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Filling the Empty Quarter

The “grey” water exiting masjids is not contaminated in any real way since there are no chemicals
used. That means that 70 million cubic meters of water could be saved if captured and put to use.
The simplest answer is to capture it, and reroute it to discharge into the nearest masjid garden
or vegetation. Whether it is a large group of trees or flower gardens, the water from the masjid
should not go to waste. This holds true of the condensate from their air conditioners as well,
which can also be directed to the nearest trees and plants.
Grey water is not the only source that can be saved and reused. There is also “greenwater”
and two very unique systems can allow it to be captured and used at commercial levels. The
RainTube and the RainSpace work together to harvest water from roofs and gutters (up to 100
inches per hour) and to direct it into a containment system beneath the ground. This is the
RainSpace that uses tubes to provide below the ground water storage. Systems can hold tens
of thousands of gallons of water and can serve as safe emergency supplies, for garden and
cultivation water, and more.

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Chapter Six

The Innovative Environment

The Empty Quarter project is all about the environment, and how we might make it the Full
Quarter ; filled with greenery,life and water, and the many systems and tools we have at hand
to see it brought to life, this chapter will highlight some unique and innovative concepts relating
to the environment, and/or the use of it ; which will overall support the “Full Quarter” Project.

The Green Lane Concept

The world is well connected with modern road and transportation systems to support its fast
modernization and industrialization plans. Knowing for sure that black and dark colors in general
attract solar radiation, the question is “are roads and streets contributing to the global warming?”

The answer is “of course they are”, and we increase global temperatures with every new roadway
and lengthy stretch of pavement.

Around the road there is estimated to be around 18 million-plus kilometers of paved roads. With
an average width of 7.3152 meters, that means we have 131788~ km² of black asphalt marring
the surface of the planet and creating heat.

Just to give you a realistic image of that, it is the size of UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Lebanon, Brunei,
Maldives, Seychelles, and Kuwait combined. And this did not consider the many more kilometers
of paved parking spaces.

These islands of black pavement are what contribute to ongoing global warming, especially when
you think that the world is 149,000,000 km², making around 0.00 8844% heat creating pavement.

The world is developing fast and the need to construct new roads is a must, so the deforming
of the Earth will continue. If we cannot stop paving roads, can we change the colors? Let’s just
ponder this question: “do roads have to be black?”

While researching this book, I came across “Green Parking technology” called “Net Pave”. It is
a technology, when applied to the hard shoulders of roads, will positively impact global warming.

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Filling the Empty Quarter

The Net can be filled with grass or desert sand, and either of these choices will be far more
conducive to cooling the world rather than heating it.

In addition to roads, we have other objects made by humans and also in very dark colors.
Consider how many darkly colored high-rise buildings and vehicles are in the world.

I think we should classify any item that is not naturally black, and which is artificially colored
black to be an environmental hazard. We should create legislation that governs the use of these
colors, and then encourage the implementation of NetPave technology or a similar concept in
our parking areas, roads and hard shoulders.

Endless Power Concept

Turbines can use hydroelectricity. Hydroelectric relies on energy created by flowing water that
comes from a hydroelectric station. Many stations are located in dams or reservoirs to allow for
easy capture of the energy. When water is sent from the dam, through pipelines, and over the
turbine, immense electricity is generated. Any excess water goes back to the original waterway.

The dams used for hydroelectric do not have to be exclusive to the turbine. They can be dams
built for water supplies or irrigation, and the hydroelectric can be added later. Doing so maximizes
the return from any waters contained in this way.

It is even possible to construct “micro” or “mini” power stations that are situated on streams or
other smaller bodies of water, and often in remote locations unconnected to utility grids.

In either case, most hydroelectric generates are up to maximum capacity in around ninety
seconds.

Clearly, it is an optimal force, but does it have to be only water from dams or streams? No, the
invention I will describe is going to produce hydroelectric using seawater contained in a massive
tank that is interconnected to smaller tanks with power stations or generators inside.

The way that these would work is straightforward - the valve connecting the “Main Tank” can be
open to the smaller tank. This will release a huge force due to the differential pressure under
sea. This will enable the generator impellers to rotate, generating electricity. The water flow
then will move to the second tank and repeat the same action, and continue along the way until
the last tank in the row. From there the water will be released back to sea or will be re-injected/
pumped back to the main tank.

