Cities on the Line

INVESTIGATING TECHNOCENTRIC AND TRANSFORMATIVE APPROACHES TO PLANNING OUR FUTURE CITIES.

LENKA RAJMONT

Lenka Rajmont Ba (Hons) Landscape Architecture University of Greenwich

ENVT-1097-M01-2021-22 Landscape Dissertation

lenka.rajmontova@gmail.com January 2022

ABSTRACT

In this dissertation, I explore the two approaches to futureproofing urban environments. As a result of the climate change crisis, securing the urban areas for the future is crucial. I am using two examples, both situated in Saudi Arabia’s Tabuk province. This means the two examples have the same planning, ecological and social context. The two examples – Tabuk City and The Line, NEOM are using different approaches to crating sustainable cities. The Line is aiming for an automated, AioT operated Smart City and Tabuk City under the leadership of UN-Habitat is aiming for a comprehensive social change. They are both aiming to fulfil the Sustainable Development Goal 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities. Both approaches have their role, and their combination would bring the best of both worlds.

Keywords: Sustainable Development Goal 11; Tabuk; NEOM; The Line; Smart Cities; Trnasformative Change

Figure 1 A new neighborhood under construction in Wadi Laban (Bogaczewicz, 2019)

CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 9 1.1 Working towards the future

14

1.1.1 Sustainable Development Goals 1.2 The Line, NEOM

15

1.3 Tabuk City

19

CONTEXT 2.1

Sustainable Cities

24

2.2

Sustainable Development Goals

26

2.2.1 2.3 2.4

Sustainable Development Goal 11

Saudi Arabia’s Urban Future 2.3.1

3.1

3.2

Context of the Tabuk Province 2.4.1

Vision for The Line, NEOM

2.4.2

Vision for Tabuk City

Technocentric Approach – Smart Cities 3.1.1

The Line

3.1.2

City Planning Models in the Line

3.1.3

Addressing of the SDGs

Transformative Change 3.2.1

26

Saudi Vision 2030

COMPARISON

28

33 33

42

Tabuk City

CONCLUSIONS

47

4.1

Overview

47

4.2

Lessons learned

48

LIST OF FIGURES REFERENCES

Word Count: 6496

23

INTRODUCTION Since the 1950s, there has been a steep rise in

68% of the world population will live in urban

urbanization (UN Department of Economic

areas by 2050. (UN Department of Economic

and Social Affairs, 2019). Populations in cities

and Social Affairs (UN DESA), 2018; UN-Habitat,

have been steadily rising, and evidence

n.d.; UN Statistics Division (UNSD), 2021)

suggests this trend is unlikely to change in

Figure 2 Motorway under construction near Ar Ruwaidhah. An illustration of Saudi Arabia’s infrastructure growth.

the following millennia let alone decades.

Climate change already largely impacts

As illustrated in Figure 3, for the first time,

our urban life. Problems such as air pollution,

in 2009, populations living in urban areas

water

surpassed those living in rural. Along with

extreme weather conditions such as drought

populations, cities and metropolitan areas

and

have been growing in area, height, and

resulting in coastal flooding and erosion are a

demand for energy, materials, and food.

few examples. Also, the urban climate often

Estimates suggest that cities are currently

drastically differs from one of the surrounding

responsible for up to 75 % of global CO2

countryside. This indicates that the effect of

emissions.(UN

climate change, along with the predicted

Environment

Programme

scarcity, flooding,

rising

sea

illness,

temperatures

increase

main contributors to this figure. The growth is

extremes, will be experienced more grandly

unlikely to change as the UN predicts up to

in cities than rural areas(Kabisch et al., 2017).

(Bogaczewicz, 2019) 9

temperature

heat

(UNEP), n.d.) Transport and buildings are the

FIGURE 3 A graph showing the growth of urban population compared to rural population from 1950 to 2019 with predictions until 2050 (image by author based on UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 2019).

in

sanitation,

and

weather

The climate crisis has highlighted how some cities became less liveable and drew attention to deeply running inequalities, discrimination, and

poverty.

Additionally,

climate

conflict

with climate refugees puts further strain on already weakened infrastructures and creates a higher concentration of impoverished areas.

The dangers connected to climate change disproportionately affect those in poor urban areas, further deepening inequalities between city dwellers (Sustainable Development in Times of Climate Change, 2016; UN Environment Programme (UNEP), n.d.).

With the trend of cities expanding unlikeliness to change, it is now as crucial as ever how we approach the future of our urban environments.

There is an urgent need for more sustainable urbanization. Sustainable urbanization can be the core element of solving the climate crisis or, at least, mitigating its effects for as many people as possible.

The United Nations (UN) recognizes the urgency with which we need to act on the climate crisis.

The UN has developed a “blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all”.

This blueprint lists 17 interlinked goals, known as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or Global Goals. (UN Environment Management Group, n.d.)

The United Nations recognize urgency to act in Sustainable Development Goal 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities.

FIGURE 4 People trapped on a van in a flooded street after torrential rains in April 2021 in the City of Mecca in Saudi Arabia (Wild WeatherUS Youtube, 2021).

10

In this dissertation, I am analysing two

sustainable

communities,

a

sustainable

approaches to a sustainable urban future

environment, and a sustainable economic

using two case studies. The technocentric

sphere (People, Planet, Profit). This is generally

approach uses The Line, NEOM as an

known as the triple bottom line. (Slaper, 2011)

example and a transformative approach

These three goals align and intersect with the

using Tabuk City.

UN Sustainable Development Goal 11, which both cities plan to achieve. Given this context,

The technocentric approach focuses on

these two cities are ideal for dissecting and

new

comparing the two approaches to urban

technology,

big-data

collection,

futures.

and Artificial intelligence of Things (AIoT) as the keys to solving the climate change crisis and mitigating its effects. Unlike the transformative approach, the technocentric doesn’t build on existing infrastructure. The transformative approach harnesses sociocultural,

socio-economic,

and

political

revolution to approach the future. It builds on existing elements and infrastructures.

Both approaches are explained in further detail in Chapter 3.

Both case studies are in Saudi Arabia – a country famous for its rapid urban growth in extreme climate conditions. Both case studies are also located in the northwest of Saudi Arabia in the Tabuk Province.

This means they both have the same climate conditions, planning authorities, and implementation processes. Climate conditions and Saudi Arabia’s planning FIGURE 5 Excavation work in Riyadh as a part of urban expansion (Bogaczewicz, P., 2019).

process is introduced in Chapter 2 – Context.

Furthermore, both projects, the Tabuk City and The Line, NEOM, have the same goals for sustainability. They both want to foster

13

1.1 Working towards the Future

1.2 The Line, NEOM The Line, NEOM is a linear, fully sustainable, walkable city project. It is a part of a larger project – NEOM.

