The first and perhaps most obvious outlet for generating gravity-like fields is for space travel.  If the expensive and environmentally hazardous use of chemical propellants continues it may limit the number of spaceports and undercut a vibrant space-economy.  Propellantless propulsion methods such as gravity-like field generation would circumvent those limitations.

Sector	Application	Usage	Outcome
Space applications	Surface to LEO	Raw materials	Iron
			Water
		Processed	Prefab structures
	LEO	Remove debris	No space junk
	Geosynchronous	Satellites	Communications
		Shields	Solar shading
	Tug services	Travel to LEO	Maintenance
			Orbital taxis
	Imports	Ores	Processing

Table 1. Near Earth applications

 

Zero-g industrial fabrication facilities initially planned for the International Space Station could be achieved at a fraction of the cost here on earth.  The 2001 ESA report A World without Gravity” is an encompassing study on microgravity research that has occurred in orbit and includes a review of current and future explorations in space medicine, space biology, physical sciences and commercial spinoffs.  This compendium of research on biological and physical systems while in orbit sheds light on the potential terrestrial applications derived from those very short duration studies of microgravity.

Sector	Application	Usage	Outcome
Industrial applications	Manufacturing	Fabrication	Shearing
			Bending
			Punching
			Shaping
	Shipping	Granular materials	Grains
			Gravels
	Vacuumization	Metals	Coatings
	Shielding	Processing plants	Foods
		Fabrication plants	Clean surfaces
	Containing gases	Welding	TIG/MIG
	Glassless windows	Extreme environment	High temperature
	Foil bodies	Aerodynamics	Airfoil
		Hydrodynamics	Hydrofoil

Table 2. Industrial applications

 

Microgravity environments on earth could be employed to grow large defect-free silicon, germanium and even protein crystals in suitable zero-g clean-room laboratories.  As the demand continues to grow for defect-free semiconductors and thin sheets of remarkable new materials like graphene, microgravity facilities may become the new standard in environments for growing microelectronic substrates.

Sector	Application	Usage	Outcome
Laboratory	Growing crystals	Silicon crystals	Computer chips
		Proteins	Prescription drugs
	Zone refining	Immiscible alloys	New metal alloys
	Centrifuging	Gaseous separation	CO2 separation
		Isotope separation	Isotope markers
	Gravity lensing	Gravito-optics	Telescopes

Table 3. Laboratory applications

 

Medical applications for gravity-like fields are also varied.  Using local gravity-like fields to counter the earth’s natural gravitational field to a fraction of its norma strength would lessen the weight (but not the mass) of the human body.  That capability would be useful for reducing pressure on the skin.

Industry	Application	Usage	Outcome
Medicine	Hypergravity	Therapy	Osteo therapy
		Conditional	Sports
			Rehabilitation
	Microgravity	Skin treatments	Burns
			Bed sores
		Circulatory	Reduce pooling
		Respiratory	Fluid removal
	Variable environment	Conditioning	Space travel

Table 4. Medical applications

 

The construction industry could benefit in several ways.  Platforms with propulsion fields could hoist materials and rather than install thousands of square yards of plastic sheeting to protect workers from rain and cold weather, a wide-beamed field of sufficient size could keep workers dry and protect them from wind. Standing fields aimed skyward could act as “repulsive safety nets” to break falls from buildings, bridges and other structures.

Sector	Application	Usage	Outcome
Construction and Mining	Hoisting	Beams/sheets	Building construction
		Bulk materials	Bridge repair
	Excavation	Trenching	Wall supports
		Mining	Tunnel supports
	Flood	Flood abatement	Damming/dikes
Safety and Rescue	Rescue/recovery	Collapsed building	Victim removal
		Skyscraper fire	Evacuation
		Ice or water	Extraction

Table 5. Construction, Mining and Safety/Rescue applications

 

Second and third generations of material and digital technologies frequently find their way to consumer secondary markets. Once initial tooling for production is amortized the cost of production lowers to where it can also find its way to consumers in the form of graphite tennis rackets, sensors for running shoes and other applications.  These next generations of gravity-like field applications will introduce the technology into consumer markets fomenting a wider adaption of the technology into society.

Sector	Application	Usage	Outcome
Sports	Flying sports	Equipment	Quidditch
		Arena	Paraball
			Real “Asteroids”

Table 6. Sporting applications

 

In Chicago there are an estimated 10,000 surveillance cameras both private and public.  A 2002 working paper by UrbanEye estimated that the number of stationary surveillance cameras in private premises in London is around 500,000 and the total number of cameras in the UK is around 4,200,000.  Low-payload gravity-like field platforms might easily be outfitted as camera platforms that can be positioned in any location and at any elevation to fill in the gaps in stationary surveillance.

