Janet Lau
27 January 2012: GIS Assignment 1 - Project Topic Interests and Spatial Questions
Project #1: Mapping the under-utilized, high-capacity occupancy of Dubai and make a proposal on
how to increase utility or potential for transportation or other land uses of vacant areas
1. Summary description: Dubai is known for its high density, mega sky rises, and foreign population
(made of expatriates and migrant workers). Prior to the economic crisis, its housing industry
was booming with rapid construction and development, resulting in the creation of too many
office and residential units, and not enough inhabitants by the time the recession hit. What I’d
like to research is how those empty spaces can be utilized. Perhaps they can be transformed as
other uses, or perhaps transportation can be routed in a way to stimulate economic recovery in
specific areas. With the Middle East continuing to rise in political, social, and economic
importance in the 21st century, Dubai will grow in the long run – what is the best way to deal
with its pristine and abandoned infrastructure now and in consideration of the future?
2. Spatial/geographic questions
a. Where are the buildings (or areas of those buildings) that have been partially or fully
developed, yet remain vacant?
b. How can land use be altered to accommodate a city that has shrank, has a population of
1.25 million and had planned for 3.5 million?
i. What are appropriate options for temporary and permanent changes/plans, in
prediction that Dubai will grow once again?
3. References
a. Presents the results of a project aiming to examine effects of the new development
projects and transportation proposals on urban structure of Dubai, UAE and how they
can be integrated effectively. Also addressed are spatial potential of such development
within the local context. Many syntactical/spatial figures, but no raw data..
Kubat, A.S., Guney, Y.I., Ozer, O., Topcu, M., Bayraktar, S. (2009). The Effects of the New
Development Projects on the Urban Macroform of Dubai. A Syntactic Evaluation.
Retrieved from
http://www.sss7.org/Proceedings/05%20Spatial%20Morphology%20and%20Urban%20
Growth/S060_Kubat_Guney_Ozer_Topcu_Bayraktar.pdf
b. Includes a city profile of Dubai with the Dubai Urban Area Structure Plan 1993–2015
with current and predicted land uses mapped out. Although this is interesting,
information needs to be compared with what buildings and which areas are vacant. If
data can’t be found, maybe look at vacant units being offered in the market
Pacione, M. (2005). City Profile: Dubai. doi:10.1016/j.cities.2005.02.00. Retrieved from
http://belkcollegeofbusiness.uncc.edu/dcread/MBAD7090/Papers/Pacione2005.pdf
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c. An attempt to create proposals for improving upon existing built environment.
Intriguing assessment on current urban conditions and under-utilized development
projects. Gives proposals on how to “shrink wrap” the city and intervene at sites most at
risk for economic failure
Curran, C., Arch, M., Massachusetts Institute of Technology. (Jan 15, 2010). Retrofit +
shrink wrap Dubai : an urban recovery plan. Retrived from
http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/57515
4. Existing data sources
a. Dubai Statistics Center
(http://www.dsc.gov.ae/En/StatisticalProjects/Pages/Projects.aspx)
b. Digital Colour Orthophotos for Boomtown Dubai – gives an overview of how Dubai is
trying to update their mapping and GIS data. Closer look at the document needed to
search for leads on finding up-to-date mapping information and data that can be
manipulated and analyzed.
(http://www.ifp.uni-stuttgart.de/publications/commIV/mehlbauer60.pdf)
c. Praying for GIS info
Project #2: Improving ‘livability’ for migrants in Dubai through housing, transportation, and social
services
1. Summary description: Dubai is said to have the highest proportion of immigrant population to
native population in the world. 65% of the immigrant population is Asian, with 40% being Indian
migrant workers. Other workers come from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Philippines, etc. Migrant
workers made the dramatic construction boom of Dubai possible, but are considered (and
treated) as the bottom of the social pyramid. My interest is to find out more about their living
conditions, and possible avenues to improve their quality of life.
2. Spatial/geographic questions
a. Where do low-income migrants live? Do they cluster in specific areas of Dubai?
b. What facilities are offered to migrants? In terms of housing, transportation, and
public/social services
3. References
a. This report explores “organic” open public spaces of Dubai, not the fabricated elite
shopping centers, but where migrants congregate. It gives great photos and
descriptions of areas where poor migrants attempt to fulfill their social needs. Open
spaces are vital to improving ‘livability’ and quality of life in a dense, commercial city
such as Dubai.
Elsheshtawy, Y. (2008). Transitory Sites: Mapping Dubai's ‘Forgotten’ Urban Spaces.
International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 32: 968–988. doi: 10.1111/j.14682427.2008.00819.x. Retrieved from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1468-
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2427.2008.00819.x/abstract;jsessionid=D61AF69992D6B55D324FB2860353B7DC.d03t0
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b. This article details the names of neighborhoods or areas where many migrants live. This
information would be useful, by examining the housing, transportation, and
public/social services that are available in those areas.
Kanna, A. Dubai in a Jagged World. Middle East Research and Information Project.
http://www.merip.org/mer/mer243/dubai-jagged-world
4. Existing data sources
a. Same as above.
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