Sea Oasis
Written by Rowa Elzain During the class of ‘Scientific Research’ By the Prof. Joerg Baumeister In January, 2012, semester 7 Of Urban Planning and Architectural Design At the German University of Technology in Oman
Content Abstract Introduction Oasis system Elements Sub-systems ‘cycles’ Fanja Oasis, Oman Closed systems Oasis in the sea Formation of an oasis in the sea Elements of an oasis in the sea Assembly of elements Conclusion Reference
Abstract This paper covers three main discussion, one- an oasis, its formation, elements, and cycles. Second, the closed systems, an oasis as a closed system and comparable systems found in nature and with intervention of human. Third, is transferring an oasis to the sea. Here the term ‘transferring’ is referred to as method of coming up with alternatives in order to solve a problem.
An Oasis
An oasis is an isolated point of vegetation that manages to grow and prosper where nothing else seems to do the same in the desert. It creates the basics of survival and living condition for vegetation and soon civilization.
needed. But this raises a couple of question, where should it be placed? Why in that specific location?
Introduction An oasis is the strike of hope that appears in the harsh living environments of the desert. It is the isolated point of vegetation that manages to grow and prosper where nothing else seems to do the same [1]. This mind tricking illusion is only possible as a water surface centers it, therefore creating the basics of survival a living condition for vegetation and soon civilization. The oasis with its surrounding can be thought of as system that works independently, without the need of interaction between the surrounding environment and the inner elements of the oasis. A system that behaves similarly to an oasis is called a closed system. A closed system can be thought of as a set of elements that might be interrelated eventually creating a network of a specific organization [2]. A system which is closed indicates that the location is somehow irrelevant. Therefore, this hope of life –Oasis- can be represented as a symbol/ object which would be placed anywhere where it’s
The movement of a closed system such as an oasis from one location to the other can suggest answers for issues or formulas for new proposed ideas. This type of movement is a research method that is referred by as ‘transfer’, here the outcomes or new ideas are not known till the end of the whole process [3]. Therefore the shift from one location to the other can be beneficial of completely irrelevant. However when discussing the location of the new oasis, water comes in mind as basis of the oasis development and basic survival tool for any living form of life. Water bodies covers around 71% of the surface of the earth, 95% of which is oceans and seas [4]. These factors raises another question, can oceans/seas be the empty big open space where the new oasis would be located? The transformation of the oasis from land to sea beholds great potential for civilization as it questions our development as humans since the Neolithic period, where man was a gatherer and hunter on land till our current times, where man reached a sophisticated level of technology which in return formed a new way of living that what was unknown to our previous generations. However, this transformation raises a contradicting question on whether the final result is similar to what happened to the city of Atlantis. As the great Greek philosopher Plato mentioned in a dialog of his work ‘Timaeus and Critias’, the civilization of Atlantis disappeared in a day and was buried underwater [5]. This paper will discuss and outline the oasis as a system, comparable systems, and the formation of oasis in the sea.
Elements of an Oasis
these are the different types and forms of elements that can be found within an oasis
Oasis system Elements The formation of an oasis begins with the water bodies which originate from a spring, Groundwater Rivers, fossil water, etc. these water bodies located in the unforgiving conditions of the desert provides an attraction for migrating birds. The water serves the birds as it creates a break for revitalizing along their path to their final destination, in return, the birds offer the water seed from their droppings. The seed have a tendency to grow around the edges of the water bodies, resulting in vegetation surrounding the water body, and here is where the mirage appears to the humans’ sight [6]. The little oasis that is formed from the three elements: water, birds (wild animals), and vegetation, serves as a recreational spot for the men along their trade route. The oasis offers the man with drinking water that quenches his thirst, trees that give him shelter and vegetation that quell his hunger. The man returns the favor with grazing the surrounding land, by which he provides the existing vegetation with a companion, an extension of its own kind that work together giving shade and minerals to each other. Along this process, the man channels small outlet of water towards the new extension, however, keeping in mind that water sources are limited and extremely valuable. Along with man come different types of domestic animals such as goats, sheep, camel, etc. the man tends his domestic animals, protect them from
dangers of the desert, and feeds them. The domestic animals acknowledge the man’s effort consequently offers him with wool, a sacrifice of its own for food and leather. In addition, domestic animals serve the man as a trade or even barter. However, the oasis also take part in this exchange between man and domestic animals, the oasis offers the domestic animal with vegetation to eat, water to drink, and shade for resting. The domestic animal on the other hand offers the oasis with its solid waste that serves as fertilizer with minerals that the vegetation feeds off. The human role towards the oasis, vegetation, and domestic animal is to organize the development of the oasis therefore allocating sections for all vegetation and areas for animal domestication. The human as an inhabitant of the oasis manages the output of the available resources such as wood from trees and solid waste from the domestic animals, to create a shelter where a man is protected from external dangers, therefore, the man provide his succeeding generation with a better living condition and begins to repopulate. The man hence succeeds in creating equilibrium between the outputs -produced out of nature- with the inputs -produced him- within the oasis. As mentioned earlier, the output include water, wood, wool, leather, meat, vegetable and fruits, etc. however, the inputs that are produced from solid waste, living units, etc. are all taken from nature, and returned eventually back to nature. One should always keep in mind that the natural equilibrium between output and inputs in an oasis is accomplished without the interference of man. Nonetheless, in an inhabited oasis, man has the
water cycle in an Oasis
the water cycle in an oasis follows the for different stages of any water cycle
Agriculture cycle
plants feed on fertilizers from animals, and ainmals feed on grass provided by plants.
