This is my Inaugural Lecture about the Blue Revolution. It shows that we need to ralize urban expansions on the water and combine this with floating food production and floating algae biofuel production to deal with the challenges of the 21st century. Much of the work was developed with my colleagues at DeltaSync. We want to collaborate with people all over the world to develop pilot projects and expand on the water in a sustainable way. it goes much further than being self-sufficient. The purpose is to create a symbiosis between cities on land and water. Floating cities could use the waste CO2 and nutrients of land based cities in a productive way, providing at the same time affordable flood proof housing for the people. Most of the building blocks are there. We need to bring it together to make the next step. Because only a small part of the ocean is needed, the rest can become a nature reserve giving marine ecosystems a long term perspective on survival. A perspective that is currently lacking. We look forward to receive comments and ideas. Best regards,
Rutger de Graaf
1. a perspective for human development in the 21st century
Inaugural lecture, Rutger de Graaf, Tuesday 6th November 2012
2. Contents| Lecture outline
– Introduction
• Before we start
• A family moment
• Thinking about the future
– Problem overview
– Adaptive urban development on water
• Key characteristics
• Research agenda
– Implementation
– Conclusion
15. Land shortage | Best case scenario
Land shortage:
≈ 12 mn km²
Source: DeltaSync, 2012
16. Where to go?
Desert? : water resources are lacking
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Barnard's_Ga
laxy.jpg
Space?? : still too expensive
http://www.mega-tapety.info/krajobrazy-
polaipustynie-1414.html
17. The Ocean !
http://www.philipp-
winterberg.com/galerie/mexico_wallpaper.php
18. ADAPTIVE
URBAN
DEVELOPMENT
ON WATER
“We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it
is to sail or to watch - we are going back from whence we came.”
- John F. Kennedy
23. Enough space
On water 50 times more efficient
Less than 0,2 % of the oceans
needed
One third of the current
agricultural area
will become available
Source: DeltaSync, 2012
29. Global potential
44% of the world food demand can be met by using the
available (waste) nutrients and CO2 from current cities
A total floating area of the size of Madagascar (585.000
km2) would be enough .
In the optimal ratio, 13% of the population would live in
the floating cities.
Source: DeltaSync, 2012
40. RESEARCH AGENDA
Project Knowledge Gaps
Integrating technologies and up scaling from
Floating structures and utilities house to neighbourhood and city level.
Integrating floating aquaculture innovations in
floating structures.
Urban design instruments specifically
Urban design of floating cities accustomed to floating cities, including public
space, separation, identities, mobility and
possible ways of living in floating cities
Development of new economic models, new
Realizing floating urbanization methods of collaboration between research,
government, companies and SME’s, starting
pilot projects
Data and understanding about water quality
Impacts on water quality and and ecological impacts, establishing design
ecology guidelines based on this understanding.
Role of showcases in the development and
Rotterdam as entrepreneurial transition process of water cities
water en adaptation showcase
46. Implementation| Succes factors
1. Political importance
2. Collaboration
3. Window of opportunity: WE Shanghai 2010
4. Time pressure
5. Process approach vs blue print
6. Network of change agents
7. Ambition
8. Temporary functions
55. Conclusions
A fundamental new approach to urban development is
needed for the challenges of the 21st century
Cities on land should be transformed into flood proof
ecocities
Floating city expansions combined with food production can
accommodate future urbanization without sacrificing land
At the same time this strategy provides global food security
and reuses waste of conventional cities
Much research is still needed but, at the same time, also
fast implementation
56.
57. “Because the people who are crazy enough to think they
can change the world, are the ones who do.”
- Steve Jobs