الفهرس 
TECHNOLOGY & CITY EVOLUTION (HISTORICAL STUDY)Only 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
”Our biggest challenge in the new century is to take an idea that seems abstract sustainable development and turn it into a daily reality for all this worlds’ people”.
KofiAnnan.
Secretary-General United Nations. 2001.
At the dawn of the third millennium, humanity stands at a very important crossroads. For the first time in history, urban dwellers are about to outnumber the rural ones. I In July 2009, the world population will reach 6.8 billion, 317 million more than in 2005 or a gain of 79 million persons annually. Assuming that fertility levels continue to decline, the world population is expected to reach 9.1 billion in 2050 and to be increasing by about 31 million persons annually at this time, according to the medium variant.2 Almost all of this growth is expected to be absorbed by the urban areas of the less developed world. Cities embody the values of the civilisations which created and transformed them. They have been defined as places where the human genius is expressed, a palette of possibilities, a melting pot of potential that has not yet been exploited. Alcaeus (7th century BC) suggested that ”cities are not made from their roofs, stone walls, bridges and canals but from men able to grasp opportunities and make the most of them.” According to Aristotle (4th century BC), the city is ”built politics.” Vitruvius (1st century BC) stated that ”cities should be solid, beautiful and useful”, built with order, eurhythmy, symmetry, propriety and economy.•
Cities are probably the most complex things that human beings have ever created. They are the wellsprings of culture, technology, wealth and power. Throughout most of human history, we have not been very successful at planning our cities. Unlike natural ecosystems, our cities have largely been the result of conflict and adaptation and powerful forces beyond our control.3 City is the most important factor in creating sustainable development. The global economic growth is closely associated with urbanization, and the city is the main engine for economic growth. But large cities have negative effects on the environment; they are the main environmental pollutants.4
The solution could be found by creating sustainable cities, which are constructed in such a way that clean water, air, food, housing, education, health ... etc are provided without damaging the environment. Technology is the main key to create a successful future sustainable city. Using the technology tools is not a step forward, but it is just a correction of back forward steps. Science and technology have helped to achieve enormous improvements in human welfare, but they have also contributed to damaging the natural world and human health and are even threatening long-term human survival. So how can we make sure that science and technology improve human welfare rather than undermine it?
Various technologies including information technology, biotechnology and nanotechnology have the potential for significant and dominant global effects. They can !Jroduce substantial progress over the next two decades toward a sustainable human future. Nanotechnology is a very powerful new approach that will change our industries and our lives. We have a very small window right now to bring up this technology responsibly and sustainability.
We need to learn from past mistakes and concurrently look at the possibility of harmful implications as we benefit from the applications. Realizing this progress will demand a threefold effort by the scientific and technological community to work with governments, international organizations and the private sector to promote a worldwide transition to sustainability. I
Urbanization was always related and connected to science and technology through history. More scientific progress means more urban spread. Science and technology were always the main way to sustainability in the past, the present and the future.
Few nanocity ideas have been presented. Although they do not have a real nanotechnology implementation, they may be considered as primary steps toward a real sustainable nanocity.
”Vision without action is a daydream, but action without vision is a nightmare. The sustainable city concept forms a bridge between vision and action in the challenging task of transforming our cities.