Environmental Project Gone Extreme
The planet has always had its ups and downs regarding climate change and damages done by ‘mother nature’ herself; there have been cities torn apart by hurricanes, tsunamis, and tornados. Scientists, biologists and engineers have been working together for years trying to come up with ways to shield us from these types of disasters. One of the most popular and thought out to be more science fiction than realistic is the idea of a dome; not just any dome, a dome that covers an entire city. In this particular and sensitive case the dome would have to be built with resistant material strong enough to shield the damages that bring down buildings, homes and businesses.
Domes are thought to be the best idea by some because they center their focus on their logical explanation; Hurricane Ike’s damages were more than $10 billion dollars, and we do not know when this can happen again. Therefore the main argument that holds up the construction of a dome over a city is the fact that the cost will not be greater than the total damage costs it would take to constantly re-build a city after it is destroyed. In a large city where the weather is extreme like Houston’s heat, the electrical costs are extremely high. The city suffers from 90 degree weather on nearly 100 days each year, the residents run their air conditioners so often that more electricity is used in Houston than in Los Angeles.
By implementing a dome over Houston it would protect the city from critical weather and the unpredictable scorching heat. There would be vents at the highest point of the dome that could be opened and closed to regulate temperature, and massive doors that allow entrance could be closed to protect the city from hurricanes and other inclement weather; the dome would serve as a refuge for its occupants.
The idea of a dome has been attempted before in different scenarios. The Eden Project is an example of a dome that covers a large area. The accomplished, giant, multi-domed greenhouse was built in March of 2001 in Cornwall, England and it has become a popular tourist site that attracts thousands of visitors every day. The Eden Project was built along the side of a deep pit and it consists of three biomes designed to represent three distinct climates found around the world; the Humid Tropics Biome, Warm Temperate Biome, and the Roofless Biome. Because the Eden Project was such a success it attracts the idea of a dome over a large area and intrigues people all over the world that would like to cover another patch of land to protect it, or maintain it.
In order for the dome to work properly the teams of engineers have come up with a few techniques; they have considered the construction of the dome, the materials used to build it, an entrance to the city, and vents that will maintain an adequate temperature of 70 degrees no matter the climate outside the dome. If Houston’s dome is built, it is estimated to be the biggest structure with the largest roof in the world; the surface area will stretch over 21 million square feet. More than 369,000 narrow steel bars form the frame, and almost 75,000 of them could fail before the dome becomes unstable. Since the size and height of the dome is so massive, engineers are planning on using heavy-lift helicopters and a new type of helium-filled dirigible (sort of like a blimp) to move pre-assembled pieces to the top of the high dome. Instead of using glass, they are using a strong and lightweight plastic called ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE); this triple-layered surface weighs just 1 percent as much as glass but won’t shatter and it can easily be repaired, if it happens to fall it will simply drift down like a feather without hurting anyone. Panels will be placed at the very top of the dome, they will be opened to provide ventilation and to help regulate the temperature.
Some argue that other cities such as Galveston would benefit more of the dome since it is more susceptible to hurricane damage. Contradictors have also found some loop holes in the plan such as the fact that a dome does not address the issues of pollution caused by the petrochemical and oil refining facilities that surround the city of Houston. The cost is also another concern, in theory it could cost $140 billion or $250,000 per resident to build a dome. Some people do not necessarily get worried about the cost, or what the dome will do for the city; more than anything some feel it will be a sort of claustrophobic experience to live within a dome. People that support the idea argue that you will not even know the dome is there since it is more like being surrounded by a screen; a very powerful screen.
The concept of a dome over a city like Houston is very impressive yet it has failed to convince all. The outcome of it is unknown and people wonder if it is the best idea all together; if it will even work. Considering all the negative input from people that do not agree with this idea, some scientists think it is the only way to save Houston and that this idea is just the beginning. Large cities with uncontrollable and at times outrageous weather will soon be added to the list; cities like Buffalo, Minneapolis, New York and Chicago will be considered to be placed within a dome.
The dome idea is just one of many projects thought out to improve the planet’s current state. Whether a dome will provide adequate shelter from the outside climate is still unknown although scientists and engineers continue to work hard to prove that it is the only way to save cities that are in danger of destruction. There are both supporters and non-supporters for this idea but both parties are equally anxious, awaiting the outcome of the Houston Dome Project. There is no telling what can be executed next if this project succeeds and even though it seems like a science fiction theory it is exciting for all to know that technology continues to take the planet further.