1.1.1 Sustainable

NEOM is a proposed city-state located in the

Development Goals

Tabuk Province in Saudi Arabia (Illustrated in Figure 7), North of the Red Sea. NEOM is supposed to cover total area of 26,500 km2

Sustainable

we need to take to achieve a specific end?

(10,200 square miles) and extend 460 km

Development Goals (SDGs) are a collection

This is illustrated in Figure 6. Unlike forecasting,

along the coast of the Red Sea. This project

of interlinked global goals which provide a

which predicts the future using data analysis

and its smaller parts (including the case

shared blueprint for peace and prosperity

and trends, backcasting challenges the

study The Line) will be powered entirely by

for people and the planet, now and into

discussion about futures by presenting known

renewable energy sources. The project will

the future. (United Nations, n.d.-a)

values outside of the current trends.

incorporate smart city technologies (John

The

United

Nations’

Hill, 2021; NEOM, 2021).

The UN uses a backcasting approach to

Like the UN, the Saudi Vision 2030 (Introduced

transform the UN Goals outline for the future

in chapter 2.3.1 Saudi Vision 2030) also uses a

NEOM was first announced by Crown Prince

into action. The backcasting approach

backcasting approach.

of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman

FIGURE 7 Map of the Arab peninsula, Saudi Arabia and it’s provinces and location of the NEOM project. (Image by author based on: NEOM, 2017, google.com/maps)

works backward to identify policies and

Al Saud on 24 October 2017 at the Future

programs that will connect a specified future

Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh,

to the present. In other words, what steps do

Saudi Arabia. The Crown Prince announced

environment and communities. As a project

that NEOM would operate independently

built entirely on greenfield sited (sites which

from the “existing governmental framework”

have not been built on before), it has no

with its own tax and labour laws and an

pre-existing infrastructure which would limit

“autonomous judicial system” (CNBC.com,

or otherwise shape the vision of NEOM and

2017). The proposal is a part of the future

all its parts. The freedom of the greenfield site

vision for Saudi Arabia’s sustainability and

allows the designers of NEOM to hide digita,

economic diversification – Saudi Vision 2030,

physical infrastructure and transport links

announced by the prince a year earlier.

underground, leaving the ground level for

FIGURE 6 A graphical representation of the backcasting approach (image by author based on Bibri & Krogstie, 2019).

ultimate walkability. As a part of this, NEOM NEOM says sustainability is the main driver

uses the 5/15/20 Neighbourhood/City model,

behind this project. As well as sustainability,

further explored in chapter 3.1.2.2.

NEOM

14

prioritizes

liveability

of

the

15

The estimated costs of the project are $500 billion. The company behind NEOM, named Neom, is owned by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia. Other funds are from private international investors. First parts of NEOM are planned to be completed by 2025.

The Line also promises to preserve 95% of nature within NEOM (NEOM Fact Sheet, 2017).

FIGURE 8 Sign with the NEOM logo welcoming visitors into the region.

(Construction Week, 2020)

FIGURE 9 A visualisation of The Line across the NEOM region showing extents of greenery, built environment and its relationship to the topography of the region. (NEOM, 2017)

16

1.3 Tabuk City The City of Tabuk (Arabic: ‫كْوُبَت‬‎ Tabūk) also spelled Tabouk, is the capital city of the Tabuk Province. As of 2021, it has a population of 667 000 people. Its population makes it the largest city in northwest Saudi Arabia. The city is located along the ancient pilgrim and trade route from Jordan and Syria (Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs Saudi Arabia et al., 2019).

Tabuk’s layout is cantered around the FIGURE 11 Interior of the Al Tawba Mosque in Tabuk. (Almosafer, 2022)

Al Tawba Mosque (prophet Muhammad’s Mosque) (Figure 12). The Mosque is a focal point and near it is the oldest market in Tabuk the Al-Jadda Market. This historic

The city grows outwards from this historic

centre is important to Tabuk residents as

centre. The radius of growth around the

well as visitors, for it’s clsoeness to Prophet

Mosque is roughly 3.5 km. Most of the city as of

Mohammad (Nadeen Al-Wazani & Wafy,

2017 is contained within the King Faisal, King

2020).

Fahad and Al Iman Turki Abdullah Ring Road.

Unplanned urban sprawl has occurred northeast east of the ring road in recent years.

FIGURE 10 A satellite image of Tabuk City showing its agricultural areas (crop circles) and extents of the built environment (googleearth.com)

FIGURE 12 Two men walking from the Al Tawba Mosque.

(TabukMedia, 2013)

FIGURE 13 Tabuk castle, part of the historic centre of the city.

(Flickr @hanming_huang, 2020)

19

FIGURE 16 Main street in Tabuk City with pedestrians utilizing road space.

(TabukMedia, 2013)

FIGURE 14 Tabuk city street infrastructure, Location of the Tabwa Mosque and largest important areas of the city. (image by author based on googleearth.com, 2022.)

FIGURE 15 Tabuk Gate welcoming people into the city. Behind it, a large plaza often used as a carpark.

(Flickr @hanming_huang, 2020)

The city is on the intersection of the Hejaz Mountain range and plains of the Northern FIGURE 17 Tabuk Railway Park Residents bring their own furniture and entertainment to utilize the space. Provided benches are not in use despite a large number of people in the area. (Flickr @hanming_huang, 2020)

region. This puts the city in an ideal climate to make it the agricultural centre of the area. It is famous for its flower production.

The city is often cleverly nicknamed Tabuk Al-ward, meaning, the Tabuk of Blossoms.

FIGURE 18 Shopping street in the historic centre of Tabuk, near the Tabuk castle. This shows the disproportionate infrastructure and poor state of built environment. (Flickr @hanming_huang, 2020)

20

CONTEXT Sustainable

cities

or

eco-cities

are

an improved water conservation, and water

designed, as previously introduced, around

waste

management.

This

would

mean

the principles of social, economic, and

less water shortages, reduced waste and

environmental sustainability (Bibri & Krogstie,

water pollution, and potentially increased

2019). The cities provide a resilient habitat for

availability of water for recreational purposes.

existing populations without compromising

Last benefits of sustainable cities is increased

the ability of future generations to do the

environmental stewardship. This, of course,

same (Slaper, 2011). The UN Sustainable

goes hand in hand with wellness and better

Development Goal 11 was created to

access to green spaces.

promote cities and human settlements to

This implies a heavy infrastructure basis

be inclusive, resilient, and sustainable. (UN

that is needed to support the rest of urban

Environment Management Group, n.d.; UN

sustainability.

Habitat, n.d.; United Nations, n.d.-a). The details and specific targets of the SDG 11

Sustainability is a complex and interconnected

are introduced in the next chapter.

issue. It relies on all systems from food production to transport to seamlessly integrate

Benefits of sustainable cities:

within each other and work together. Ideally,

Ideal sustainable cities would be easy to

the path to fully sustainable cities would be

get around without a car, either by human-

sustainable itself. This means generating as

powered means of transport such as bikes,

little emissions, pollution, waste etc. on the

rickshas, scooters and plainly walking or by

path to sustainability. This is where how we

a carbon neutral efficient public transport.

approach planning future sustainable cities

Equally important, the sustainable city

becomes important in the question of climate

would have its own water supply, have

change.

