The beauty and tranquility of living along water is something that appeals since beginning of time. It is an indicator of the social stature and needs to be done in a multi disciplinary approach termed in the presentation as “Integrated Urbanism”. Issues of sustainability, coastal planning best practices & pitfalls in addition to reclamation levels and dredging / marine constructions are discussed in good depth.

1. Infrastructure & Property
Development MEA Summit
May 2010 , Dubai
Integrated Urbanism–
Mega Coastal Developments
Loay Ghazaleh – B. Sc. Civil Eng. , MBA
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2. At the Onset, Some General Concepts
Interacting disciplines to integrate multiple uses such as:
Sea ports, Marinas and Fishing Harbours
Piers and Docks
Beaches & Groynes
Shoreline Protection
Coastal Navigation , Waterways
Roads (Corniche Roads) and Railways
Utilities
Recreational Facilities
Residential Development
Commercial , Light Industrial Development
Sand Mining, Borrow Areas
Storm Water & Effluent Disposal
Archaeological & Historic Sites
Natural Environment
The beauty and tranquility of living along water is something that appeals to
many since beginning of time. It is an indicator of the social stature.
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3. Interacting Themes In Coastal Developments
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4. Environment Structural Plans /
Protection Regulations
Zoning / Mix Use
Facility Management
Options
Sustainable Public
Traffic / Internal
Circulation Water Front Transportation /
Connectivity
Development
Design / Value Coastal Planning /
Engineering Architecture
Green Concepts
Infrastructure
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5. Sustainability Principles
The objective is to utilize resource patterns that
meet short and long terms needs leading to:
Sustainability is a
Economic prosperity progressive process and a
Social development more holistic approach to
Environmental protection ensure conservation and
protection by seeking
solutions thru seamless
integration of activities
that minimizes material &
energy resource use and
consumption, whilst
maximizing the well-being
of occupants, contributing
positively to society and
recognizes, protects and
enhances the
ecology, through re-
thinking standards and
effective management.
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6. Coastal Development In GCC In Bahrain reclamation level
database was created in
conjunction with Dredging
Dubai Municipality has and Marine Construction
set up a website Manual
“Dubai Coastal Zone
Monitoring” for online
information including
real-time hydrographic
data.
Astronomical
Storm Events
Tide events
Surge events
Reclamation =
Tidal High Water
+ Extreme storm surge
+ Wave setup
+ Clearance for global SLR
+ Safety clearance
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7. Revetments , Quay Walls & Structures In Use
ACCROPODES
Artificial Reefs 7

8. Before We Discuss Coastal Development Integration, Always Consider;
The Functional Guidelines
• Start right, engage all principle disciplines
• Grouping of structures: Towards Sea
• Improve accessibility/safety by proper junction spacing
• Create both -Public & Private Beaches
• Create Buffer Zone Promenade/ Cornish Pedestrian Walkway
• Achieve a Win-Win situation between Public and Private Demands
• Avoid intensive high development on waterfront (massive)
• Avoid blocked Views, locate low rise development on water front
• Allow for road reserve & parking
• Allow for recreational activity for public
• Landscape green buffer, large taller trees to frame up the view
• Provide shaded walkways , colonnades utilizing breezes and hear protection.
Also Consider What You Control
• Project Development Code Regulations –Zoning Authorities.
• Project Infrastructure
• Project wise population and traffic
• Building Regulations
• Renewable / Alternative Energy sources , Controlling Potable Water Use
• Recycling resources particularly sewage and solid waste
• Energy Monitoring & Control
• Construction Materials & Waste
• The Built Environment, the Marine Environment
• Building Management Systems
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• Locations of heat rejection sources

