〜Exploring the “Floating Future” Through Technology, Systems, Environment, and Society〜

Session 3: Research Themes and Challenges

The Floating Future project's defining feature is that its research themes extend beyond single-technology development to encompass social systems and cultural acceptability. To establish floating cities as a viable “real-world urban strategy,” ship and building design alone is insufficient. A wide range of factors must be addressed simultaneously from the psychological barriers faced by those living on water, to legal frameworks, and the impact on ecosystems.

Therefore, the project divides the research into four major pillars (Work Packages = WP) and incorporates ten PhD research projects to tackle the subject from multiple angles. This paper organizes and introduces the research themes and challenges faced.

◾️Research Theme (Work Package)

1. Governance

A major challenge in realizing floating cities is how to extend existing urban planning and laws to the aquatic environment.

• Treatment of ownership rights on water

• Application of building codes and safety standards

• Rights relationships when overlapping with ports and shipping lanes

• Development of tax systems and administrative procedures

At Floating Future, legal professionals and policy researchers collaborate to explore new rules based on the premise of "a society that lives with water".

2. Technology

The design and durability of floating structures are fundamental to the project.

• Modular design for scalability (can be combined to form cities)

• Stability under harsh natural conditions such as waves, currents, and strong winds

• Reduced maintenance and lifecycle costs

• Integration with renewable energy sources (solar, tidal power, etc.)

MARIN is at the center of model testing and simulations in experimental tanks, verifying its reliability as actual urban infrastructure.

3. Environment and Ecosystem (Ecology)

The environmental impact of floating cities is two-sided.

• Potential impacts: Water quality deterioration, changes in flow patterns, effects on benthic organisms and fish.

• Expected benefits: The underside of the floating structures may become a new habitat, potentially supporting diverse organisms.

Researchers from NIOZ and Deltares are leading efforts to conduct water quality surveys and biodiversity assessments. Through this work, they are exploring the potential for floating cities to contribute not only to reducing environmental impact but also to environmental restoration.

4. Social Acceptance

No matter how technologically advanced a city may be, it cannot be realized unless people want to live and work there.

• Psychological resistance to living on water and anxiety about the unknown

• Comfort in daily life, such as swaying, humidity, and accessibility

• Concerns about cost burden and maintenance

• Harmony with the landscape and cultural values

Social scientists, including those from the University of Groningen, are gathering feedback from residents and stakeholders through surveys and workshops. This effort aims to incorporate “human perspectives” into the design of technology and systems.

◾️Key Challenges of Floating Cities

Organized according to the research theme, the following challenges emerge for floating cities.

1. Technical durability and reliability

How to build structures that ensure safe and comfortable living amidst waves, wind, and currents.

2. Environmental Impact Assessment

Can we achieve designs that do not burden the natural environment, but rather coexist with ecosystems?

3. Development of Systems and Legal Regulations

How to establish ownership and usage rights over water, as well as the system for building permits.

4. Social Acceptability

How can we guarantee a quality of life that truly makes residents think, “I want to live here”?

5. Cost and Economic Efficiency

Can we keep construction and maintenance costs at realistic levels and establish a sustainable business model?

None of these can be solved in isolation; they are complex challenges where technology, systems, society, and the environment mutually influence each other.

◾️From the perspective of OCI

What we find noteworthy is that Floating Future “simultaneously researches not only technology but also social systems and cultural acceptability.” OCI's “Project Seatopia” similarly aims to be a multipurpose hub that serves as a disaster response base while also facilitating international exchange and environmental restoration.

Without the necessary systems and social acceptance in place, even the most advanced floating technology will never be implemented. Conversely, if people feel “this is where I want to live,” governments establish the required systems, and designs that bring positive environmental effects become possible, floating cities c