The planet has always had its ups and downs regarding climate change and damages done by ‘mother nature’ herself; there have been cities torn apart by hurricanes, tsunamis, and tornados. Scientists, biologists and engineers have been working together for years trying to come up with ways to shield us from these types of disasters. One of the most popular and thought out to be more science fiction than realistic is the idea of a dome; not just any dome, a dome that covers an entire city. In this particular and sensitive case the dome would have to be built with resistant material strong enough to shield the damages that bring down buildings, homes and businesses.
Domes are thought to be the best idea by some because they center their focus on their logical explanation; Hurricane Ike’s damages were more than $10 billion dollars, and we do not know when this can happen again. Therefore the main argument that holds up the construction of a dome over a city is the fact that the cost will not be greater than the total damage costs it would take to constantly re-build a city after it is destroyed. In a large city where the weather is extreme like Houston’s heat, the electrical costs are extremely high. The city suffers from 90 degree weather on nearly 100 days each year, the residents run their air conditioners so often that more electricity is used in Houston than in Los Angeles.
By implementing a dome over Houston it would protect the city from critical weather and the unpredictable scorching heat. There would be vents at the highest point of the dome that could be opened and closed to regulate temperature, and massive doors that allow entrance could be closed to protect the city from hurricanes and other inclement weather; the dome would serve as a refuge for its occupants.
The idea of a dome has been attempted before in different scenarios. The Eden Project is an example of a dome that covers a large area. The accomplished, giant, multi-domed greenhouse was built in March of 2001 in Cornwall, England and it has become a popular tourist site that attracts thousands of visitors every day. The Eden Project was built along the side of a deep pit and it consists of three biomes designed to represent three distinct climates found around the world; the Humid Tropics Biome, Warm Temperate Biome, and the Roofless Biome. Because the Eden Project was such a success it attracts the idea of a dome over a large area and intrigues people all over the world that would like to cover another patch of land to protect it, or maintain it.
In order for the dome to work properly the teams of engineers have come up with a few techniques; they have considered the construction of the dome, the materials used to build it, an entrance to the city, and vents that will maintain an adequate temperature of 70 degrees no matter the climate outside the dome. If Houston’s dome is built, it is estimated to be the biggest structure with the largest roof in the world; the surface area will stretch over 21 million square feet. More than 369,000 narrow steel bars form the frame, and almost 75,000 of them could fail before the dome becomes unstable. Since the size and height of the dome is so massive, engineers are planning on using heavy-lift helicopters and a new type of helium-filled dirigible (sort of like a blimp) to move pre-assembled pieces to the top of the high dome. Instead of using glass, they are using a strong and lightweight plastic called ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE); this triple-layered surface weighs just 1 percent as much as glass but won’t shatter and it can easily be repaired, if it happens to fall it will simply drift down like a feather without hurting anyone. Panels will be placed at the very top of the dome, they will be opened to provide ventilation and to help regulate the temperature.
Some argue that other cities such as Galveston would benefit more of the dome since it is more susceptible to hurricane damage. Contradictors have also found some loop holes in the plan such as the fact that a dome does not address the issues of pollution caused by the petrochemical and oil refining facilities that surround the city of Houston. The cost is also another concern, in theory it could cost $140 billion or $250,000 per resident to build a dome. Some people do not necessarily get worried about the cost, or what the dome will do for the city; more than anything some feel it will be a sort of claustrophobic experience to live within a dome. People that support the idea argue that you will not even know the dome is there since it is more like being surrounded by a screen; a very powerful screen.
The concept of a dome over a city like Houston is very impressive yet it has failed to convince all. The outcome of it is unknown and people wonder if it is the best idea all together; if it will even work. Considering all the negative input from people that do not agree with this idea, some scientists think it is the only way to save Houston and that this idea is just the beginning. Large cities with uncontrollable and at times outrageous weather will soon be added to the list; cities like Buffalo, Minneapolis, New York and Chicago will be considered to be placed within a dome.
The dome idea is just one of many projects thought out to improve the planet’s current state. Whether a dome will provide adequate shelter from the outside climate is still unknown although scientists and engineers continue to work hard to prove that it is the only way to save cities that are in danger of destruction. There are both supporters and non-supporters for this idea but both parties are equally anxious, awaiting the outcome of the Houston Dome Project. There is no telling what can be executed next if this project succeeds and even though it seems like a science fiction theory it is exciting for all to know that technology continues to take the planet further.
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