FIGURE 19 A proposal for a vertical farm in the dessert. A possible smart city solution to the urban food crisis and “food miles”. ( Farmer, P ,2021)

23

2.2 Sustainable Development Goals 1.2.1 Sustainable

As shown in figure 20 this SDG interlinks

Development Goal 11

Goals. Most importantly, it interlinks with the

with many other Sustainable Development SDG 13 – Climate Action. As the world’s cities account for 60 – 80 % of energy

This goal has been implemented as a

(UN-Habitat) is 30% and additional 10-15%

consumption and 75% of carbon emissions

response to the new urban millennium.

for open public spaces such as squares,

(United Nations, n.d.-b). This impacts the

In

population

markets, and green space (United Nations,

general health of the population and

outnumbered the rural. According to UN

n.d.). The headline of Goal 11 is ‘Sustainable

resilience of our settlements. SDG 11 is

collected data from 911 cities from 114

cities and Communities: Make cities and

further linked with SDG 3 – Good Health

countries in 2020, between 1990 and 2019

human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient

and Well-being and SDG 12 – Responsible

urbanization was occurring at a much faster

and sustainable’ (UN Statistics Division (UNSD),

consumption

rate than population growth. In the same

2021).

successful

2008

the

global

urban

and

production.

implementation

of

SDG

The 11

study, the space in urban areas dedicated

therefore provides a framework upon which

to street space and open public spaces

other SDG’s can be implemented.

averaged only 16% in 2020. However, the recommended street space by the United

SDG 11 has 10 Targets to be achieved.

Nations Human Settlements Programme

The primary focus and targets include safe and affordable housing, affordable and sustainable

transport

systems,

inclusive FIGURE 21 Sustainable Development Goal 11 Targets.

(Donovan, Michael G, 2019)

and sustainable urbanization, protection of the world cultural and natural heritage, reduction of adverse effects of natural disasters, reduction of the environmental impacts of cities and providing access to safe and inclusive green and public spaces.

(UN Habitat, n.d.; UN Statistical Division (UNSD) et al., 2018; UN Statistics Division, 2021). All of these targets combined provide FIGURE 20 Interlinkages between SDG 11 and other SDGs(UN Statistical Division (UNSD) et al., 2018)

24

a basis for a sustainable urban future.

25

2.3 Saudi Arabia’s Urban Future

programme is addressing the Sustainable development goals. According to NDC – SDC Connections website, a tool which analyses and compares climate action of countries to the targets of SDGs, Saudi Arabia (as illustrated in Figure 22) focuses 50% of it’s quantifiable actions into public

2.3.1 Saudi Vision 2030

transport access, and then equally splits FIGURE 22 Graph of Climate actions of Saudi Arabia, compared to a global average (Image by author based on German Development Institute & Stockholm Environment Institute, 2021)

the rest into Urban planning, Mitigation and Saudi Vision 2030 is a strategic framework that

is a keystone in the Saudi Vision framework,

has been designed to reduce the Kingdom’s

which connects all three pillars.

Warning systems.

dependence on oil by diversifying the economy and thereby developing public

Due to the geographic location of Saudi

sectors such as education, healthcare,

Arabia, the land has a vast potential for solar

infrastructure, leisure and recreation, and

and wind power. Saudi Vision claims that by

tourism. It is a vision for a future government,

2030, 50% of energy in the Kingdom will come

which should place the Kingdom into the

from renewable energy sources (Hamad et

centre of the Islamic world (Saudi Vision,

al., 2021).

2021).

plan accounts for the inevitable rise in energy

The Renewable Energy Market

consumption, estimated to increase threefold Vision 2030

builds on three national

strengths: Saudi Arabia is the land of the Two

by 2030. (Hamad et al., 2021; Kinninmont, 2017)

Holy Mosques which positions the Kingdom at the heart of the Arab and Islamic worlds,

Though plans are in place to re-ignite

Saudi Arabia is using its investment power

economic growth and cultivate a culture

to create a more diverse and sustainable

in existing cities (Restructuring of the Jizan

economy, and The Kingdom is using its

Economic City as an example), the focus

strategic location to build its role as an

seems to be on attracting investments and

integral driver of international trade and

international companies to new city projects.

to connect three continents: Africa, Asia,

Neom City and The Line, both located in

and Europe (Saudi Vision, 2021).

Further,

the NEOM region, are the most put forward

these strengths have been developed

ones. The UN is working with Saudi Arabia on

into The Vision’s Themes or pillars – ‘A

building a better future for already urbanized

Vibrant Society’, ‘A Thriving Economy’,

areas through the United Nations Human

and ‘An Ambitious Nation’. Sustainability is

Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), which

a running theme through the Saudi Vision

is built and is directly using and implementing

2030 program in many senses. Sustainable

the Sustainable Development Goals.

Economy, the focus on Sustainable energy,

Keeping all of this in mind, the Saudi Vision

26

27

2.4 Context of the Tabuk Province Tabuk or Tabouk is a Saudi Arabia region along the northwest coast. It sits opposite Egypt, with the Red Sea in between.

According

to

the

2017

Population

Characteristics Survey of Saudi Arabia, it has an area of 146,072 km2 and a population of 910,030 (Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs Saudi Arabia et al., 2019). The capital city of the province is Tabuk City.

FIGURE 25 Graph of urban growth in Saudi Arabia’s provinces. (Image by author based on data from Alahmadi & Atkinson, 2019) FIGURE 23 Tabuk province, location of the Tabuk City and extents of the NEOM region. (image by author based on NEOM, 2017)

The region’s location is crucial to its

are preserved as a tourist attraction (Ministry

economic

of Municipal and Rural Affairs Saudi Arabia et

development.

The

marine

connection to the Red Sea makes it a

FIGURE 24 Tabuk Region in Saudi Arabia. (image by author based on google.com/maps)

As the first spatiotemporal study of the

key point in trade to Egypt, Lebanon, and

urbanization

Turkey.

of

Saudi

Arabia

highlights,

(Ministry of Municipal and Rural

Alongside the railway, Tabuk Province is full

Tabuk Province has been one of the slower

Affairs Saudi Arabia et al., 2019) Not only is

of tourist attractions. Main points of interest

urbanizing areas in Saudi Arabia. This is mainly

the location on the Red Sea important for

include sites connected to prophet Moses.

due to the lack of investments connected to

good transportation, Duba Port (located

Scattered along the coastline are coastal

socio-economic activities in the region. The

210 kilometres from Tabuk City) is responsible

towns near pristine beaches. Rock formations

province had 187 km2 or urban areas in 1992,

for 41.2% of all movement of passengers

and the Hejaz range are a sought-after place

and 557km2 in 2013 as illustrated in Figure 25

by maritime transport in Saudi Arabia. It is

for adrenaline sports enthusiasts. Tabuk’s rich

(Alahmadi & Atkinson, 2019).

also the nearest port in Saudi Arabia to the

history provides plenty of opportunities for

Suez Canal (Ministry of Municipal and Rural

income into the area which could serve as a

Affairs Saudi Arabia et al., 2019).

driver for city development. Tourism is one of

Historically, Tabuk Province also functioned

the key points Saudi Arabia is considering for

as a keystone area for transport. During

economy diversification.

the Ottoman Empire a railway ran from Damascus to Madinah. Parts of this railway

28

al., 2019).

