ABU DHABI // A design tool that sets guidelines for more pedestrian-friendly streets has been included in Abu Dhabi University’s curriculum for the coming academic year.
The Urban Planning Council’s Urban Street Design Manual was piloted last year by the university as part of its highway engineering course for civil engineering students. Plans are now in place for it to also be included in the urban design course for architecture students.
The manual plays a significant role in developing Abu Dhabi’s urban streets. It equips designers with the tools to plan, design and build safer and more walkable streets in line with the objectives of Abu Dhabi Vision 2030.
Although several lectures about the manual have been delivered at a number of universities and colleges, this is the first time that the manual standards and guidelines have been officially included in a university’s curriculum.
Professionals from the UPC will be working with the university to train and support its academics on how to teach the manual’s principles.
Abdulla Al Shamsi, executive director of strategic affairs at the UPC said: “The UPC often collaborates with universities across the emirate and the wider UAE to run courses and workshops to build awareness not only of the technical manuals, but also of the wider role our young students can play by embarking on a career in urban planning to support the realisation of Vision 2030 ... we look forward to working together in a similar manner with other government and private educational institutions.”
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