Developing sustainable cities in arid regions

There is increasing need for efficient management of resources within developed and emerging cities. However, without an adequate framework within which to address relevant issues, there may be no legacy for the next generation in most cities. This paper makes an attempt at highlighting a framework through which an urban center could be established and administered within the arid regions. The first part looks at the general background and concepts of sustainable development while the second part highlights the characteristics of the arid regions and the pertinent issues that warrant the adoption of sustainable development. The third part draws from the various concepts, to generate a general framework that can be applied in any part of the arid regions with little or minimal adjustment. The fourth part makes a passing survey of some regions and cities, which have made use of sustainable development approaches in trying to solve relevant problems of cultural interaction, energy and the economic challenges. Based on observations and analysis drawn from the proposed design framework, the paper concludes that there is need for more research and application of the concept of sustainable development in the arid regions.