALL WATER FROM DESALINIZED SOURCES AND RECYCLED
Technologies are currently in use that supply large quantities of desalinized water and recycled extensively. Israel is a living proof of this model
Israel Proves the Desalination Era Is Here SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN 2016
Who will take these actions?
With the The Global Civic Center Initiative
and with the proof of concept in place countries will join a parallel initiative, possibly named the CoLab Cities Organization and begin building large (and smaller) cities based on the CoLab City model.
The greatest challenge, and the greatest opportunity, in the CoLab City Model is to attract the ideal combinations of private and public initiatives.
Initially government organizations and universities will need to create the foundations that start a CoLab City by building research and educational centers on a sufficiently large scale to attract corporations needed to provide services and set up shop in CoLab Cities. Once the city reaches a minimal critical mass it will begin attracting investment and development via growing land prices and demand for goods and services from the populations attracted by low cost of living and higher quality of life.
Governments and organizations can recover and even profit from their investment by the sale of land which becomes valuable once the city begins developing in arid areas where land value is otherwise nil.
Where will these actions be taken?
REPLICATION OF CoLab City MODEL
Countries worldwide will chose to build new cities based on the ColLab City blueprint
Most countries will have an interest in building new cities based on the CoLab City model in order to meet a long list o needs:
- Reduce the pressure on exiting urban areas & reduce emissions at the same time
- Reduce urban sprawl and damage to ecosystems that are vital for the planet - and begin rewilding areas are of greatest importance.
- Reduce the risk of wars and revolutions due to economic insecurity (CoLab City model can meet essential needs and provide s higher quality of life at a fraction of the current model battered by fossil fuel costs, limited space for housing and transportation, safety, and more)
- Prepare for rising sea levels - all CoLab model cities are at a minimum elevation of 70 meters. Countries like Bangladesh can begin the infrastructure for such cities with particular subsidies for populations in the low lying areas and in areas that deplete vital ecosystems. Bangladesh has areas at over 1000m elevation.
With populations gradually moving to cities modeled on the CoLab City the drop in fossil fuels, combined with reduced pressure on natural systems would result in a vital reduction of C02.
In addition, specify the country or countries where these actions will be taken.
India
Country 2
Bangladesh
Country 3
China
Country 4
United Arab Emirates
Country 5
Indonesia
Impact/Benefits
What impact will these actions have on greenhouse gas emissions and/or adapting to climate change?
The CoLab City Initiative will accelerate by years and possibly decades the shift to life sustained entirely by green energy through advancements needed both from a technological as well as political and psychological angle. This acceleration may make a difference in reducing emissions in time before the global warming levels pass the tipping point.
This proposal approaches the problem of emissions mitigation from a psychological perspective by impacting perceptions and convictions of dependence on the fossil fuels model.
CoLab Cities will be designed to be located in arid areas away from putting pressure on existing ecosystems enabling rewilding of old as well as new areas creating a beter ecological balance.
What are other key benefits?
RESTORATION OF ECOSYSTEMS
All water supplied to the CoLab city comes from desalinization as part of the goal of creating the blue print for sustaining human life without depleting water resources. This will enable the restoration of many ecosystem currently depleted because of water extracted for human consumption. Overall rewilding and restoring the natural balance of the planet as near as possible to the start of the industrial revolution.
FEWER CONFLICTS
Most conflicts are rooted in economic insecurity and overall access to resources and unmet needs and wants (even though on the surface they appear about religions, real or imagined injustices, nationalistic fervor, xenophobia etc.)
The CoLab City model can meet the essential needs and wants by providing sustainable and affordable access to:
- Water and food
- Housing
- Energy
- Transportation
- Ambient and secure environment
PLACE OF REFUGE & FEWER REFUGEES
As a blueprint for mega cities to be replicated around the world CoLab Cities can absorb millions providing sanctuary for refugees from conflicts and also reduce or prevent climate refugees scenario by beginning to attract people from low level areas while reducing emissions dramatically at the same time
NO LANDFILLS
The CoLab City model is designed to minimize the need for extensive quantities of disposable waste. With urban mobility needs met in entirety and fully sustainable via the cTrain model the demand for private cars will be very low, and mostly for leisure purposes - this is one factor that reduces residuals from the car industry that make up much of today's landfills.
By design and by law all waste in CoLab City model is recycled or disposed in way that do not harm the environment. But most importantly there is far less waste. Most CoLab cities are to be located in arid areas requiring no winter clothing which is one of the many factors designed to reduce the disposing of used textile. (The warm area location also minimizes the need for heating which to reduce energy consumption)
Costs/Challenges
What are the proposal’s projected costs?
The key to the success of a CoLab is to have a powerful investment from the start of at least one billion dollars mostly provided government organizations and universities.
This creates the foundation that starts a CoLab City by building research and educational centers on a sufficiently large scale to attract corporations needed to provide services and set up shop in CoLab Cities.
However, it is feasible to attract private investment from the very start as land prices are expected to skyrocket in any CoLab City.
Once a city reaches a minimal critical mass it will begin attracting investment and development via growing land prices and demand for goods and services from the populations attracted by low cost of living and higher quality of life.
Governments, organizations and investors would profit from their investment by the sale of land which becomes valuable once the city begins developing in arid areas where land value is otherwise nil.
Timeline
The starting model will come from the The Global Civic Center Initiative (GCC) which will also start the CoLab City Initiative to build large cities around the world on a sustainable model.
In the first few years the GCC will open the trail towards the CoLab City Model.
