MEGA NICOLE

MEGA ENERGY ARCHIPELAGO

2006-12-18T02:41:00.000-05:00

The Mega Energy Archipelago is the fusion of two very different energy sources-- oil and wind. This concept springs from the unique conditions affecting offshore oil rigs in areas prone to frequent tropical cyclones. The archipelago strives to both resist and respond to hurricane forces. It resists the wind forces of the storm by using an aerodynamic shape to deflect direct winds, protecting the structure itself and the oil rig inside. It responds to storm conditions by utilizing the high force winds to generate electrical energy. This combination of oil rigs and wind farms creates a unique tension between dirty, fossil fuel pollution and clean, renewable wind energy. The Mega Energy cities will be sites that simultaneously harvest two very different forms of energy in the same location.

The wind turbines are mounted on the front of the aerodynamic structures to catch the wind energy. The structures are oriented with the oil rig at their center and are able to pivot around that point. This allows the structures to point towards the wind direction to simultaneously catch the wind and deflect it from interior spaces. When tropical storms are not present, the stations will be oriented towards the prevailing wind, and they will rotate to point into the wind currents of storms as they come.

The Mega Energy Archipelago is located off the coast of Louisiana in the Gulf of Mexico, as seen in the following images from Google Earth.

Exact locations of existing rigs show the close proximity of oil platforms, making the proposed energy stations easily connected to form a network of individual communities connected by a common transportation network.

Great attention was brought to this site in 2005 when damage done to oil rigs during Hurricane Katrina caused an oil shortage for the southern United States. The importance of this site is further validated with mappings of tropical storm strikes across the world. When individual storm strikes are mapped according to location, intensity, and frequency, a storm archipelago begins to form across the world as the strikes build up over time.
[2001]
[2003]
[2005]
As the storm impacts overlap each other, certain areas of highest impact begin to emerge. These areas reveal the locations of the most storm activity, as seen in the darkest red areas on the following images.

[MORE MAPPINGS]
Overlaying rig locations with impact regions reveals the areas that both share. These areas are prime locations for Mega Energy Archipelagoes.

Inside each structure are multiple levels of occupied space, with open space in the center to give sufficient room to the oil rig. Each level consists of housing and businesses, allowing each energy station to become a functioning community on the water.

In the center of the structure there is an opening at the top to allow any dangerous fumes or smoke from the oil rigs to escape from the enclosure. Fumes can also leave through the back of the structure which is open to let in sunlight and fresh air. These energy cities are accessible by car or train via a series of bridges that connect them together as a network and connect them back to land, forming the whole Mega Energy Archipelago.

Mega Energy Archipelago

2006-12-08T02:11:00.000-05:00

The Mega Energy Archipelago began as a series of mappings of the impact of tropical cyclones. When individual storm strikes are mapped according to location and intensity, a storm archipelago begins to form across the world. These images show storm strikes as they build up over time.
[2001]
[2003]
[2005]

Depending on how often and with what intensity of storm, different areas become more impacted, as seen by the darker red areas in the following images.

[MORE MAPPINGS]

Once these impact regions were discovered, they were overlayed with a mapping of oil rig locations to reveal the common areas.

[MORE MAPPING OVERLAYS]

Oil rigs became an interesting subject to consider, because so many rigs are damaged by tropical cyclones. In 2005, damage done to oil rigs during Hurricane Katrina caused an oil shortage for the southern United States. As a result of this damage, and the results of the mapping overlay, I discovered areas that are both high in storm strikes and in density of oil platforms.

Using Google Earth, I was able to get satellite images of the site, and map out exact locations of existing oil rigs.

The basic idea of the Mega Energy Archipelago is to both resist and respond to the hurricane forces. The archipelago resists the wind forces of the storm by using an aerodynamic shape to deflect direct winds, protecting the structure itself and the oil rig inside. It responds to storm conditions by utilizing the high force winds to generate electrical energy. This combination of oil rigs and wind farms creates a unique tension between dirty, fossil fuel pollution and clean, renewable wind energy. The Mega Energy cities will be sites that simultaneously harvest two very different forms of energy in the same location.

The program for the project consists of:
[1] the existing oil rig
[2] wind turbines
[3] housing & business space
[4] ability to respond to changing wind directions

The wind turbines are mounted on the front of the aerodynamic structures to catch the wind energy. The structures are oriented with the oil rig at their center and are able to pivot around that point. This allows the structures to point towards the wind direction to simultaneously catch the wind and deflect it from interior spaces.

Inside the structures are multiple levels of occupied space, with open space in the center to give sufficient room to the oil rig.

