UPC launches pioneering urban development benchmark

Developed to achieve cutting edge sustainability levels through groundbreaking innovations embodied in the UAE capital city's enhanced Estidama initiative, Estidama Integrative Design Process (EIDP) is designed to ingrain core sustainability practices in the conceptual phases of construction, tourism, educational, civic, commercial, residential and infrastructure projects planned across the Emirate.

H.E. Falah Mohammed Al Ahbabi, General Manager, Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council, said:

"The foresight to plan for infrastructure ahead of time is the trademark of Vision 2030. This initiative clearly demonstrates our commitment to put emphasis on sustainable development and concretely asserts Plan Abu Dhabi 2030's sustainable vision that is in essence 100% responsible urban planning."

Speaking on the occasion of Environment 2009, the region's premier environment trade show held from 19th - 21st January at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, Al Ahbabi said that Estidama, which means sustainability, is the first initiative of its kind tailored to the Middle East with the purpose of transforming Abu Dhabi into an internationally acknowledged model of sustainable urbanization.

"Estidama is first and foremost a philosophy about a new way of living, an aspiration giving the next generations hope for the shared planet. It is the epitome of our desire to achieve a truly sustainable way of living. It is neither a programme nor a rating system, but an overarching way of viewing all aspects of our life based on the four pillars of environment, economy, society and culture," said Al Ahbabi.

Unveiled at Environment 2009, EIDP is aimed at changing mindsets whilst embedding basic sustainability principles in development codes and regulations ensuring that every future project in Abu Dhabi achieves higher levels of sustainability through simply meeting code. EIDP also has its own Pearl Design System which is available to those developers seeking to achieve a higher sustainability quality.

"This is an innovation that has not been achieved anywhere in the world today. Getting the design process right from the beginning always results in more cost effective and more sustainable projects. We are actively educating the various stakeholders through training sessions in order to make them think differently about how they organise their design process, when to include various consultants and how to move from a multi-disciplinary approach to an inter-disciplinary process," added Al Ahbabi.

The EIDP encompasses all three stages of the lifecycle of a project, from A to Z. It begins with the Discovery Phase for initial research and analysis of the potential project issues and is followed by the Design and Construction stage before it concludes with the Occupancy, Facilities Management and Performance Feedback phase.

"According to EIDP, sustainable technologies and design are the norms rather than a nice-to-have. Incorporating light monitors in buildings to reduce energy consumption, creating shade with external structures, using better insulation and relying upon renewable energy sources such as solar power should become standard practice," said Salem Al Qassimi, Associate Planner, Estidama.

Estidama is the symbol of an inspired vision for governance and community development instigated by the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council to establish a planning culture and introduce strong guiding principles for new development.

Estidama is present at Environment 2009 with its own state-of-the-art interactive stand which uses an array of innovative audio visual technologies to educate visitors on the core principles of 21st century urban planning development in relation to Plan Abu Dhabi 2030 vision.