tendency to create equilibrium between his needs and requirements, with the available resource that the oasis provides, hence creating a closed system. Sub-systems ‘cycles’ The oasis system holds within varies sets of elements that group to form different sub-systems, some of which creates a cycle. The sub-systems of an oasis are: water system, waste system, human community system, and agriculture system. The water system in an oasis based on the water source that is available such as a spring, etc. the water is then followed by the intervention of man through channels that moves a quantity of water to a specific location. The water is then used for plants as irrigation, or for domestic purposes. Following this path, water lost by evaporation from plants, water bodies, and liquid waste, is then taken through the following step in the water cycle which is the condensation, precipitation, water infiltration, then back to evaporation. However, in the desert precipitation levels are low thus the reliability of a continuous cycle is questioned! Unlike the water system, the waste system offers a reliable and continuous cycle in the oasis. the natural finite waste in an oasis are decomposed into smaller microorganisms, minerals, gases, etc [7]. moreover, with the intervention of man, waste is taken back in similar manner with a miner alteration which concerns the management of waste in order to allocate their usage in varies process. First is the waste collection management to create fertilizers, the process create a cycle where the solid waste from animals and plants are decomposed into fertilizers which are taken up by the plant as a source
of food to feed on and grow, fruits are eventually available for animals to eat and produce waste, hence the cycle continues. The human community system consists of the complex interaction between the inhabitants of the oasis and the ecosystem they are living in. the ecosystem consists of all interaction between living organism and non-living organisms [8]. The water and waste systems of the oasis are therefore part of the ecosystem of the entire oasis. The human interaction with each other in an oasis is considered as non-physical resource, such as the exchange of knowledge, man power, and creates a social network that brings the human community together. The human interaction with the ecosystem provides him with physical resources such as water, food, clothing, etc. The agriculture system in an oasis is divided into two sections: Location and levels. Location of the agriculture land is extremely vital, as suitable soil location with correspondence of water sources determine the location of the proposed agriculture land. This system of determining the location is followed along the development of the settlements in an oasis and the oasis development as a whole. The level of agricultural system conditions the types of plantation in relation to its surrounding. Trees of height such as palm tree occupy the highest level followed by smaller plants such as peach tree [9]. This concept of leveling the plants insures that the smaller plant can grow in the harsh desert conditions under the shade of plants that are capable of surviving in the desert. In addition, leveling provides diversity of agriculture.