29

2.4.1 Vision for The Line, NEOM

FIGURE 26 The Hejaz Railway (Brey, A. 2014)

FIGURE 27 The Maqna beach in Tabuk, northwest of Saudi Arabia. It is one of the most beautiful pristine beaches along the Red Sea Coast, 230 km from Tabuk City.

(TSP_Geographic on SaudiBuzz, 2021)

The vision for The Line is to create a fully

Again, these align with the New Urban

sustainable smart city.

Agenda and are outlined in the Tabuk City

The Line aims to “reshape the traditional

profile in chapter 6.3 Vision for a Sustainable

concept of urban life.” (NEOM, 2021)

Tabuk as follows:

Furthermore, it wants to fulfil the goals of

•

Securing social equity in the distribution

the Saudi Vision programme which mostly

of wealth and social services (social

focuses on diversifying the economy and

sustainability).

stepping away from oil production as the

•

Keeping a stable economic growth

main source of the country’s GDP. This

while restructuring the productive system

diversification should create 380, 000 new

in order to save resources and energy

jobs. (NEOM, 2021; Saudi Vision, 2021).

(economic sustainability); and •

Maintaining safe and comfortable living

All the points mentioned above are further

environments through lower emissions

introduced and interrogated in chapter

and opting for ecological restoration and

3.1.1 – The Line, NEOM.

complex socio-ecological infrastructure, that can devise basic services innovatively

FIGURE 28 Sand Skiing in the desert near Tabuk. (Alhwaity, Mohamed. 2012)

(environmental sustainability)

2.4.2 Vision for Tabuk City

The Tabuk City profile recognizes the impact this vision has on the spatial organization of the city. In the action plan (further discussed in chapter 6.3 Transformative Change Action)

The vision for the future Tabuk has the

the document addresses the specific spatial

same goals proposed by the New Urban

needs of the city, which are vital for the

Agenda – as developed during Habitat

implementation of the future vision.

III. Conference. Most importantly, the UN with the Saudi Cities aims for Tabuk to be a sustainable city in three core dimensions.

COMPARISON 3.1 Technocentric Approach – Smart Cities The Smart City concept has emerged

Furthermore, the concept of Smart Cities does

from long-persisting ideas about urban

not address digital exclusion - those people in

technological utopias and the perfectly

society who either don’t have technological

competitive city. It is important to note that

literacy (the ability to understand, use,

Smart Cities are based on the transformation

manage and assess technology) and digital

of place by applying technology to them,

literacy (the ability to find, evaluate, and

unlike sites where the development of

communicate information through typing

technology drives the economy (Glasmeier

and other media on various digital platforms)

& Christopherson, 2015).

or access to technology in the first place.

These groups include the elderly, children,

The Smart City movement utilizes the ‘big

and underprivileged people (Bleja et al.,

data’ approach, which is suited for solving

2020; Glasmeier & Christopherson, 2015).

the mechanical aspects of urban life.

For example, lighting, traffic, and public transport systems.

FIGURE 29 A windfarm field. One of the proposed methods of powering the NEOM Smart City. (Mairs for Dezeen, 2017)

33

The world is as we know it is deeply set in

In recent years, data collection in cities has

The technology must be accessible to

the Information Age. Technology shapes

been on the rise. The range, volume, and

the broad population for its effect to be

our society and all aspects of it. More than

variety of the data generated and collected

significant and fulfil the original goal. The

50% of the world’s population is online,

by citizens and the urban environment are

question is, how will city structures and

with two-thirds owning a mobile device.

expanding. Consequently, the technological

management ensure that everyone is

This is referred to as the fourth industrial

aspect

included?

revolution. Urban areas house the research

The urban landscape is then divided into

institutions and facilities which innovate

logical, algorithmic processes based on the

The technocentric approach is based on

our

its

planning, management, and operational

big-data collection and AIoT, which are

cities

functioning (Bibri & Krogstie, 2019). A large

already being implemented in the real

already, and it undoubtedly will continue

part of new technologies is developing

world or are likely to be implemented in the

to do so in the future. Technocentrism is a

adaptive, responsive, and efficient strategies

next decade. The assumption is that these

value system that is centred on technology

for our everyday lives. This is already being

technologies will be readily available. If

as tools and its advocates believe in its

done through Artificial Intelligence of Things

the technologies prove to be themselves

ability to protect the environment, solve,

(AIoT). AIoT enables collecting, categorizing,

sustainable

viable,

It is important to note that there are no real-

and negotiate environmental risks such as

and organizing large datasets collected by

they can be crucial to the future of the

world examples of genuinely sustainable

climate change and ultimately function as a

users by engaging with the technology. A

sustainable urban landscape. Additionally,

smart cities that have been deployed. There

mitigation for the effects of climate change

real-world example can be a smartwatch

by having the analytic tools at the core

is no proof or reference that the high-tech

on our environment (Bibri & Krogstie, 2019).

learning unique sleep patterns and adjusting

of the cities, monitoring, self-reflection,

approach to urban city planning can be

According to the Line’s website, the Line

the morning alarm for optimal waking time

and analysis, the cities will be able to

adapted and future proofed.

will process over 90% of its data, including

based on the sleep pattern. This is deduced

make

business and community data, using Artificial

through data such as movement, heart rate,

improvement and expansion.

Intelligence (AI) and robots. ‘All businesses

breathing, and sound. These functions (such

and communities on THE LINE are hyper-

as adjusting a morning alarm) can then

connected through a digital framework

extend to other infrastructures. For instance,

incorporating

and

it is automatically opening curtains, turning

robotics that continuously learn and grow

on a lamp, or regulating the thermostat.

– over 90% of the data in NEOM will be

Already, by gathering and processing data

analysed to provide a predictive system with

on a personal scale, we are adjusting and

ever-improving services to residents and

improving energy use, ultimately lowering the

businesses’ (FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

carbon footprint.

technologies.

development

Technology

have

shaped

Artificial

and our

Intelligence

of

sustainability

is

data

driven.

and

economically

better-informed

decisions

FIGURE 30 Simple explanation of the AioT function. (Image by author)

about

FIGURE 31 A proposed Solar panel field. (Mairs for Dezeen, 2017)

about the Line, 2017).

