Smarter Cities

‘lunar cubit’ is a site specific proposal to be constructed in abu dhabi, outside masdar city, 
and once completed will be the world’s first zero-carbon metropolis. 
winner of the 2010 UAE design competition for energy generating public art of the 
land art generator initiative, the project combines artistic vision with sustainable design and engineering.

overall, lunar cubit consists of nine pyramids that mark the lunar phases. 
it is constructed from solar panels that collect energy during the day and are illuminated at night, 
inversely proportional to the lunar cycle. the structures are made from glass and amorphous silicon, 
giving them the appearance of onyx polished to a mirror finish.

lunar cubit’ provides a personal experience, where one is able to literally reach out and touch a 
1.74 MW utility scale power plant in the form of nine monolithic pyramids. 
visitors are encouraged to walk amongst these beacons. stone paths flow around the structures 
in a repeating pattern mirroring buried electrical cables, conducting electrons from the 
outer pyramids to the central pyramid where inside, they are transformed into AC energy 
and transmitted to the local utility grid. co-locating walking paths and conduits minimize 
the footprint of disturbed land during construction, allowing the maximum amount of 
natural ecosystem to remain relatively untouched.

     The problem with using electricity with cars is mainly (1) time(fuel), and (2) speed. The problem of bicycles is that it is to tiring to go long distances. Thus by adding electricity along with self power we can make the bicycle hybrid. /because bicycles are much lighter and don’t require as much speed as cars we can use electricity as a meens of using the bicycle. Also we can generate the electricity by using the turbins in the bike thus when we use self power we generate the energy to be used in electricity mode. The bicycle hibrid is therefor a object that will allow the problems of the car to be behind us.
     Also car hybrids reduce fossil fuel usage and pollution but it does not solve the problem itself. bicycles use no fossil fuel and does not give of pollution.

     This does not seem to relate to the smarter city but it does. the transportation in the city may become more and more efficient(smarter) but it cannot eliminate the problems of transportation. Thus with usage of the bicycle hybrid I hope we can make a greener and smarter city.

     Incheon, South Korea, 13years of age

City Forward

Explorations are the foundation of City Forward. They are made up of visualizations and text blocks that let you explore and identify interesting patterns, trends, and correlations about the cities and subjects that may reveal new insights and point to new areas of interest for further investigation.