In the center of the structure there is an opening at the top to allow any dangerous fumes or smoke from the oil rigs to escape from the enclosure. Fumes can also leave through the back of the structure which is open to let in sunlight and fresh air. These energy cities are accessible by car or train via a series of bridges that connect them together as a network and connect them back to land, forming the whole Mega Energy Archipelago.

a few new images

2006-12-06T14:44:00.000-05:00

today's desk crit

2006-12-01T16:43:00.000-05:00

Desk crits today were extremely helpful. Going in pairs worked out well and gave me the chance to explain my project from the start. It helped me see what areas I need to focus on and emphasize more verbally as well as visually.

Vyew helps a lot too:

12.01.06

2006-12-01T10:56:00.000-05:00

I adjusted my design for my storm energy cities to position the oil rig at a more central point in the structure, so that the city can pivot about the oil rig with more stability. I also adjusted the wind gathering structure to be more securely attached to the body.

I also found the general wind direction that occurs in this location when a storm is not present.

This resting wind direction will determine the resting set points for the cities. Since the wind comes from this direction at most times, the transportation network between the cities will be positioned to attached to the cities in this position.

I also considered how the transportation network might work. There would be trains running inside the bridge structures to connect to mass transportation on the mainland. Between the train corridors is a space for the transport of electricity, oil, water, and other materials through a series of cables and pipes. On top of the bridge is two lanes of traffic in each direction, allowing connection to road networks on the mainland.

Mega Storm Energy

2006-11-20T12:29:00.000-05:00

SITE:
To determine the best site for my mega storm city, I looked for places where the most intense storm areas overlapped with existing oil rigs:

I then used Google Earth to locate the exact positions of oil rigs in the area via satellite imagery.

PROGRAM:
-oil rigs
-wind energy collection
-housing/offices
-storm protection
-connection of units

MODULES:
Each module is based on the existing oil rig. Attached to the rig is the housing/office area, which is a series of detachable/movable units that can be reattached and reconfigured. These areas are covered with a protective shield to deflect hurricane winds from the interior areas. On the front end of the shield is a series of wind vanes to collect energy from the storm winds to use as an alternative fuel source. The whole unit pivots about the oil rig, allowing the module to swivel based on wind direction in order to simultaneously collect wind energy and deflect wind from the interior spaces. The weight of the structure is supported on a flotation device located under the protective shield.

The modules all connect to each other during non-storm times when they are in their resting positions, to allow transportation between them.

ARCHIPELAGO:
Individual modules are located and sized according to existing oil rigs, to create a storm energy archipelago.

When storm winds come, all the units rotate to point into the wind to collect its energy.

The following animation shows a storm energy module rotating to point into the wind:

charette

2006-11-15T15:46:00.000-05:00

PROGRAM:
-housing
-oil rigs
-wind farm
-fishing ports

Mega storm city:

The following animation illustrates how the fishing ports operate. Ships come in to dock, and before the storm arrives, the protective hood closes around them, allowing the ships to safely ride out the storm.

lot-ek lecture

2006-11-13T18:12:00.000-05:00

The Lot-ek lecture provided some interesting things to think about. They used a lot of manufactured objects, such as shipping containers and airplane fuseloges.

I wonder if there is some way to incorporate this idea into my project? Using found items as the modules that can be put together to create the elements of my megastructure? Is there some dome shaped item to use, or a way to place the dome over the modules? Does the dome need to be a sturdy concrete structure, or could it be a thin fabric wrapped over modules stacked in a roughly dome-shaped pile?

Lot-ek also had their own version of the SUMO called the Inspirotainer.

photo sketches

2006-11-13T13:32:00.000-05:00

dome construction:

tropical cyclone megastructure ideas

2006-11-10T14:06:00.000-05:00

Because of their strong winds and powerful storm surges, tropical cyclones often leave a trail of destruction in their path. I propose the building of replacement structures to make up for the loss of buildings during storms. As my mapimation showed, there are several areas where serious storms strike multiple times. As one storm can destroy whole cities in a day, I propose building megastructures to replace what was lost. There are several factors to consider in designing a hurricane resistant megastructure.

Needs to Consider:
-must be able to resist strong winds (possibly up to 190 mph)
-water proof or elevated to avoid flood damage
-modular with the ability for growth
-easily transported and constructed
-permanent

Research:
Look into wind resistant designs and what types of hurricane shelters are currently available.
Disaster Relief Housing
Portable Buildings

Research resistant materials, such as:
structural insulated panels
fiber cement sheathing
impact resistant windows
reinforced garage doors
hurricane shutters
reinforced steel walls
(HUD)

Resistant Shape:
Monolithic domes are reinforced concrete domes that can survive hurricanes and tornadoes, are cheap and easy to build, are fire-resistant and mold-resistant, and are extremely strong.