34

35

3.1.1 The Line 3.1.1.1 Existing conditions for NEOM, The Line NEOM is in the Tabuk Province in the North-West area of Saudi Arabia. The NEOM region connects the coast of the Red Sea, more specifically the Gulf of Aqaba, with the mountain ranges in the North-West. Tabuk province.

The

terrain

encapsulates

four

distinctive

ecologies, which have been self-assigned and defined by The Line. The basis for the ecologies is a visual and topographical change of terrain.

As shown on Figure 32. The ecologies are East to West: Coastal, Coastal Desert, Mountains, and Upper Valley. (NEOM, 2021).These ecologies correspond with the terrain of the coast and larger context of the province introduced previously in Chapter 2.

Most of the land is to be preserved and environmentally protected. Not only does NEOM promises to conserve the ecosystems, but one of its aims is to trigger a ‘renaissance in Arabian wildlife by bringing back species that have not been seen for decades or even centuries in the region.’ (NEOM, 2020).

Ultimately, the conditions for the NEOM region are the same as introduced in Chapter 2.

FIGURE 32 NEOM Ecologies (left) and Terrain of NEOM (right) (Image by author based on NEOM, 2021 and google. com/maps)

36

3.1.2 City Planning Models in the Line

connect the most East and West nodes of the Line, would have to reach speeds up to 512 km/h. There is currently no transportation

3.1.2.1 Linear City

system that can reliably reach such speed on a track of the Lines length. The Route Estimator calculates the travel time between

The linearity of settlements – developing next

The Line will comprise of a spine creating the

to or around a main road only became a

signature Linear form. The spine connects

city planning scheme in 1882. The concept

individual modules, further introduced at the

is based on fast transport routes. Influenced

appropriate scale in the next chapter. The

1080 km/h), using the Virgin Hyperloop One.

by Howards Garden City (1898), Spanish

spine consists of a transport link, connecting

These calculations are theoretical, as the

City planner Don Arturo Soria y Mata

first and Last module. The Line also brings

most recent hyperloop test only transported

implemented the linear city, exemplified

forward a travel time of 20 minutes “between

4 passengers at 48 m/s. (Virgin Hyperloop

in Madrid’s Ciudad Lineal, to solve an

communities.” (NEOM, 2021) The linearity

One, 2020a) Real-world implementation

increasingly congested industrial era city.

is mostly a solution to a super-fast way of

of the hyperloop is not on the horizon for

He designed cities around a line of trams.

travelling and providing an appropriate

another decade.

Another example of a linear proposal is

infrastructure.

two cities 100 miles apart (roughly between

FIGURE 34 City Modules connected by the linear spine. (ArabNews, NEOM, 2017)

London and Nottingham) as 17 minutes (at

FIGURE 35 A rendering of The Line showing it’s interaction with the natural landscape, extents of greenery and built form.

(Screenshot from NEOM Youtube, 2017)

the Modern Architectural Research Group (MARS) redevelopment of London. The idea

The technical details of the commute have

was published in the Architectural Review in

not been specified. However, according to

June 1942.

the visual plans, investor details the consensus on internet forums and between journalists, it seems that the 20-minute commute will be running entirely on Elon Musk’s Virgin Hyperloop One. This is further backed up by the fact that Saudi Arabia is the first country to start a National Hyperloop study. The study focuses on passenger and cargo transport, both of which should appear in The Line. The Ministry of Transport announced the study in February 2020. (Virgin Hyperloop One, 2020b).

Figure 7 Layers of the Line The Hyperloop technology, which should

FIGURE 33 Drawing of the Ciudad Lineal, Madrid Spain.

(Arturo Soria y Mata, 1894)

38

39

2.4.1 Vision for The Line, NEOM

3.1.2.2 The 5/15/20 minute city FIGURE 36 Modules corresponding to the topography and landscape.

(ArabNews, NEOM, 2017.)

The 15-minute city Is a residential urban

The

Line

indirectly

addresses

multiple

pre-existing urban structures, including slums.

concept in which daily essentials can be

of the SDG 11 targets. The Sustainable

fulfilled by walking or cycling from own

Development

explicitly

11.2 From the planning proposals, the focus is

home. The journey should not take more

mentioned or quoted in the Lines proposal,

on creating a city that is easy to navigate and

than 15 minutes.

website, or documents. But as mentioned in

fast in terms of transport. With the transport

chapter 2.3.1, Saudi Vision 2030 addresses

infrastructure at the very centre of the design,

all the SDGs.

it is safe to say that The Line will fulfil Target 11.2

Social infrastructure is at the core of

Goals

are

not

15-minute cities. It highlights people who

- By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable,

have been previously and historically left

Six of the SDG 11 Targets are aiming for

accessible, and sustainable transport systems

out of town planning, such as women,

2030 as the year of their fulfilment. With The

for all, improving road safety, notably by

children, people with disabilities, and the

Line being a part of the Saudi Vision 2030,

expanding public transport, with special

elderly (Pozoukidou & Chatziyiannaki, 2021).

addressing the individual Targets is done

attention to the needs of those in vulnerable

Carlos Moreno had first proposed the

under the assumption that The Line will be

situations, women, children, persons with

15-minute city in Paris in June 2019. Originally

completed and populated as proposed in

disabilities and older persons.

referred to as “new Chrono-urbanism”, it

Saudi Vision 2030. Ideally, that would mean

shifts planning focus to time from space.

addressing all of the SDGs.

The ideology quickly gained popularity and is a well-known concept in the landscape industry and beyond. The concept has 6 fundamental elements: working, providing goods, providing care, learning, enjoying, and living.

As mentioned in the previous chapter, The Line will be connecting various communities, residing in individual 5-minute city style modules.

These modules or communities

(NEOM uses both terms to describe the residential layer of the Line), will house up to a one million residents. As described in figure 36, the modules will correspond with the Larger ecological scale included in the NEOM region. The designers also appreciate different needs for the modules and how the topography will affect population distribution along the Line. The Coastal part is estimated to have the most inhabitants and the Mountains the least (Construction Week, 2020; NEOM,

FIGURE 37 A detail of one of the Lines city modules - a 5 minute neighbourhood, with various amenities, greenery and infrastructure.

(Screenshot from NEOM Youtube, 2017)

2021; NEOM Fact Sheet, 2017).

40

11.1 There is no data and information provided by The Line or NEOM about its plans for access to affordable housing.

Access to basic services (defined by the UN as ‘public service provision systems that meet human basic needs including drinking water, sanitation, hygiene, energy, mobility, waste collection, health care, education, and information technologies’) is addressed in The Line by adapting the 15-minute city approach in its individual modules. This should, in theory, make all basic services accessible

to

all

The

Lines

residents.