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Chapter Six: The Innovative Environment
The Big tank can be floating or fixed on land, and water pumping from sea can be considered.
If the tank is floating, anti-fouling paint is a specialized coating to be applied to the tanks and
pipes in order to slow the growth of organisms that attach to the hull and affect the tank’s per-
formance and durability.

The technology is very cheap in comparison to generating hydroelectricity via dams; as well it
will helps countries with no dams due to a lack of rivers or adequate rainfall to capture.

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The pumps can be submergible with anti-corrosion, and the generator can be installed inland for
easy maintenance. Underwater cables could run the electrical power to the mainland power grid.
This could easily generate adequate energy supplies without any harm to the environment and
with minimal investment.
Should inland dams be an option, and hydroelectric generating systems be incorporated in the
dams, tremendous quantities of water could be saved through the use of evaporation blocks.
Covers over reservoirs may be possible with many man-made or seasonal captures, and there
are many floating compounds that might effectively prevent evaporation as well.
Ultimately, the goal is to use the resources on hand to reduce the problems wrought by global
warming, and energy from the pressure of the sea or from hydroelectric dams are amazingly
innovative ways to access the resources needed.

The Wind Power Generator Concept

Lastly, I truly believe that the island of Abu Dhabi has an as yet untapped resource in its high
rise buildings. The tall towers that sit so close to one another are a natural trap for any strong
breezes or winds. Wind will always travel directly between tall buildings, and this means that it
is an ideal “zone” for capturing wind and creating energy.
Generally, the concept is simple - install wind power generating systems between the two build-
ings. (As seen in the below image) This concept is one already designed for the world trade
center in Bahrain. Below are illustrations of their wind power generators built in 2008.

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Bahrain World Trade Center
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Filling the Empty Quarter
As is the case with many projects of this kind, there are some disadvantages. These could
include:

1. Potential for disrupting and irritating noise created by the wind turbines that would bother
occupants.

2. Some view these structures as an “eyesore”.
This could mean simply using vertical axis turbines as a quieter and more visually appealing
style. These could be installed along the same structures between two high rise buildings, how-
ever, placing turbines atop the many tall buildings in the UAE. In fact, this may prove the more
appealing solution since the higher the altitude the more the wind speed. Since this is often
an impediment to wind power, having consistently high wind is a definite advantage. With such
structures and buildings already in place, it would not take a tremendous amount of effort to
study the premium locations and make the most efficient choices and installations.

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In Closing...

Water, sunlight, and manpower...these are really what we need to realize the vision of a Full
Quarter. We have all of these things and the many technologies necessary to ensure that we
can make the most out of all of that water, sunlight, and manpower available.

Of course, it takes vision, and I hope that some of my outside of the box solutions have inspired
you to help see this dream of a blooming desert a modern reality. It is not of benefit only to the
UAE, but to all humanity.

Anywhere people suffer due to climate change, the Full Desert could begin to help them survive.
Anywhere bizarre new weather patterns wreak havoc on the landscape and everything inhabiting
it, the Full Quarter could start to undo the underlying causes.

And terrorism...I already explained that illiteracy and lack of food are two of the main reasons
for the ugly head of terrorism. Being able to supply people with food, water, and the means of a
good living will help to even out the imbalance leading to so many problems in the world.

The global cooperation needed for this project to come to life will also benefit humanity as well.
Working together, we can reclaim the lands of the UAE, stop desertification, bring the landscape
to life, and help save ourselves along the way.

With us or without Us ; I am confident that one day the Empty Quarter will be Full!



Resources

Carroll, Lindsay. UAE’s date palm system to receive global recognition for impor-
tance to agriculture. The National. 2014. http://www.thenational.ae/uae/environment/
uaes-date-palm-system-to-receive-global-recognition-for-importance-to-agriculture

China Daily. China plants green belt to stop deserts merging. ChinaDaily.com 2010. http://
www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-08/26/content 11209917.htm

Sahoo, Sananda. Eureka moments for Emirati aiming to harvest rainwater. The
National. 2013. http://www.thenational.ae/business/industry-insights/the-life/
eureka-moments-for-emirati-aiming-to-harvest-rainwater#ixzz3B8EC40Yv