9. Major Coastal Development Projects in Bahrain
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10. Major Coastal Development Projects in Bahrain
Value Engineering - reflected in the economic use of rock resulting in the use of 15
Different grades of armor and under layer rock; reclamation level reduction by half
Master Planning - Too many Islands & Large number of bridges lead to reduced
functionality and high maintenance costs.
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11. Major Coastal Development Projects in Bahrain
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12. Major Coastal Development Projects in Bahrain
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13. Major Coastal Development Projects in Bahrain
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14. Coastal Planning Best Practices
• Planning for accessibility. Avoid - Single Access to Development for: Day to day transport demand & evacuation.
Comprehensive hydrodynamic model for whole marine region
• Transport planning for fully-developed future scenario
• Follow phenomena that are proven to function by nature
• Preventing erosion and alongshore drift
• Utilities – water, electrical and sewerage handling and disposal
• Marina/dock operations , Fuel/chemical storage and handling
• Dredging Turbidity Controls
• Avoid release of fine sediments during construction.
• Artificial Beaches are feasible where near shore slopes are gentle and depths relatively shallow.
• The beach shall be stable, provide wave exposure where possible
bounded by headland structures, outfall jetties or breakwaters to minimize sand losses.
• Protective / Stabilizing structures , Breakwaters must not generate dangerous rip currents
• Good quality sand fills for construction of the artificial beach
• Good bathing water quality (clear and clean water) and aesthetically pleasing
• They have one or more connections to the sea, tidal inlets.
• The inlets shall be stable and open at all times of the year
• Optimize interior waterway design Adoption of a river-like canal structure for adequate flushing by tide
The Canals increase in size downstream mimicking a natural river configuration.
• Good flushing conditions which contribute to maintaining a good water quality
• controlled discharge/seepage of pollutants (storm water, brine, cooling water, pesticides and nutrients)
• Environmental impacts are cumulative
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15. Urban Planning Best Practices
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16. Urban Planning Best Practices
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17. Coastal Planning Best Practices - Marine / Coastal Reclamation
Marine Issues - Use Modeling To Maintain Water Quality Beaches stabilization thru
• Hydrodynamic & Water Quality Modeling
• Simulate Circulation ,Natural Tides ,water currents and Flushing
• Simulate Response to Pollutant Loads & Identify extent of Human impacts, irrigation and discharge management
EBS (Environmental Baseline Study) and EIA are needed to identify preserve and integrate marine life and habitat
Reclamation Improvements
• Re-distribute land masses (Reclamation Ratio Indicator = number of cubic meters of sand for each square meter
of surface area)
• Shaping of the land masses
• Water circulation
• Edge structures
• Function and operation of the development elements
• Development opportunities
Environmental Benefits to Investigations;
• Identification of suitable borrows areas from recent seismic survey data.
• Identification of least-environmentally sensitive areas for reclamation projects
• Conduct Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to enable the formulation of
• remediation measures; i.e. artificial coral reefs,
• Strike a balance between benefits of reclamation and impact on environment.
• A Monitoring Unit will oversee construction to ensure that the conditions stipulated in the EIA are implemented.
• Address the problem of silt formation employing water boxes, silt screens, etc.
• Adopt best methods of dredging & reclamation to prevent damage to marine life.
• Preserve fishing grounds to promote marine life growth.
• Provide land for development and housing without compromising the ecology. 17

18. Coastal Planning Best Practices - Habitat & Environmental Issues
An important component of the natural vegetation resources of coastal zones.
• Protect existing sea grass beds.
• Planting new mangroves:
• Protect and regenerate eco-systems
• Mitigate or even surpass the adverse effects of reclamation
Environmental Impacts - long-term / permanent and irreversible
• Direct habitat loss (dredging / reclamation), followed by changes in substrate and bathymetry
possibly preventing re-colonization
• Indirect impacts from water quality deterioration
• Indirect impacts from changes in hydrodynamic regime
• Indirect impacts from noise / general disturbance
• Dredging / reclamation remove benthic habitats through excavation and burial
• Dredged areas, due to the changed bathymetry and substrate, are not always conducive to re-
colonization by the same marine organisms
• Steep sides to dredged channels and fixed structures relatively quickly attract a diverse fouling
community that will include a variety of sponges, ascidians, bivalves, and fish
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19. Finally, Pitfall Areas
Poor Project Strategy Iconic / Political Sustainability Not
- Planning & Driven Urban Fully Embraced /
Development Planning Practices Valued
Key Check Items!
•Maintain project link to the corporate policy at all times. Sustainability is
•Base Project Planning on sound financial / engineering principles! most cost-effective
•Build best value /balanced project team and allow ideas at every level when integrated at
•Plan the use / function and quality at the lowest life-cycle Cost the planning stage.
•In depth examination of the local context & value / market drivers.
Sustainability at
•Involve the Architect / PM with the business plan, services cost sharing infrastructure level
•Adopt best practices in mix use Urban Planning , avoid GFA maximization gives maximum
•Early stakeholders engagement, especially the Government / Regulators impact
•Early intervention and assessment of sustainability & efficiencies
•Keep the Project interesting, financially feasible, build-able, phase-able! Dense, mixed-use
•Consider LEED, STAR, ESTIDAMA! & Watch for the Environment Developments can
be a green
•Apply Value Engineering throughout the project various stages machines
•Plan for just in time infrastructure , facility management, utility connections 19

20. loayg@works.gov.bh; loay.ghz@gmail.com