Upgrading slums is not applicable for The Line as it is a city built from scratch with no

FIGURE 38 NEOM Mountain - a visualisation of a proposed part of The Line (WSJ, 2021)

3.2.1 Tabuk City

3.2 Transformative Change Transformative

change

is

a

3.2.1.1 Transformative Change Action

strategic

as the redistribution of power and economic

process that catalyses a socio-cultural,

resources’ (United Nations Research Institute

socio-economic, and political revolution in

for Social Development, 2016).

a holistic and systems-aware manner. This field involves a wide range of approaches.

Transformative

There is yet no consensus on what a

addressing problems and challenges at their

“transformation” is and what it is not (Gass,

root. Because of this, transformations can

2010).

Unlike progressive social change,

occur on many scales, from the behaviour

which relies on education and mobilization

of individuals to policymaking and large

through analysis and factual critical thinking,

government structures, changing consumer

transformational change speaks to the

behaviours, making older equipment more

heart and spirit, more profound energies,

efficient, changing management practices. It

and cultural souls. This makes it inherently

challenges the way we think and understand

holistic (SOURCE).

the world we live in. For transformative

The United Nations believes the Sustainable

change to be successful, it must be multi-

Development Goals can be achieved only

scale, persistent, system-wide and path-

if the implementation process addresses

shifting. Transformative Change requires full

the

and

attention of all aspects. Unlike Smart Cities,

unsustainable outcomes (United Nations

which rely solely on the support of datasets

Research Institute for Social Development,

and technology.

root

causes

of

inequitable

2016).

‘The

2030

Agenda

for

Sustainable

Development can only be realized if the

implementation

process

leads

to

transformative change addressing the root causes of inequitable and unsustainable outcomes.

Transformative

change,

therefore, requires fundamental changes in social relations and institutions to make them more inclusive and equitable, as well

42

change

is

fundamentally

How quickly and efficiently Tabuk can

The

transformative

change

primarily

implement these changes is dependent

addresses the social values of the triple

on the legal and institutional framework.

bottom line. In Tabuk, changing people’s

The planning system in Saudi Arabia was

behaviours through environmental education

re-developed since Habitat II, 1996, in

is critical in starting the transformation and

Istanbul. Now with the Ministry of Municipal

getting closer to the future vision. Saudi

Affairs at the core, it is a top-down

Arabia did not address the climate crisis

hierarchical planning system with four

during Habitat II. As they state in the UN-

different levels:

Habitat III report: ‘It was deemed unnecessary at the time to give weight to environmental

1. National Spatial Strategy at the national level;

concerns”.

They

further

state

that

“Much, of course, remains to be done to

2. Regional Spatial Strategy at the regional level;

improve

environmental

awareness

and

environmental outcomes, especially in the

3. Comprehensive Spatial Strategy for

Kingdom’s cities “ (The Ministry of Municipal

major cities and Local Plans for medium

and Rural Affairs, 2016). According to the Arab

and small cities at the local level; and

Forum for Environment and Development,

4. Action Plan at the district level (The

despite the global responsiveness towards

Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs,

environmental education since the 1960s,

2016).

the Arab countries only started taking note of Environmental Education in the early 1980s.

The aim was to consistently improve the

Education

for

Sustainable

Development

new planning system as it is applied in

started to be introduced at a slower pace in

more cities. Despite the revisions, the Future

the past ten years (Arab Forum for Environment

Cities Program sees the government’s land

and Development, 2019). The Education

and planning policy as disjointed and hard

for Sustainable Development also states

to navigate. This non-centralized process

that the earlier Environmental Education is

leaves Tabuk with over 500 urban planning-

implemented into the educational system, the

related authorities and instruments (Ministry

better educated the general population. This

of Municipal and Rural Affairs Saudi Arabia

idea relies on the traditional family structure

et al., 2019).

in Saudi Arabia. With 20.3% of the population of Tabuk being between 15 and 24 years

43

A proposed part of Tabuk’s Transformative change is a decentralization reform that would help implement urban solutions on a much smaller scale and administrative level. This was outlined in the New Urban Agenda. A part of the decentralization of legislation connected to urban planning is promoting the participation of the local community and other relevant stakeholders FIGURE 40 An enpty street in Tabuk city (TSP_Geographic on SaudiBuzz, 2021)

(Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs Saudi Arabia et al., 2019; United Nations & Habitat III Secretariat, 2017).

•

Action 1: Create a public transport backbone to support densification.

•

Action 2: Promote strategic densification around the main nodes and along with the transportation network.

•

Action 3: Create a diffused and wellintegrated blue and green infrastructure

FIGURE 39 Eid Al Adha prayer in Tabuk Mosque, showing pedestrian and car infrastructure. This illlustrates the reliance on cars for transport. (@mohamed_5575, SaudiBuzz, 2020)

system.

Tabuk

City

profile

acknowledges

the

importance of scale for urban development and implementing its future vision. The Action Plan also outlines goals and planning strategies to address the specific landscape character, specifically the Valley Wadi network – a riverbed network entirely dependent on heavy rainfall. Furthermore, both the Future Saudi Cities and the UN acknowledge that the current administrative process and its shortcomings make implementing changes

FIGURE 41 Oddly placed urban furniture in between two roads. Surrounding landscape is manicured. (@Don Quixote Flickr, 2017)

old (General Authority for Statistics, 2010),

to urban environments and land use difficult and time consuming.

according to Saudi Arabia’s 2010 Census, implementing Environmental Education on all levels will be critical for the future of the Kingdom’s youth. In the draft government strategy developed for Habitat III, education and training is placed as the number one topic followed by employment, health, culture and information, communications and information technology, recreation and leisure investment, good citizenship, and community engagement, and lastly, family.

44

45

CONCLUSIONS 4.1 Overview Both projects, the Saudi Future Cities – Tabuk

analysis,

and NEOM, The Line have the same goals

informed transformative change model.

for sustainability. They both want to foster

As landscape architects, using technology

sustainable

sustainable

to collect data and analysis tools to come to

environment, and a sustainable economic

conclusions can ensure a more site-specific

sphere

approach when proposing, implementing,

communities,

(People,

Planet,

a

Profit).

This

is

and

conclusion

can

drive

an

generally known as the triple bottom line.

and designing for cities’ futures. Having data

The Transformative change for the city

to “backup” proposals and designs will push

of Tabuk addresses the core issues of the

forward policymaking. The specificity of the

implementation of the future vision for

data means design that is tailored to the sites

the city. The Action plan understands the

and inhabitants needs better than ever.

source of community needs and proposes implementing

a

participatory

design

With the triple bottom line as a goal of

approach on the smallest scale of urban

sustainable

cities,

the

datafication

and

planning – the district level.

measurement of each of the three elements is crucial. The sustainable city model is

The datafication of easily measurable

based on balance, and if a focus on one

things such as density, temperature or traffic

element is larger, the outcome, in theory, is

congestion is already being done in cities

unsustainable.

now. Technology, big data, its collection

FIGURE 42 Historical Site along the Hejaz mountain region. (Bogaczewicz, P., 2019.)

