Planning for an eco-city to sustainable urban environments International case studies

Abstract

An eco-city is a city designed and built with a thorough consideration of environmental impacts. In ecocities, inhabitants are dedicated to minimizing required inputs of energy, water, and food and to reducing waste outputs of heat and pollution. This paper examines how eco-city theory is applied in urban planning and design. The eco-city concept was introduced, international case studies on the eco-cities in developed countries were explored using case study methods to determine the application of eco-city concepts and theories, and a set of recommendations for converting Cairo, Egypt into an eco-city were formulated. Results showed that the eco-city concept can be effectively applied in combination with the characteristics specific to a locality. The study concludes that eco-city theory can be effectively applied in urban planning and design.