Qatar is one of the GCC countries near the Arabian Gulf where it has been in a very fast rate of development especially regarding urban design and planning. The two major leaders for urban development are Barwa & Qatari Diar real estate where they established Al-Waseil City, Barwa Al-Kour City, and Barwa Al-Wakra City. Also, Doha heart innovation with Doha Land associated with Qatar Foundation will start soon to build a new, modern city.
Urban design and planning is one of the most important branches in civil engineering where integration of all possible properties, services, infrastructures, super structures, highways, environment, social aspects, economy, operations and maintenance and future trends shall be master planned also, the historical value that can be associated with urban life span.
In general, urban design and planning needs a lot of brain storming and a very well analysis for current factors and future ones as well to come up with an upgradable urban design and planning. There are many factors to be considered such as: purpose of such development (industrial – commerical – residentail), number of population expected to be accomidated in that city, economical aspects, cultural values, social issues, geographical location and its potentials in furture development, operation & maintenance of such development, environmtental impacts on current natural life as well as after development, and its financial benefits for the country and its sorrounding cities.
Many engineers not only in the Middle East, but also around the world ignore the historical values that grow with urban or city life span. For example, Chicago at USA will always remain the city of skyscaprers.
Urban design and planning has been developed quickly at Qatar in the last 4 years to suite its growth where they are avoiding other people mistakes and trying to fix their mistakes as well. For example, the super structures have been developed quickly ignoring the old infrastructure services near the cosat; however, now they are upgrading that network. Also, in any new development they are avoiding such mistake in their new cities like Al-Wasil or Doha Heart where those two cities will have the most advanced infrastructure services in the world designed by leading consultant offices. Moreover, upgrading the old capital and building medium highways bridges, flyovers, and underpasses network to connect both modern development with the old upgraded urban.
In order to have a good urban design, sustainability should be considered at early stage where Qatar and the whole Middle East start applying its principles to have an effective optimum cost benefits out of their new cities and development. Furthermore, Qatar Foundation is now working on building an educational city with all its facilities to create a healthy environment that will be a solid base for future education where the sourrounded areas have been developed at the same rate by other investors, so proper urban design and proper planning can also attrack investors and have a positive effects on economy in general.
Honestly, the principles and concepts are established where application tools still need time to reach the an effective level by developing a strong, solid system where Aspire Zone (The Sport City) has succeeded to do so and being in a very advance stage regarding urban design & planning in terms of upgrading, environmental aspects, and operation/maintenance of such sport city and its facilities. For example, the sport city was designed to accommodate Doha Asian Games 2006; however, it can be easily upgradable to accommodate the international Olympics games since it is located at a central area sourrounded by a smooth raods network that connect Aspire with other major cities.
In general, Qatar has a very good master plan where developments are spread all over the country at Nroth, middle, and south with a parallel upgrades,and developments for its roads, bridges, and interchanges networks. The new bridge that connects Qatar with Bahrain is another example of how urban design and planning can be extened outside the country to neigbers where knowledge, culture, and development can be shared.
In summary, urban design and planning is an engineering tool that develops communities, life styles, and eventually a modern society.