car access main road Bath spring water pool mosque gate/tower new settlements old settlements wadi palm field
Fanja’s program
this is a map showing the main settlement of fanja 0
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Fanja Oasis, Oman Fanja is one of the oldest cities located in the ‘Ad Dakhiliyah’ region, Oman. The city’s civilization dates back to 5000 years ago [10], it also exemplify how an oasis works. Currently the oasis of Fanja has over 230,000 square meters of palm fields with varies types palm tree such as “Naghal; Fardh; Handhal; Khanizi; Mabsali; and Khasab”[11] , 20 Falaj*, an established settlement system starting with the oldest located on the top of the mountain and recent expansion towards the east, and a long history of trade as it is located along a trade route from the interior in the western part of the country to the main trade harbor in the eastern part of the country. As water plays a vital role in the formation of an oasis, Fanja’s oasis origin can be rooted to the 3 main springs, one is on the western section of the oasis, the second is on the middle residential area of the oasis, and the third is on the eastern side of the oasis. The agriculture farms in the western and eastern section exhibits the human intervention to his landscape, through water channels, diversification of plantation, in addition to leveling. The oasis program consists of the daily requirements of resident; this includes function such as mosques for daily prayers, souq for trade, water pools for water storage and recreation, bath for hygiene, palm fields for agriculture, towers for protection, and settlements for shelter. The mosque is found in the heart of the palm fields, as the men spend the whole day graving the land, therefore the prayer area is near their working space. The souq on the other hand is located near the settlement district; this is
mainly a result of two factors: one, the market area take a lot of space for display and storage therefore it is far away from agriculture land. Two, the market is closer to its customers where trade is faster and customers are of abundant. The water pools are mostly located on the fringes of the palm fields; these pools serve the oasis when there are low levels of precipitation. This system of water storage is used for irrigation when the water resources are scares, and also for recreational purposes such as swimming. These pools are located strategically on the highest points of the palm fields fringes, therefore it’s not taking away any agricultural land, and if need for irrigation, it can follow a natural flow without the need for any water pumping gadgets. The baths location along the Falaj is in the third stage of the water system. The Falaj water system from beginning to end consists of five stages: drinking, ablution, bath, domestic use, irrigation respectively. Therefore the baths are situated in the palm fields following the water system and to insure privacy. Towers are found scattered in oasis and its surrounding, as the oasis is rich in trade, water, and products, it was a necessity to fortify the oasis against any attackers. The original settlement area was situated between the fortifications for protection reasons; in addition it was located in a mountainous area where agriculture was not possible.
*Falaj: it is the water channels directed towards the plantation fields for irrigation as a way for water management in hot arid areas [12].
ships and airplanes
temprorary closed systems
Closed systems An oasis is an example of a system that works independently, the interaction between it and the external factors are highly limited, thus a system such as an oasis is referred to as a ‘closed system’. Objects or spaces that follow a closed system create interesting case studies as they represent a system that works regardless of its location or any other external factors; hence productivity of a closed system is highly reliable as long as the inner systems are working accordingly. There are many closed systems that found in nature such as the oasis, water cycle, and an island, moreover the human made closed systems include ships, airplanes, spaceships, etc. An island –similar to the oasis- represent mirage of hope and life in the vast seas. Here the harsh environment of the desert is replaced with that of water, and the oasis is replaced the island. The sea and oceans are home for varies marine life, however man was not built to live in such conditions, our bodies are designed to walk and run and not to swim, in addition our lungs can only breath the oxygen from the air whereas the marine life are capable of breathing the dissolved oxygen molecules from the water through there gills. Hence we humans cannot survive in any environment that lacks water –desert- and the oxygen in the air-under the sea. Spaces such as an oasis or an island form space where human habitation is possible. An island is a piece of land that is surrounded by water [13]. Island are found in different sizes and
types, there is no limit to how big it can be nor how small. However, there are many types of island that can be categorized into two groups, those which are inhabitable by human, and those which aren’t. Inhabitable island are those similar to and oasis, where fresh water resource area available. The availability of water in an island creates a similar system to the oasis. The cycle of formation in both systems –oasis and island- starts with water then followed by vegetation. These two elements provide the basis for human civilization. The water cycle is basis of development of any human civilization. Water bodies cover around 71% of our earth. Water is found in its gases state as vapor in the atmosphere, liquid as oceans, seas, rivers, etc. and solid as ice. The water system consists of water evaporation from water bodies and plants during perspiration, condensation of the hot water vapor into clouds, precipitation as a result of the clouds being heavy with water vapor, flowing along water channels that pass through vegetation fields ending at water bodies such as the sea. During the return of water through water channels, some of the water is infiltrated in the ground and stored as groundwater, or it flows parallel to water channels in Groundwater Rivers. Water cycle is considered a closed system because this continuous cycle is the basic change of water state from one form to another –solid to liquid, liquid to gas, or vice versa-, the amount of water on earth is still same, it only keeps changing it state. Ships and airplanes represent a model for a closes system. They carry within them the energy and water sources, required food, waste management procedures, and an interaction between humans.