Exterior doors that swing out are more resistant because the outside pressure of wind and rain on the door pushes on it, increasing its seal with the building, unlike with in-swing doors that can easily blow in. (Mercedes Homes)

Initial sketches:

(modular units are stacked with protective concrete dome roof)

(more domes are added as needed, walkways connect upper levels for easy access, even in flood conditions)

(more domes are added, some even stretch out into the ocean)

MEGA Storms: The Impact of Tropical Cyclones

2006-11-03T21:24:00.000-05:00

Tropical cyclones are a global weather force, affecting both land and water. These storms can produce heavy rain, lightening, strong winds, tornadoes, storm surges, and flooding. Most cyclones form within 10 to 30 degrees of the equator. Cyclone winds can range from 75 to 190 mph. As a tremendously destructive force, cyclones can have a great impact on the areas they affect.

The image below shows tropical cyclone strikes across the globe from 2001 to 2005. The darker areas represent the more impacted regions, experiences multiple strikes. These storms form their own network of "continents," with varying impact intensities.

Storm strikes broken down by region:

Land areas impacted by storms:

The impact of these storms can be seen more clearly when compared to other global conditions.

Many storms strike densely populated areas, especially the Northern Pacific and Atlantic storms:

In addition to being densly populated, many of the countries affected by storms are not very wealthy, making the destruction all the more difficult to handle when there is little money for repair.

Also, industry can suffer from storm damage.
Fishing zones affected by storms:

The oil industry also suffers from cyclone damage.

By discovering the areas where these storms have the most impact, possible locations for a megastructure become evident. The structure and its modules must be capable of resisting wind and water forces to survive. Also, it must be possible to expand and grow the structure to create additional space to replace the non-mega buildings that are destroyed by storms over time.

more images

2006-11-03T05:18:00.000-05:00

CYCLONES + POPULATION DENSITY:

CYCLONES + INCOME:

CYCLONES + FISHING INDUSTRY:

CYCLONES + OIL SEEPS:

CYCLONES + OIL RIGS:

maps

2006-11-01T12:22:00.000-05:00

Here are some maps that I am thinking of using for my mapping collage.

Ocean Currents:

Climate Zones:

Topography:

World at Night (concentration of development):

Surface Ocean Currents:

Wave height:

Also, I re-uploaded my animation as a quicktime movie.

even more mappings

2006-10-30T13:44:00.000-05:00

In the following images, each color represents an intensity of tropical cyclone strikes. Lighter areas show fewer, less intense strikes, and darker areas show the greatest concentration. Each map shows the areas of the world that experience that intensity of strikes.
least:

:greatest

In the following images, storm strikes are separated out by year, showing the individual areas hit for that year, as well as the cumulative strikes.

2001:
(individual)
2002:
(individual)
(cumulative)
2003:
(individual)
(cumulative)
2004:
(individual)
(cumulative)
2005:
(individual)
(cumulative)

The following images show the intensity of strikes in different areas of the world. Darker areas represent more intense strikes.

This image shows only the impact areas on land:

This image shows the impact areas on water:

All together these storm strikes come together to form their own "continents."

This animation shows the storm strikes building up on the earth's surface. Heights represent a piling up of hits, and the transparencies combine to create darker areas where there is a higher concentration of storm strikes.

where do we go from here?

2006-10-25T15:50:00.000-04:00

Areas in yellow show places where impact peaks exceeded 14 units:

Impact zones are made somewhat transparent. Darker areas show more affected regions:

powerpoint presentation

2006-10-24T20:10:00.000-04:00

mapimation review

2006-10-23T13:42:00.000-04:00

Animation showing heights of storm strikes growing:

Animation showing area of strikes spreading across globe:

the first few seconds

2006-10-21T00:11:00.000-04:00

In this animation I started playing with animating the camera as well as the storm strikes. It came out kind of jumpy in two places, but you get the idea. (Also, the animation is not that fuzzy looking on my computer, but somewhere in the uploading process some information must have been lost.)

I also have the data designated with different colors for different years (2001 to 2002 shown in animation). Should I separate by color, or have them all be the same color?

p.s. Rendering takes forever, but things are coming along. The new Macs in the lab are amazing!

2006-10-18T12:42:00.000-04:00

I am at the point where I am inputting lots of data into form z so it is hard to really get an animation until all the objects are in there to animate. Here is a quick screen shot of the data for 2002 layered over the data for 2001.

I'm not sure if I should leave all the data the same color so that the main focus is on the height increase, or if I should have each year's data in a different color as seen above?

Here's a quick animation of the 2001 data appearing:

More to come as the day goes on....

mapitmation continues...

2006-10-16T13:58:00.000-04:00

I have been working on compiling data so that I can get real info put into my animations. I have been charting out the dates, paths, and intensities of storms for the past 5 years.

