In answering one of the overriding priorities of Masdar City’s master plan – to be a pedestrian-focused community – a rich network of public and personal transportation options will ensure it is easy to move across the city in comfort and ease.

As a result, walking and self-propelled transport will be the most convenient forms of transportation to many destinations within the city, as well as the most pleasant.

With walking encouraged to reduce energy use, stairs are always prominently featured, while elevators are hidden – the reverse of conventional buildings, where stairs are often hard to find.

Fossil-powered vehicles are parked outside the premises and personal travel takes place via electric-powered Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) vehicles, which are air conditioned with wide comfortable cushioned seating that exceeds conventional public transport standards.

In the PRT corridors, magnets have been embedded in the concrete floor every four meters to help the PRTs navigate, while overhead an antenna runs the length of the undercroft, in which the PRTs run, to provide a wireless link between the PRTs and the system computer.

Every aspect of the vehicles will be studied by Masdar Institute and others to determine the feasibility of a large-scale deployment of a low carbon public transportation system.

The vehicle’s user control panel consists of an information screen and interfaces for the vehicle activation, intercom, doors, medical assistance and emergency stop. Two benches – each with two sunken-in seats – face each other and are located over the wheels. Wide sliding doors make it easy to enter the vehicle, while sensors ensure that nothing can get caught in the doors as they close.

Vehicles, which can travel at speeds up to 40kph, and at 25kph on curves, are powered by a battery that recharges while vehicles are standing in the stations between trips. The driverless vehicles are controlled by an advanced navigation system that uses magnets embedded in the corridor to know their position while onboard sensors detect any obstacles in their path. A wireless connection keeps them linked to the central computer, which guides them on their journey and ensures smooth operation among all vehicles. Three flatbed Freight Rapid Transit (FRT) vehicles will play the role of trucks and vans to transport deliveries to and from the Masdar Institute campus and its resident students and retailers, as well as the university itself. The FRTs also will transport waste from the campus for sorting and reuse or recycling.