water cycle
it is the movement of water from one form to another
spaceship
it act as a moving shelter
Just like an oasis, the ship and airplane consist of many sub-systems that work together in order to form a closed system. However ships and airplane differ from an oasis as they behave in manners that result in a temporary closed system. Unlike the oasis, the ships and airplanes don’t have equilibrium between the outputs and inputs that it produces. Nevertheless, this factor can be altered in the case of a ship. If vegetation or any form of agriculture was introduces on the deck of the ship, the output levels and inputs level may balance out resulting in equilibrium. In the case of an airplane the integration of a suitable form of agriculture is not possible because of height and sunlight factors, thus it remains a temporary closed system.
an island
is a piece of land surrounded by water
Like the airplane, spaceships form a temporary closed system, however in the case of the spaceship, the system tend to be closed for a long period, therefore the required inputs of food and energy in a spaceship is taken for earth and stored. Here we can compare the water pools as a subsystem in an oasis to the food and energy storage in a spaceship; they both signify that certain resources are of scarce. In addition, waste management – as an output-is solved with the same concept of storage, here the output is stored during the period of traveling, and then it is taken out at the end of the journey. Summing up, a closed system is best and most reliable when there is equilibrium between what the system takes in, and what it gives out. When a system is as independent as the oasis, the system becomes manageable. However, we should always keep in mind that the oasis is a collection of smaller systems that work together to produce a big closed system.
location of the oasis in the sea
three possible location first on the left is on the surface of water, second in the middleunderwater, third on the right is inbetween.
Oasis in the sea The act of transferring a closed system such as an oasis to a different location is a method of solving a problem, a problem that concerns our current environment. Fresh water resources are of scarce; cities are consuming and producing in a fast manner that has shifted the equilibrium paradigm between outputs and inputs. Natural resource are depleting, we found many ways of wasting water, we have taken so much from the earth and never bothered returning it back to its place. We have lost all our values that where past for the decedent generations. The small concept of an oasis in an abundant water source might be a solution to how we should further develop and prosper. Formation of an oasis in the sea Moving an oasis form location to another means that: first the formation of the whole system has been already designed, second the adaptation of the oasis to water can reconfigure the placements of the inner elements that create the oasis –keeping in mind that the closed system should be maintained. For example, analyzing how an airplane works helps us understand that if placed in water, it can adapt through a reconfiguration of its elements, eventually we create a ship. Both the airplane and ship provides the same function ‘Transportation’ and they both have a closed system. However, the ship closed system can be enhanced if altered a bit, thus a new concept is developed from placing an object in a different location.
In the case of an oasis, its location within the water body is extremely vital. One can take simple idea of an island in the sea and replicate that to the oasis in the sea. However, a clear understand of the definition of an island is required. An island is the piece of land that projects out of the water surface, thus it is surrounded by water [14]. Moreover, island can be thought of as mountain that is somewhere within its height is divided by the water body and the atmosphere. Hence an island has a base that it sits on. In regards to the transferring of the oasis, the oasis is left floating in the sea, this provided it with the abundant fresh air resource as it is above the water level, however it is exposed to stronger high speed winds and waves that are found on the surface of the water body that can affect the balance of the floating oasis. Another possibility for transferring the oasis is placing it under the water surface; as a result, we create something similar to a submarine. However, understanding the system of a submarine and an oasis, the oasis offers sub-system that creates the equilibrium between its inputs and outputs, such as the water and agriculture systems. Moreover, if the submarine was altered, and included all the subsystems that are currently present in an oasis, it would fail as it requires more alteration in the agriculture sub-system. In the oasis located in the desert, an external factor that is never considered is the air we breathe, the plantation of a desert oasis does not require a specific amount trees for the oxygen production and carbon dioxide absorption as the atmosphere filtration is a global system. Therefore the inhabitants are not affecting if the tree to person ratio wasn’t accurate. The required amount of tree
water condensation system
it is a system that is derved from the water cycle sysem. Here water can purified form solid wastes
wind and solar energy
the energy from both the wind and solar is harnessed
