Monthly Meeting Information

With a changing world and much discussion of energy conservation measures, there is an increased focus on the potential of sustainable technologies and the tracking of carbon output. Masdar City, a new 5-square kilometer sustainable development uses the planning principles of a traditional walled city, together with cutting-edge technologies, to achieve a zero carbon and zero waste community. GIS-based technologies provide the tools needed to support the planning, construction, and ultimately operations and maintenance of the city, helping to make an economic case for the use of alternative energy and the tracking of carbon emissions to encourage responsible development in the years ahead.

Speaker Shannon McElvaney will outline the many emerging technologies that are quickly changing the approach to energy assessment and city planning. Key to the presentation will be an in-depth review of how GIS is being used to support program management through the use of modeling and visualization at Masdar City. McElvaney will detail the work being done in Masdar showcasing modeling techniques to plan the placement of PV, routing of driverless vehicles, modeling of waste, water, and energy usage and production, and construction phasing. The presentation ultimately raises key themes that impact all sustainable development, whether it be a new city, a retrofit of an existing city, or an expansion of several cities into a “megapolitan” space. In all cases, GeoDesign is essential.