After a heatwave brought scorching temperatures, drought, and stifling air with not a breath of wind, the Balkans were hit this week by a severe storm.
In Belgrade, the public’s attention was drawn to videos and photos that quickly spread across social media and news outlets — in New Belgrade, the wind toppled a crane at a construction site, while foam insulation and various building materials were seen flying from others. Those who happened to be nearby could hardly distinguish the sky from the sudden clouds of dust stirred up by the wind.
At that moment, I was in Rakovica. I had a clear view of a construction site on a nearby hill and watched as the wind kicked up dust, which soon reached me.
Meanwhile, social networks and international media were sharing a completely different image from a construction site — in China. In the city of Jinan, a massive 50-meter-high inflatable dome was erected, covering an entire construction site spanning 20,000 square meters.
The dome is designed to contain dust and noise within the site instead of polluting the surrounding area. Its appearance resembles the inflatable enclosures used over football fields.
This innovative approach to construction uses a negative pressure and filtration system that prevents dust from escaping the dome. At the same time, an advanced ventilation system ensures clean air for the workers inside.
What makes the dome even more efficient is the transparent material it’s made of, allowing daylight to pass through and reducing the need for artificial lighting. Additionally, the dome reduces noise, which usually disturbs the daily lives of people — and animals — nearby.
Its use could become widespread in the future, given that it can be assembled and dismantled relatively quickly, and it can be manufactured in various sizes to suit a wide range of infrastructure and construction projects.
At a time when urbanization and construction are more prevalent than ever, and the environment increasingly polluted, such innovative solutions represent an important step toward protecting both human health and nature — showing that development and environmental care can go hand in hand.