to produce enough oxygen for one person is 17 trees and for the carbon dioxide absorption 20 trees [15]. Hence maintaining a city underground is possible but requires a lot of surface area for the plants to grow, in addition, it deprives the marine life living underneath it from sun light. However, building inside water means that the surrounding temperature is mostly constant, and it also provides the new city with tidal energy. An alternative solution is developed when placing the oasis partially above water and partially underwater. Here we combine the best of the two designs: diverse energy sources for land and sea, diverse agricultural plantation, including land and sea plant, abundance of water –if processed. The formation of the partially sunk oasis can replicate how a ship floats or even a cup. Using the Archimedes’ Principle, a strong heavy metal if hallowed, can float in water, this is because the volume of the objects is mostly occupied with air. Thus the density of the water is still heavier than the metal object [19]. Elements of the oasis in the sea In a partial sunk oasis in the sea, all sub-system must be reconfigured to ensure the closed system is maintained. These sub-systems include the water system, agriculture system, waste system, energy system, and the human community system. The water system can be retained in this situation can work if the simple concept of the water cycle is applied. Water evaporated from sea, condenses, falls back as a fresh water source, and then is taken back to the sea- recycled. Thus if the evaporated water from the sea is collected in a condenser, fresh
water can be collected then further on purified using the water purification system [16]. As a result, the water outputs and inputs are balanced out creating a closed continues system. The agriculture system in a partially sunk oasis offers a great deal of diversification of plantation. The required vegetation by humans can by divided to the top layer plants, and bottom layer plants. Plant on the land surface –water surface, can follow the tradition system of agriculture with leveling. In addition the bottom underwater layer can provide different types of algae, seaweeds, etc. [17]. This diversification can provide the nutrient, medicine, cosmetic, etc. The waste system in this situation works similarly to desert oasis waste system, the solids waste from animals and plants are decomposed and used as a fertilizer for the agriculture land. All non-degradable waste is reused. None of the wastes produced will be thrown into the sea, in order to avoid any hazardous situations similar to the Great pacific garbage patch [18]. The energy source in a desert oasis consisted of solar energy, however in the sea, we can get a various source of renewable energy, such as wind energy, solar energy, tidal energy, and even kinetic energy can be harnessed. Energy sources such as these will reassure that the closed system within the new oasis is maintained. Energy is used for all mechanical requirements in hospital facilities, education facilities, domestic purposes, recycling process, and recreational areas.
New ‘Sea Oasis’
conceptual design of how the oasis would look like.
The human community system is enhanced through creating knowledge exchange facilities in the new oasis; here ideologies of development, literature, sustainability are exchanged between the new human inhabitant with each other, and with their surrounding ecosystem. In the new oasis, the human community shall understand their role in the system they are living. The values that were gained for our decedent generation won’t be forgotten. In addition, new inhabitants of the ecosystem are diversified. Assembly of elements After the collection and configuration of the entire element within the new oasis, a proposed model appears. The form of the oasis is changed into a vertical tower that is hallowed from the center for floating and air circulation purposes. This hallowed center creates a ring of vegetation located on the top layer, which is the only layer visible from above the water surface of the sea. The agriculture fields now include different types of Algae and sea plants, in addition the animals as a sources of food now includes some of the marine life. The marine lives are provided with food along the surface area of the new oasis. In addition, solid wastes are collected on the upper layer so its usage as fertilizers can be easily obtained from the surrounding solid waste decomposed. The new oasis needs a great amount of energy in order to keep the sub-systems running in a closed system. However, as the energy harnessed is from renewable sources such as wind, solar, tidal, and
kinetic energy. The energy gained from these resources will be mainly used for technical machinery, industrial, medical, and education facilities, and lastly domestic uses. The new oasis provides the human with a space that he can live, work, study, recreate in. all different types of facilities are available, this is to insure that the quality of living, and the enhancement of the human resources is obtainable. The human interaction between himself and his ecosystem is captured in the agriculture area, scientific research labs, energy sources, etc. And lastly the water system in the new oasis is recaptured using the whole central void as a scaled water cycle. Together, this new formed oasis can be called a ‘sea oasis’ as it still functions is the same closed system manner; in addition it holds within similar characteristics of the desert oasis, such as the isolated location and the unlivable surrounding.
Conclusion The sea oasis is the representation of how a closed system transferred to a new location can serve as a solution for us and the future generation. Using the methodology of transfer, one can produce many alternatives for solving a problem as such. In addition, the analysis of closed system helps us in finding out solution many of the problems that we are facing in the 21st century. This paper has discussed and outlined the oasis as a system, comparable systems, and the formation of oasis in the sea.
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