47

4.2 Lessons learned During the extensive research stage, it was clear that there is not enough supportive and concrete data to compare both approaches in enough depth. This makes sense as most cities are only starting to adapt to climate change. Adaptation to the new requirements of sustainability understandably take decades to establish.

The Sustainable Development Goals have been introduced in 2015, The Line NEOM was announced in 2017 and the Future Saudi Cities Tabuk programme in 2019. This leaves less than 5 years for both projects to reflect on the necessary points of the Sustainable Development Goal 11.

As a

result, the investigation of the two sites has been theoretical, and only focusing on the proposals, rather than any undertaken action.

Though unfortunate for this study, it opens a possibility to follow both projects into their implementation stages and see them act.

Also, how the implementation affects the environment from the triple bottom line. The future actions will provide more concrete datasets for comparison, rather than relying on the vision of both projects.

48

FIGURE 43 A parking lot in between mountains. Saudi Arabia’s dependance on cars carving a space in a rocky region. (Bogaczewicz, P., 2019.)

List of Figures Figure 1: Bogaczewicz, P., 2019. A new neighborhood under construction in Wadi Laban. [image] Available at: <https://www.wired.com/story/saudi-arabia-gallery/>.

Figure 2: Bogaczewicz, P., 2019. Motorway under construction near Ar Ruwaidhah. An illustration of Saudi Arabia’s infrastructure growth. [image] Available at: <https://media.wired.com/ photos/5dd5aed4ef64120008ef5827/master/w_1600,c_limit/bogaczewicz_kingdom_6.jpg>.

Figure 3: Image by author based on UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 2019. A graph showing the growth of urban population compared to rural population from 1950 to 2019 with predictions until 2050. [image] Available at: <https://www.un.org/development/desa/en/news/population/2018-revision-ofworld-urbanization-prospects.html> Figure 4: Wild WeatherUS Youtube, 2021. People trapped on a van in a flooded street after torrential rains in April 2021 in the City of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. [image] Available at: < https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtLdea4ANCo> Figure 5: Bogaczewicz, P., 2019. Excavation work in Riyadh as a part of urban expansion. [image] <https://www.wired.com/story/saudi-arabia-gallery/> Figure 6: Image by author based on Bibri, S. E., & Krogstie, J., 2019. Generating a vision for smart sustainable cities of the future: a scholarly backcasting approach. European Journal of Futures Research. A graphical representation of the backcasting approach. [image] Figure 7: Image by author based on NEOM, 2017, google.com/maps Map of the Arab peninsula, Saudi Arabia and it’s provinces and location of the NEOM project. [image] Available at: < https://www.neom.com/en-us?gclid=CjwKCAiAlrSPBhBaEiwAuLSDULn9KA3UVq3Z6e-ZHFDLgNEGRZLTX_6j AlmP7mEQWmd29QxrQUmmqhoC67oQAvD_BwE> Figure 8: Construction Week, 2020. Sign with the NEOM logo welcoming visitors into the region. [image] Available at: https://www.constructionweekonline.com/tags/neom Figure 9: NEOM, 2017, A visualisation of The Line across the NEOM region showing extents of greenery, built environment and its relationship to the topography of the region. [image] Available at: <https://media.architecturaldigest.com/photos/600ee4b27336e178fcdfdc06/master/w_1600,c_limit/ Screen%20Shot%202021-01-23%20at%205.12.28%20PM.png> Figure 10: Screenshot from googleearth.com, A satellite image of Tabuk City showing its agricultural areas (crop circles) and extents of the built environment. [image] Available at: <googleearth.com>

Figure 16: Screenshot from TabukMedia, 2013. Main street in Tabuk City with pedestrians utilizing road space. [image] Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8nbh4hwaz4> Figure 17: Flickr @hanming_huang, 2020. Tabuk Railway Park Residents bring their own furniture and entertainment to utilize the space. Provided benches are not in use despite a large number of people in the area. [image] Available at: <https://www.flickr.com/photos/29868194@N08/49580166776/in/photolist-2ixejeE-2ixbLvq-2ixft5E-2ixeiNKsG2sch-7HvStR-2ixbKa4-2ixftQN-A6ZQjm-Nw34v8-JYMNm-JYUXn-JYFwd-9RXhrh-8eig32-dBdBga-QFZ4NpPKonmV-AAx5mK-Nw3dCr-drTgmG-9RXhm1-NuHW3W-9RUfYc-Pzfmop-9RXgBG-9RXhbb-9RXauQ-PL5dQX9RUmYM-9RUfNk-p3GKo-n9DkKA-o77cup-p3GW8-PpKvKf-PstGt2-drTj7W-bednuv-2ixfu9J-5ArSvH-6eseiyDUPHqa-2kRLocn-dTMHCL-dJyhCS-KBNcm-wEghzV-2hiaMHZ-hdmXbY> Figure 18: Flickr @hanming_huang, 2020. Shopping street in the historic centre of Tabuk, near the Tabuk castle. This shows the disproportionate infrastructure and poor state of built environment. [image] Available at: <https://www.flickr.com/photos/29868194@N08/49580189596/in/photolist-2ixer27-2ixfvhv-23i9N4Q2kRPeYv-22xQwZ6-RJLHt1-2mihGzV-nus3iv-7BLAhz-bnqivh-iocGhX-oCnJtg-bnq8aw-Rco8dy-oApUsJ-oj8sa5FnM3xb-oj8151-oj8sDb-oj8WiZ-oj82DJ-8emzcS-oAA6sh-oj7ZzJ-24JeoVf-24t3KS6-2mQCxVn-2ixbPn7-2ixfzs92ixfzCe-JZ38z-JZ3ze-jjubCj-oAmbWv-oAmbe8-oyA5mq-oCnJjt-oj8hw8-H4aptw-iMq5LH-5E1cHK-5E1boTiMpaSi-7gKVHH-ERxN-iMp9bc-iMq89D-iMt7eE-iMqNfA-iMt5HJ/> Figure 19: Farmer, P.,2021. A proposal for a vertical farm in the dessert. A possible smart city solution to the urban food crisis and “food miles”. [image] Available at: <https://www.chapmantaylor.com/insights/ vertical-farming-an-increasingly-relevant-solution-for-food-security-in-the-uk-and-globally> Figure 20: UN Statistics Division (UNSD),2021. Interlinkages between SDG 11 and other SDGs [image] Available at: https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2021/extended-report/ Figure 21: Donovan, Michael G, 2019. Sustainable Development Goal 11 Targets. [image] Available at: <https://blogs.iadb.org/caribbean-dev-trends/en/caribbean-cities-and-the-sustainable-developmentgoals/> Figure 22: Image by author based on German Development Institute & Stockholm Environment Institute, 2021. Graph of Climate actions of Saudi Arabia, compared to a global average. [image] Available at: <https://klimalog.die-gdi.de/ndc-sdg/> Figure 23: Image by author mased on NEOM, 2017. Tabuk province, location of the Tabuk City and extents of the NEOM region. [image] Figure 24: Image by author based on google.com/maps. Tabuk Region in Saudi Arabia. [image]

