This document discusses a perspective for human and ecological development in the 21st century through floating cities and urban water-based development. It summarizes research on using floating structures for food production, housing, infrastructure, and other urban functions to accommodate future population growth without using additional land area. Floating cities could be a climate change adaptation and mitigation strategy. Several pilot projects in the Netherlands demonstrate the building blocks and implementation process for floating urban development. Further research is still needed but the technology exists to pursue faster implementation. Governance will be crucial for transitioning to floating cities as part of a wider societal change.

1. a perspective for human and ecological development in the 21st century
Dr. ir. Rutger de Graaf-van Dinther

3. Population density

4. Natural weather catastrophes
Munich Re

5. 5

6. Nederland

7. Geïnvesteerd vermogen binnen
overstroombaar gebied?
Nederland, zonder pompen en dijken

10. Source: DeltaSync, 2013

11. Concept | Closing the cycle

12. Conventional city Conventional + Floating city
‘Linear metabolism’ ‘Cyclical metabolism’

13. BlueRevolution
Methodology
(Rotterdam)

14. • Tidwell (2012), Aquaculture Production
Systems. Wiley Blackwell
• FAO reports on aquaponics
14/18 |
METHOD
International Water Week 2015 | Amsterdam
Source: DeltaSync 2015
• FAOSTAT data on food supply
• Jönsson et al. (2004). Guidelines on the
Use of Urine and Faeces in Crop
Production. EcoSanRes
• Data on CO₂ emissions
• Borowitzka et al. (2013). Algae for Biofuels
and Energy. Springer.
• Sudhakar et al. (2012). Theoretical
Assessment of Algal Biomass Potential for
Carbon Mitigation and Biofuel Production.
Iranica Journal of Energy & Environment
• Gerber et al. (2013). Tackling climate
change through livestock – A global
assessment of emissions and mitigation
opportunities.
• FAOSTAT data on land use
MAIN SOURCES:

15. 15/18 |
CASE STUDIES
International Water Week 2015 | Amsterdam
Sources: rezon.org, dutchwatersector.com, hdtravelpics.com,
affordablehousinginstitute.org, indosurflife.com, qz.com
Rotterdam Manila Jakarta
• pollution issues
• high CO₂ emissions
• high population density and growth rate

16. 16/18 |
NITROGEN (N) AND PHOSPOROUS (P) FLOWS
*Values expressed in percentage. Source: DeltaSync, 2015
International Water Week 2015 | Amsterdam

17. 17/18 |
POTENTIAL - FOOD AND BIOFUEL PRODUCTION
Source: DeltaSync 2015
International Water Week 2015 | Amsterdam

18. 18/18 |
CONTRIBUTION TO RESILIENCE
Source: DeltaSync 2015
International Water Week 2015 | Amsterdam

19. 19/18 |
IMPACT – LOCAL AND GLOBAL SCALE
Source: DeltaSync 2015
International Water Week 2015 | Amsterdam
3,800 km² 46,900 km² 42,200 km² Total agricultural land saved
globally
1,500 km² 15,000 km² 14,800 km² CO₂ sequestration space saved
220 x 210 x 220 x Total efficiency of FPDs
2,300 km² 31,900 km² 27,400 km² Agricultural land saved
139 x 146 x 146 x Efficiency compared to global
agriculture on land

20. Building blocks| Floating buildings

21. Building blocks| Floating biofuel production
Source: NASA

22. WATERBASED URBAN DEVELOPMENT

23. Source: Aquaponics.blog
Building blocks| Floating food production and aquaculture

24. Source: FDN Engineering
Building blocks| Wave protection

25. WATERBASED URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Implementation | FLOATING BREAKWATER (Marinetek)

26. Building blocks| Artificial reefs
Source: Reefballs.org

27. Source: DeltaSync, 2008
Building blocks| Utility units and infrastructure

28. Implementation| From vision to mission

29. DeltaSync and Public Domain Architecten, 2009
Implementation| Defining a short term step

30. Implementation| Building Process
Source: DeltaSync, 2010

31. Implementation| The Result
Source: DeltaSync, 2010

32. Esther Seijmonsberg
Implementation| The Result

33. Implementation| Developing the building blocks
Stichting Rijnhavenpark, Stad op het Water & DeltaSync,
2011/2012

34. Stichting Rijnhavenpark, Stad op het Water & DeltaSync

35. Implementation| Policy City of Rotterdam

36. Research| Testing and demonstration at RDM AquaDock
Stadshavens Rotterdam, 2015
Stadshavens Rotterdam, 2015

37. Implementation| Harnaschpolder Delft
Source: DeltaSync, 2008

38. Implementation| Building process
Source: DeltaSync, 2013

39. Foto Olaf Janssen
Implementation| Result

40. Dordtse kampeerders bemachtigen waterkavel
25-10-2014
http://www.rijnmond.nl/nieuws/25-10-2014/dordtse-kampeerders-bemachtigen-waterkavel
Market demand| Water plots

41. Wetlands and recreation| ecological development

42. Wetlands and recreation| ecological development
Design wooden structure: Gridshell.it

43. 43
Projects| Affordable floating housing

44. 44
Research| Water quality/ecological impact floating structures

45. 45
Research| Water quality/ecological impact floating structures

46. INDYMO – Monitoring water quality
Visuals – Life under floating platforms
Insight into the aquatic environment.
The type of fish and aquatic organisms present and
bio-diversity, are indicators of the ecological state of
water bodies.

47. Source:www.Seasteading.org
Projects| Seasteading Floating City Project

48. Source:DeltaSync/ Seasteading Institute 2013)
Projects| Seasteading Floating City Project

49.  A fundamental new approach to urban development
is needed for the challenges of the 21st century
 Floating city expansions combined with food
production can accommodate future urbanization
without sacrificing land.
 At the same time this strategy is both climate
adaptation and mitigation.
 Technology is there. Research needs to be done
parallel to fast implementation.
 Floating cities construction is part of a wider societal
transition in which governance is crucial
Conclusions

50. For more information:
Dr. ir. Rutger de Graaf-van Dinther
T: +31 152561872
C: +31 616308790
E: rutger@blue21.nl
www.blue21.nl
www.indymo.nl
www.hogeschoolrotterdam.nl