Pokémon X and Pokémon Y

The map of the new area looks kind of empty don't you think? In Unova the sandy area was justified by being under construction but the sandy area in Karos? looks a bit out of nowhere and it looks like theres aliens living there(though I don't know the story). I think I'm feeling this way because its not the same art style as the old maps...

I don't even think that's a desert.
The buildings in there look like different ways of producing energy, the colouring of the ground also looks more like dead grass than sand, which you can see on the beach on the bottom left. Like the machinery has drained the area of life.

I'd guess that area will be part of the story, since it's starting to look like a nature vs science theme in my opinion. Probably about how humans are upsetting the natural balance and putting the world tree at risk