Figure 11: Almosafer, 2022. Interior of the Al Tawba Mosque in Tabuk. [image] Available at: <https://www. almosafer.com/en/city-guides/tabuk/attractions/al-tawba-mosque>

Figure 25: Image by author based on data from Alahmadi & Atkinson, 2019. Graph of urban growth in Saudi Arabia’s provinces. [image] Data Available at: <https://doi.org/10.3390/rs11192266>

Figure 12: Screenshot from TabukMedia, 2013. Two men walking from the Al Tawba Mosque. [image] Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8nbh4hwaz4> Figure 13: Flickr @hanming_huang, 2020. Tabuk castle, part of the historic centre of the city. [image] Available at: <https://www.flickr.com/photos/29868194@N08/49580187311/in/photolist-2ixeqkH-2ixfA3C-JYTow-JYSBsJYSJJ-JZ3Jg-JYTxd-JZ3KD-JYTum-JYT99-JYTFs-JZ3Ea-7CGffr-2ixeouy-JYKKh-JYUGe-6bSgBT-JYMrJ-GTfs25JYPFG-JYVnR-JYMQE-JYWZB-JYZgD-JYRnK-JYRTi-JYJ39-JYMkN-JYW9x-JYLVE-JZ2Uv-JYMFb-JYSyw-JYLsSJYFGA-JYHE3-JYUND-JYYnz-JYY1c-JYJB3-JYWGe-JYLo7-JYSiw-JYJfU-JYSsg-JYKaL-JYTt4-JYKyL-JYXr6-JYMfq/>

Figure 26: Brey, A. 2014. The Hejaz Railway. [image] Available at: <https://www.flickr.com/photos/lookingawry/15463796924/>

Figure 14: Image by author based on googleearth.com, 2022. Tabuk city street infrastructure, Location of the Tabwa Mosque and largest important areas of the city.

Figure 15: Flickr @hanming_huang, 2020. Tabuk Gate welcoming people into the city. Behind it, a large plaza often used as a carpark. [image] Available at: <https://www.flickr.com/photos/29868194@N08/49579690373/in/photolist-2ixbSBP-as6Ri8-aUURiP-8Pu9c49UjJuk>

52

Figure 27: TSP_Geographic on SaudiBuzz, 2021. The Maqna beach in Tabuk, northwest of Saudi Arabia. It is one of the most beautiful pristine beaches along the Red Sea Coast, 230 km from Tabuk City. [image] Available at: <https://www.facebook.com/saudiarabiabuzz/photos/pcb.1007377519828688/100737744316 2029/> Figure 28: Alhwaity, Mohamed. 2012. Sand Skiing in the desert near Tabuk. [image] Available at: <https:// www.nbcnews.com/news/photo/gettin-big-air-sand-skiing-saudi-arabian-desert-flna1c7757267> Figure 29: Mairs, J for Dezeen, 2017. A windfarm field. One of the proposed methods of powering the NEOM Smart City. [image] Available at: <https://www.dezeen.com/2017/10/27/saudi-arabia-invest-500-billionautomated-sustainable-neom-city-egypt-jordan/>

53

Figure 30: Image by author. Simple explanation of the AioT function.

Figure 31: Mairs, J for Dezeen, 2017. A proposed Solar panel field.[image] Available at: <https://www. dezeen.com/2017/10/27/saudi-arabia-invest-500-billion-automated-sustainable-neom-city-egypt-jordan/> Figure 32: Image by author based on NEOM, 2021 and google.com/maps. NEOM Ecologies (left) and Terrain of NEOM (right). [image] Available at: <https://www.neom.com/en-us/whatistheline> Figure 33: Arturo Soria y Mata, 1894. Drawing of the Ciudad [image] Available at: < https://archiveofaffinities. tumblr.com/post/3717282397/arturo-soria-y-mata-ciudad-lineal-of-madrid-1894> Figure 34: ArabNews, NEOM, 2017. City Modules connected by the linear spine. [image] Available at: <https://www.arabnews.com/node/1790781> Figure 35: Screenshot from NEOM Youtube, 2017. A rendering of The Line showing it’s interaction with the natural landscape, extents of greenery and built form. [image] Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=47eZb_Q9ZTc> Figure 36: ArabNews, NEOM, 2017.Modules corresponding to the topography and landscape.[image] Available at: <https://www.arabnews.com/node/1790781> Figure 37: Screenshot from NEOM Youtube, 2017. A detail of one of the Lines city modules - a 5 minute neighbourhood, with various amenities, greenery and infrastructure. [image] Available at: <https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=47eZb_Q9ZTc> Figure 38: WSJ, 2021. NEOM Mountain - a visualisation of a proposed part of The Line. [image] Available at: <https://www.wsj.com/articles/saudi-crown-princes-vision-for-neom-a-desert-city-state-tests-hisbuilders-11619870401> Figure 39: @mohamed_5575, SaudiBuzz, 2020. Eid Al Adha prayer in Tabuk Mosque, showing pedestrian and car infrastructure. This illlustrates the reliance on cars for transport. [image] Available at: <https://www.facebook.com/saudiarabiabuzz/posts/679704049262705> Figure 40: TSP_Geographic on SaudiBuzz, 2021. An enpty street in Tabuk city. [image] Available at: <https:// www.facebook.com/saudiarabiabuzz/photos/pcb.1007377519828688/1007377443162029/> Figure 41: @Don Quixote Flickr, 2017. Oddly placed urban furniture in between two roads. Surrounding landscape is manicured. [image] Available at: <https://www.flickr.com/photos/20976825@ N05/32645498882/sizes/l/> FIGURE 42: Figure 42: Bogaczewicz, P., 2019. Historical Site along the Hejaz mountain region.[image] Available at: <https://www.all-about-photo.com/photographers/photographer/984/peter-bogaczewicz > Figure 43: Bogaczewicz, P., 2019. A parking lot in between mountains. Saudi Arabia’s dependance on cars carving a space in a rocky region. [image] Availale at: < https://www.all-about-photo.com/ photographers/photographer/984/peter-bogaczewicz >

54

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Lenka Rajmont Ba (Hons) Landscape Architecture University of Greenwich

ENVT-1097-M01-2021-22 Landscape Dissertation

lenka.rajmontova@gmail.com January 2022

Ba (Hons) Landscape Architecture University of Greenwich ENVT-1097-M01-2021-22 Landscape Dissertation