YR-1-2 - The Global Civic Center Initiative - Consortium of Academic Institutions and corporations together with international organizations raises the first $1 billion and makes final decision on site location, master plan for the city is completed
YR-3 - Construction begins for research centers dedicated to advancements in all areas related to climate change.
YR-4 - Private institutions and corporations begin intense construction - seeking to have a presence in the most environmentally efficient city in the world with the highest standards for meeting human needs
YR - 5 - All global organizations and major corporations have a presence at the GCC.
Year 5 is also the time when CoLab Cities will begin to be built around the world based on the technologies and general experience of the GCC.
YR - 10 - Population in a number of CoLab cities reaches to 1 million - entirely supported by renewable energy and all other criteria for a sustainable & high quality of life.
The newly created eco system in the nature reserve of the CoLab City model inspires restoration of destroyed environments around the globe in a drive for rewilding and restoring the natural balance of the planet as near as possible to the start of the industrial revolution.
- the blueprint for life supported entirely by renewable energy, and sustainable agriculture brings public pressure on policymakers and many cities in the world are converting to the CoLab city model.
medium-term (15-50 years)
YR- 15 - The population of the largest CoLab city surpasses 6 million and the model is replicated aggressively around the globe for all new cities.
YR -20 - Majority of the cities around the world have adopted the Mini Elevated cTrain model - and or other modes of elevated and automated transit - covering all areas of human activity in cities - powered by renewables. The transportation principle - requiring clean and efficient transit for all - is incorporated worldwide as a standard for health as well as a human right to access work places as well as to a healthy environment.
YR-25 - all forms of combustion engines are obsolete and fossil fuels used for cooking and heating are replaced in 90% of the globe with electric power from renewables
long-term (50-100 years)
YR-50 - following aggressive rewilding, elimination of fossil fuels and carbon absorbing technologies the CO2 levels are back to the levels close to the start of the Industrial Revolution
About the author(s)
Emil Jacob, owner and founder of Jacob Innovations LLC, design firm in Cambridge, MA.
He had his undergraduate degree in Economics from the University of Toronto and has worked extensively in IT as a Business Systems Analyst finding innovative ways to streamline and automate operations through software and optimized interfaces.
The GCC was is a comprehensive project and in his Masters program in DESIGN FOR HUMAN HEALTH at the Boston Architectural College, 2016: World Civic Center concept – applying lessons from neuroscience to maximize restorative experiences in landscape and architectural design
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I am a strong believer in simple solutions to overwhelming challenges, most importantly climate change. I am particularly concerned about the cataclysmic scenario of runaway global warming hence I believe that all efforts are vital. Especially concerted efforts by multiple entities and large numbers of contributors - hence my proposal for CoLab City.
Below is a list of my 7 submissions creating synergies that curb climate change.
The CoLab City proposal depends on the success of the Global Civic Center proposal which itself benefits from the MINI Elevated cTrains proposal.
** 2 is based on **1
*4 is based on *3
Shifting Attitudes and Behaviors
**1. Global Civic Center & Capital - the road to a sustainable planet --- CURRENT PROPOSAL
Adaptation
**2. CoLab City - a blueprint for resilient, green cities
Transportation
*3. Mini Elevated GreenTrains - complete transit solution - powered by green energy
Adaptation
*4. Mini Elevated GREEN TRAINS - preparing for flooded subways in coastal cities
Buildings
5. Universal Ceiling Fan- Heating, Cooling, Superior Ambiance Without Fossil Fuels
Energy Supply
6. Vertical Axis Windmill Tower for densely populated areas
Buildings
7. Transforming low income housing areas: SUSTAINABLE, INCLUSIVE, PROFITABLE
A converging summary of the seven submissions
Related Proposals
The most recent and the most advanced is a project that includes some of the goals of the GCC are floating cities by the Seasteading Institute with actual plans for beginning development as early as 2019 - article in The Guardian.
The GCC and the Seasteading Institute can cooperate and complement one another in many ways from the new technologies they intend to develop.
A modest proposal: Establishing a 'future' capital of the world - 1 NOVEMBER 2012 - Aljazeera
There are many organizations that advocate for global standards and conventions as well as global citizenship such as the ones listed below, but few examples of a physical place designated as a Global Civic Center
GLOBALSL, A MULTI-INSTITUTIONAL HUB SUPPORTING ETHICAL GLOBAL LEARNING AND COMMUNITY-CAMPUS PARTNERSHIPS - development of thinking on global citizenship
GLOBE International - Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) - originally founded in 1989 by legislators from the US Congress, European Parliament, Japanese Diet and the Russian State Duma with the mission to respond to urgent environmental challenges through the development and advancement of legislation.
Global Citizenship – What Are We Talking About and Why Does It Matter? March 11, 2012 - Inside HIGHER ED
Innovative Approaches Bringing Urban Farming To Cities Across The Globe Thespoon.tech July 18, 2017
Urban Ecology Reformation is Spreading Across the Globe - June 26, 2016 - The Nature of Cities is an international platform to share diverse, transformative ideas about cities as ecosystems of people, nature, and infrastructure.
References
Zeisel, John. Inquiry by design: Environment/behavior/neuroscience in architecture, interiors, landscape, and planning. WW Norton & Co, 2006.
Grimley, Naomi. (2016, April 28). Identity 2016: Global citizenship' rising, poll suggests. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-36139904
Moughtin, C. (2003). Urban design: street and square. Routledge.
Childs, M. C. (2006). Squares: A public place design guide for urbanists. UNM Press.
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