Sector	Application	Usage	Outcome
Security/Privacy	Platforms	Advertising	Smart billboards
		Surveillance	Class G cameras
			“Tinkerbots”

Table 7. Security/Privacy applications

 

As with any technology, the potential for misuse or abuse exists.  Physical conflicts between protesters and law enforcement have led to new technologies for dispersing mobs and groups of protesters.  Microwave pain-generating beams for ground-based and air-based active denial systems (ADS) employed for crowd control have been marketed for civilian use.

Industry	Application	Usage	Outcome
Dystopic Uses	Terrorism	Public venues	Crumple bombs
	Criminal intent	Theft	Fence jumping
	Limiting civil rights	Crowd control	Suppression zones
		Surveillance	Big brother
	Zealotry	Fulfilling prophesy	Relocating shrines
	Unfair business	Industry destruction	Monopoly
		Harmful byproducts	Pollution
		Unappealing uses	Sex trade

Table 8. Dystopic applications

 

Defense applications similarly will be controversial.  The use for non-lethal weaponry and to protect soldiers’ lives will likely drive usage. Unconventional applications could potentially benefit the military.  Hyper-gravity devices developing short intense bursts of attractive gravitational fields could be used in a “crumple effect” pulling structures in on themselves.  While the end result of demolition would be nearly the same as bombing structures, it would minimize collateral injuries produced by debris ejected during explosions.

Sector	Application	Usage	Outcome
Defense	War zones	Detention	Suppression fields
		Surveillance/reconnaissance	Gravity drones
		Post-combat	Clearing land mines

Table 9. Defense applications

 

The propulsive uses of gravity-like fields will make possible a new category of flying vehicle that does not fit neatly into any current statutes for aviation.  There are three common types of flying vehicles recognized by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the U.S. government.  Hovercraft, fixed wing aircraft and rotorcraft describe most types of recognized non-sport aviation, though none describe a propellantless propulsion craft.

Sector	Application	Usage	Outcome
Transportation	Gravity-assisted	Load reduction	Suspension
		Friction reduction	Drivetrains
			Bearings
	Flying	Private	Commuter
			Recreation
		Fleet	Multi-passenger
			Heavy utility
	Routes	Urban flyways	Commuter traffic
		Delivery flyways	Goods shipped
	Smart networks (ITS)	Safety	Piloted vehicles
		Efficiency	Autonomous drones
	Building accommodation	Commuter vehicles	Parking
		Workspace	Vehicle as work pod

Table 10. Transportation applications

 

The range of architectural possibilities are described by the term “gravitecture+”, borrowed from the work of Professor Shuhei Endo of Kobe University.  The original meaning of gravitecture being “architecture that goes gracefully with gravity.”  That seems appropriate for this new technological capability, with the “+” indicating the addition of gravity-like fields to go gracefully with architecture.  In this context it is used to denote implementations using gravity design to either augment or completely float structures.

Sector	Application	Usage	Outcome
Architecture	Gravity-assisted	Cantilever structures	Balconies
			Overlooks
		Load reduction	Preservation
		Reinforcement	Earthquake proofing
			Hurricane and tornado
		Stabilization	Flood waters, tidal surges, tidal waves
	Floating	Legal rights	Right to Light
			Right to View (air rights)
			Roaming Rights
		Structures	Residential
			Barges
			Factories

Table 11. Architecture applications

 

Should a substantial population take advantage of the wonder-lust possible with floating architecture, real-time methods of collecting GIS (Geographic Information System) data for mapping and measuring dynamic populations in motion and over time would be required to track population drifts.  The MIT SENSEable City Laboratory  employs automatic data acquisition through mobile devices to study and predict the changes that cities undergo as interconnected computational elements become available almost everywhere.  Realtime data acquisition though such tools may become models for tracking dynamic changes in demographics.

Industry	Application	Usage	Outcome
Public Policy	Regulatory changes	Federal	Commerce
		State	Transportation
			Safety
		Municipal	Gravity zoned
	Citizenship	Residency	Roaming rights
		Demographics	Z-axis GIS

Table 12. Public Policy Impacts

 

Residents of floating cities and islands in fiction are portrayed as rich and privileged (Jonathan Swift’s Laputa being a notable exception) living far above the common concerns of those living at lower elevations.  In the era of vast agricultural estates land owners watched over the field workers from the “main house” where they could survey their lands.

Industry	Application	Usage	Outcome
Social Impacts	Economic divides	Housing	Vertical divide
		Transportation	Roadway vs flyway

Table 13. Social impacts

 

In the English language gravity is a synonym for weightiness, importance, seriousness, severity, concern, consequence, hazardousness, perilousness, significance, urgency, graveness, gravitas, soberness, solemnity and somberness.  Its antonyms include levity, buoyancy, flightiness, frivolity, silliness, unimportance, inconsequentiality and light-heartedness.

Industry	Application	Usage	Outcome
Semantics	Common usages	Vocabulary	gravity terminology
		New meanings	“uplifted” by gravity

Table 14. Sematic impacts