Encouraging collaboration: Applied research in the context of Dongtan eco-city in China Anne-Marie Gribnau, Arup Amsterdam European Construction Technological Platform, 20 November 2007
Contents Introduction Background: Arup and Funding Research Council A snapshot of Dongtan Key elements of Dongtan Networks Dongtan Networks Timeline Dongtan Networks: Objective, Issues and Activities Way forward
Dongtan Research Network Dongtan Eco-City in China provides a context for: practical research, the stimulation of innovation and interaction with industry globally Dongtan Research Networks enable the outcomes
Dongtan Research Network constitution EPSRC Funding Coordination ARUP Project information Technical expertise University College London Imperial College London University of Southampton Tongji University Peking University Tsinghua University Southeast University
Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC) Main UK government agency for funding research and training in engineering and the physical sciences Investing around 1000+ million a year through research grants, training awards or access to research facilities Work in partnership with universities to invest in people and scientific discovery and innovation Engage in and encourage partnerships & collaborations across disciplines, boundaries and the world
ARUP: A global office 9000 employees working in 86 offices word wide in 37 countries
ARUP: A global office Gherkin, London Sydney Opera House Projects around the world
ARUP: A global office Watercube and National stadium, Beijing Dongtan, Shanghai Projects around the world
A snapshot of Dongtan Arup is partnering with Shanghai Industrial Investment Corporation on integrated masterplanning for the world s first sustainable city Dongtan is situated on Chongming Island, the third largest island in China, near Shanghai at the mouth of the Yangtze river and currently a large area of mostly agricultural land Shanghai Municipal Government is planning to turn Chongming Island into an eco-island, and Dongtan as a model eco-friendly area Dongtan area is three quarters the length of Manhattan, covering an area of 84km2; Dongtan eco-city will be developed on 630 hectares of land as a sustainable city to attract a range of commercial and leisure investments
Dongtan Location
8,400 hectares
Dongtan City Networks key elements Research Council Funding 3 research networks Coordinating activities for UK and Chinese researchers to generate research proposals Partners Generate project information Share technical expertise Provide administrative support Deliverables Engagement of academic, industrial and government collaborators Conferences Public participation Virtual networking and other dissemination activities
Dongtan Networks Timeline Chinese Research Platform around Dongtan Official start of UK-China networks First deliverable Oct 06 April 07 Oct 07 Nov 07 Dec 07 Hong-Kong workshop: Challenges Priorities EPSRC funding UCL workshops ICL workshop
RESEARCH NETWORK City History and Multi-scale Spatial Master-planning Urban infrastructure planning and successful service delivery & Prosperous, contemporary and culturally fulfilling life How to achieve this in a resource efficient way? Objectives: Maximising of opportunities whilst minimising risk associated with large scale urbanisation Build international research community around spatial master planning, explore planning technologies, model Dongtan context Issues: Environmentally sustainable solutions must be socially and economically acceptable Rapid transit systems effectively shrink spatial scale Spatial design of the Chinese city and Chinese culture needs to be respected Governance, culture & risk Activities: Network construction, workshops, research programme development, dissemination Primary outcome: 4 joint workshops producing targeted research proposals
RESEARCH NETWORK Sustainable Economic and Ecological Models for Peripheral Urban Functional Units Sustainable economic development & Sustainable ecological objectives Objectives: Network will address planning and policy actions to Drive inward investment in Dongtan Attract and retain firms Harmonise employment opportunities and human capital Activities: NETWORK: Academic, industry & government network, virtual hub focussing on business via environmental technology & engineering WORKSHOPS: public forums, lecture & seminar series DOCUMENTATION: strategies for mega-cities, economic & ecological balance models PORTAL: decision tools and process aids What are the requirements for such urban units on of periphery mega cities? Issues: Business competitiveness? Eco-city has tighter requirements than the surrounding How to attract and retain skills base? Small city in shadow of much larger cities Sustainability practice in Dongtan city s operational governance model critical Economics, environment and regional context
RESEARCH NETWORK Sustainable Urban Systems to Transfer Achievable Implementation Implementation of infrastructure & services in a sustainable city & Population behaviour patterns in a sustainable city Transferability of the city to other places (local and international)? Network will address: Technology & behaviour change to achieve transferable sustainable systems Issues: Behaviour change & systems thinking: Themes Water, Energy, Synergies & Transport Technologies and interdependency in a city environment Sustainability demands behaviour change from people. What are the required changes in a city s infrastructure design? How to prioritise eco-city sustainability at a systems level? Activities: WORKSHOP SERIES: Shanghai, Hong Kong, UK and Australia 2 per theme develop specific, coherent research proposals for funding, Chinese UK research team interaction DISSEMINATION: UK & Chinese development agencies, Shanghai 2010 Expo Sustainable infrastructure and behaviour adaptation
CO-ORDINATION FRAMEWORK Pan network activities: link - integrate - promote City history & multi-scale master planning Peripheral urban units, economic & ecological models Achievable implementation of sustainable urban systems Activities: Link & integrate networks management group & steering committee Private and public electronic portal Pan network conference key players from networks & beyond Deliver funding streams for networks FP7, Research Councils, Government www.dongtanepsrc.org Satellite Events: World Renewable Energy Congress, Glasgow 08 IB W111 Usability of Workspaces, Manchester 08 British Council, Embassies & DTI trade missions World Expo 2010, Shanghai
Way forward Seminars and lectures Targeted research Research proposals for funding Build external relations Link back to Dongtan and implementation of research results Lessons for other Eco-cities and Institutes for Sustainability world-wide
Thank you www.dongtanepsrc.org www.arup.com