Building Eco-Cities of the Future: The Example of Masdar City

Global warming and increased population growth are putting more pressure on policy decision makers to adapt more sustainable approach to planning and designing future cities. This has led to the rise of Eco-Cities that have smart and sustainable infrastructures such as green buildings; intelligent transportation systems; and efficient electricity, water, wastewater, and solid waste networks. In addition these cities should be less dependent on fossil fuels and ensure healthier life and comfort. This paper gives a brief overview on the sustainable design concept of six Eco-cities from around the world such as Vauban in Germany, BedZed in the UK, Sonoma Mountain in California, Dongtan and Tianjin in China, and Sondgo in Korea. Masdar City is discussed in more details including the green buildings, intelligent transportation systems, and other important infrastructure systems. This endeavor requires the managing of complex systems which necessitates the coordination and collaboration of all the stakeholders that are involved designing, constructing, and operating the city. The paper concludes with lessons learned so far from Masdar City.