While history remains encased in the vibrant orange sands underfoot, awaiting exploration, technology is opening the mystery to all. Giant GPS satellites orbiting the Earth can plot a man's course through even the deepest of deserts. Turbocharged engines power off-road vehicles up and over dunes while solar panels harness the sun's rays, offering electricity where appliances would once have faltered. Arid land ecosystems reach across forty percent of the globe, affecting close to twenty percent of the world's population. It's a staggering mass of limited water, swirling dust storms and slow, slow rates of biological activity.
Some people travel deep into the heart of the desert with the eyes of the archaeologist.
Others venture out simply for the thrill of opening up the throttle on a dune buggy. But while the list of devices available to help us penetrate the desert goes on, so too will technology be asked to protect the desert, to preserve its unique and fragile balance. The Middle East is booming. Annual rates for population growth and urban expansion are at an all time high. Business opportunities will bring increased pressure to bear on the region's natural assets and water resources must be managed in a sustainable manner.