MUSCAT - Within the past forty years, the population in Oman has been growing and as a consequence the demand for land has increased tremendously. To analyse and discuss current urbanization, a two-day symposium titled "Sustainable Urbanization Patterns in Oman" has been kicked-off on Saturday evening at the German University of Technology in Oman (GUtech).
"Sustainable urbanization is a multi-dimensional and dynamic process that includes not only the environment but also social, economical, political and institutional aspects," said Professor Dr. Sonja Nebel, Professor for Urban Design at GUtech. Professor Nebel is principal investigator of a joint research project with Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), which is funded by The Research Council (TRC). The main objectives of the joint research project is to assess the different urbanization patterns in Oman in two case studies, that will help understand the mechanisms of urbanization and then to further develop application-oriented instruments to guide and control urbanization in Oman. The second day of the symposium has been organized by Professor Dr. Sonja Nebel in cooperation with Professor Dr. Awni Shabaan from SQU, co-principal investigator of the research project and Prof. Dr. Allaa Mandoor, co-investigator of the research project.
"Research is very important for the university but as well for the whole community. GUtech's Bachelor of Science students in Urban Planning and Architectural Design have been involved in the research project. With this symposium GUtech participates in capacity building of the young generation in Oman," stressed Professor Dr. Burkhard Rauhut, Rector of GUtech during his speech. "Science, technology and innovation cannot evolve in separation of the rest of the society. They are one of the most interrelated, interactive and collaborative fields of human activity. The topic of the symposium explains and raises questions of how we can sustain our activities, especially since in this part of the world there is a large trend towards urbanization - movement from the rural areas to the capital. I hope that this meeting will address many factors of this phenomenon and will kick-off many new ideas for the remaining time of the research project," said Dr. Talal Al Balushi, Director for External Affairs at The Research Council (TRC) during his speech.
Urbanization results in raising problems such as high cost for infrastructure, long travel distances, car-based transportation, decay of traditional settlements and loss of heritage. Urban planners distinguish between horizontal and vertical expansion, resulting in high-rise buildings. "Muscat has followed the horizontal expansion, fostered by the natural setting," said Professor Dr. Sonja Nebel. According to the researcher, in Muscat urban functions within the city are always separated - for example shopping, residential, recreation, administration areas. As a consequence, inhabitants need to commute between each function of the city by car. Due to the increase in land consumption a built heritage that contributes to the identity of the country, is destroyed slowly. Students of the department of Urban Planning and Architectural Design of GUtech also presented their findings of their studies during a short presentation. They analyzed the urban layout, open spaces, housing typology in the Al Khoud area in Muscat. The students assessed the different housing types such as single villa, apartment house, twin villas. "Usually the outdoor spaces lack of green spaces. Inside the plots there is only some greenery, however not for the whole community. In addition during the past 40 years the size of the plots has tripled to up to 600 - 1200 m2 ," said Aysha Farooq, 3rd year student in BSc Urban Planning and Architectural Design.
At the end of the first day of the symposium, the exhibition on "Oasis Settlements in Oman" was inaugurated at GUtech. This exhibition is the result of an interdisciplinary Omani-German research project titled "Transformation processes in oasis settlements of Oman", established in 1999. The exhibition which was showcased in 2007 at SQU, presents the urban development of various oases, like Nizwa, Ibra, Bilad Seet and Al Hamra. "Sustainability in an Omani oasis are based on water and soil," stressed Dr. Annette Gangler of the University of Stuttgart. The oases were classified into plain oasis (48,5 % of all oases in Oman) which are mostly located along the coast in Al Batinah region as well as on the plains of the west and south of the Al Hajar Mountains. Agriculture in these oases is based on groundwater that is pumped to the surface. In contrast foothill oases (46.2 % of all oases) are traditional oases that lie along the eastern and western edge of the hajar mountains. The water supply of these mountains is ensured by water accumulation in large natural wadis. Mountain oasis lie in the interior of the mountain range and their water supply originates from natural springs that are fed by the extensive aquifers of the Hajar limestone formations. Urban oases are represented by parks and sporting facilities that are irrigated using off-site water. Kawr oases are similar to mountain oases that lie at the bottom of steep cliffs of limestone where natural springs emerge. Drainage oases are the largest traditional oases in Oman. They lie along the main wadi that drains most of the southern and western side of the mountain range, and their settlements are fed from an abundant supply of groundwater contained in the wadi sediments.
During the second day of the symposium topics like "Life-style patterns in Oman", "Migration and urbanization in Oman", Planning regulations and impact on urban development", "Improved road network and impact on urbanization", "Economy and urbanization in Oman" and "Urban Governance and Urbanisation" were discussed.
-Ends-
Manuela Gutberlet
Public Relations Manager
German University of Technology in Oman (GUtech)
Tel: +968 2461 6681 | Fax: +968 2461 6677 |
PO Box 1816, Athaibah, PC 130, Sultanate of Oman
Sultan Qaboos Highway, direction Muscat Intern. Airport, exit Petrol Station
Building 636
www.gutech.edu.om
© Press Release 2011
