If we were to build a floating city, far out in the ocean...how?

Question

Not a ship because they operate under the laws of a country. A new land, floating upon the sea, with a new government, a fresh start. What would be required? How could it be built?

Answer 1

Hello Mithra;
It need not necessarily float.
One fellow from Great Britain has established himself on an abandoned oil rig and declared independence...but he's tied to external sources for food, technology, resources and raw materials.

There's another fellow I heard about (I can't remember his name and affiliation, but as soon as I do I'll post it... cause he deserves recognition) who's growing islands in the ocean in the caribbean: He uses wire mesh with a DC current running through it to electrodeposit minerals from sea water to grow foundations for islands and grown buildings that after they'grown up and weaned are lifted out of the water and placed on land or grown foundations...
You'd need to establish local food resources, energy supplies, sources of raw materials, and indigenous technologies, and industries that can earn a little foreign exchange would be nice.

You would have to promote or import human capability in things like agriculture, health care, food preservation, shelter construction, waste recycling disposal and management, craft and manufacturing, education, entertainment, clothing (optional if you chose your climate properly), and public administration( oh, well... ;- ( nothing's perfect...).

I presume that this would be based on a democratic principle and you're not going to establish a Jim Jones style commune or the pirate's colony of Barataria. So you would need sufficient population (threshold limit) to prevent mental stagnation and psychological degeneration. (that's why entertainment is an important part of your needs list)

I've gone on too long, so if this is a serious question you can e-mail me, as sustainable development is on of my pet projects. Also the Oceanian societies (polynesia etc) are prime examples of how to make it work...and work well.
HTH
Gerry

Answer 2

Be careful to pick the right location...much of Earth's open Ocean produces occasional rogue waves that scientists are just starting to monitor...
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMOKQL26WD_index_0.html
It would be best to be self-sufficient, to grow materials and produce things so it could continue building and growing.
You need to consider producing clean drinking water from the ocean. You will have to make life good there if you want people to stay and be happy...grow and prepare lots of good food...have utilities. Eventually you would need an airport. Maybe you could figure out a way to grow the materials to expand the city.
One persons idea for a floating city for 50.000 residents described here...
http://www.howstuffworks.com/floating-city.htm
Here is plans for Nexus, the Mobile Floating Sea City...
http://www.tdrinc.com/nexus.html
People also have floating cities in cyber-space...
http://www.freewebs.com/newaldriston/
There is a floating 'city' of sorts in Peru (a slum, actually)...
http://www.junglephotos.com/amazon/amtowns/peru/floatingcity.shtml

Answer 3

a million. Europa is in orbit round Jupiter, no longer Mars. Jupiter is even farther from Venus than Mars is. 2. there is not any way Europa would merely "get out of its orbit" and crash into Venus. 3. If Europa "were given out of its orbit", then it would want to genuinely as genuinely hit Mars or Earth. 4. no longer some aspect that takes position to Venus would impression the Earth - its too some distance away. 5. Its a shame they don't prepare someone-pleasant technological ideas in college anymore.

Answer 4

How about tying a bunch of boats together, and attaching them to an abandoned oil drilling rig? You'd need to be completely self-sufficient, though, fresh water, electricity, repair capability, maybe even gardening plots. It would be a major undertaking, and worthy of a sci fi story.

Hasn't that been done?

Answer 5

I wonder if it would make much difference...

I'm not being a pessimist...if at all...I'm a dreamer!

but humans essentially will remain the same...even if there is a higher level of consciouness prevalent in that new society...there still would be problems because perfection can never be attained...the human consciousness would always be a step higher than what is achievable... because our consciousness is spiritual...and our actions pragmatic...

there will always be suffering at a human level...

and that suffering is what drives us towards the spiritual plane...

the beauty does not lie in any paradise...

it lies in our endeavours....in our dreams...in our efforts and in our intentions to build that paradise...

Answer 6

1st it must be build by a single man .more than one will result 2 cities or more or Nil city.
2nd it must be made fare away from any other land or it will be soon token
3rd it is batter to not billed for human

Answer 7

I saw something about this guy who made his own "city" out of wood and a bunch of two liter soda bottles. He lived on a lake. Um...........anyways, I think Gerald S. gave the perfect answer. I only want to add one thing: take me with you!

Answer 8

Remember the movie...waterworld?