(layers of data over map)

I have begun putting this data into form z to test different methods of representation. I have increased the heights of the areas based on the intensity of the storm that hits the area. One unit represents a category 1 storm, 2 for a category 2, and so on. When an area is hit by multiple storms, its height is added to to represent the total magnitude it has been hit with. Therefore in the following screen shot there are some areas reaching up to 8 units, even though a category 8 storm is not possible because these areas have been hit multile times.

(North Atlantic data for the 2001 storm season.)

(section of N. Atlantic data)

I also tried another method in which I subtract the height from the ocean and add height to the land:

(N. Atlantic storms of 2001)

(section)

more animation studies

2006-10-13T13:30:00.000-04:00

This animation shows land being impacted by hurricanes using a subtractive process. The land gets eaten away in chunks as it is impacted.

This animation shows the land and water impacts using an additive process.

impacting land

2006-10-11T12:54:00.000-04:00

In thinking about this mapimation project, I've come to wonder if perhaps it is not the path of the storm itself that is of major importance, but more the areas of land that it impacts?

This animation shows a hurricane hitting land, and as the storm hits the level of the land mass drops representing the flattening of buildings:

The red represents the areas with the most damage, caused by a category 5 strike. Orange is less, and yellow is even less damage, the result of a category 3 strike.

When seen from above the impact creates a stain on the landscape:

These strikes accumulate over the course of the year, staining the globe:

As these strikes accumulate over a period of years, they will eat away at the landmass, altering the shape of continents:

mapimation continues

2006-10-09T09:51:00.000-04:00

For the mapimation project there are several things that I would like to show in my animation.

Animation will show:

paths traveled by the tropical cyclones
the intensity of the storm as it travels
residual trail of storm over water showing where the water temperature was lowered by the storm
areas of land impacted by the storm and the intensity of the impact

Frame 1: The storm begins over the warm waters of the ocean:

Frame 2: The storm grows in size and moves towards land:

Frame 3: The storm reaches land and leaves a trail of cooler water in its path:

Frame 4: The storm causes varying levels of destruction as it hits land. Taller points represent greater destruction:

Frame 5: Water and land impact shown at global level:

This animation shows the hurricane impacting the land and the destruction levels rising over the landscape:

This animation shows an attempt at making a representation of a storm that moves, rotates, and grows and shrinks in size as it travels along its path:

animation in 3-D

2006-10-06T16:37:00.000-04:00

For these animations I attempted showing the movement of a storm in three dimensions.

The different heights represent the different levels of destruction of a storm. The greater heights represent greater destruction to the land. The colors represent the different intensities of storms, with yellow representing a category 3 hurricane, orange representing a category 4, and red representing a category 5 storm.
( view animation 1 )

(view animation 2 )

a second attempt at mapping

2006-10-04T15:53:00.000-04:00

In this animation, I tried to show the path of the hurricane, along with its rotational motion. I also considered the areas of land impacted by the storm, which are shown in yellow. The blue represents the areas that had their temperature lowered as a result of the storm taking heat to fuel itself.
( view video )

expanding communication

2006-10-02T15:52:00.000-04:00

Today for our "desk" crits, we used a combination of Skype and Vyew to explain and discuss our mapimations projects. I was really pleased with how easy it was to actually have a conversation while looking at the same images and pointing and drawing on those images. The combination of the two programs really did produce a very similar experience to what would be shown and discussed in a face to face desk crit. It is very exciting to be able to carry on a dialogue in the virtual realm that is not impaired by the distance. I can really see potential for future long distance studios to become commonplace.

first attempt at mapping

2006-10-02T13:24:00.000-04:00

This is my first attempt at the Mapimations project. The video shows category 3 or greater storms (those with greater that 95 knot winds) in orange, and the areas that they hit in red.

mappings

2006-09-29T00:14:00.000-04:00

I have chosen the topic of tropical cyclones for the Mapimations project because the cyclone is a storm at the mega scale. They occur around the globe and have many components that could be mapped. There is an element of size, wind speed, speed of movement, rainfall, direction, and date to each storm that could be conveyed graphically.

Tropical cyclones are a potentially devastating force in nature that must be designed for. As Katrina showed us last year, when these forces are ignored, the consequences can be tremendous.

Tropical Cyclones

2006-09-28T19:40:00.000-04:00

Refered to as tropical storms, hurricanes, and typhoons, these MEGA storms make their presence known across the globe. The storm is fueled by the heat released when moist air rises and condenses, creating these "warm core" storm systems. They originate in tropical regions and rotate counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere around their center, called the eye. Tropical cyclones can produce heavy rain, lightening, strong winds, tornadoes, huge waves (called storm surges), and flooding. Though these forces can cause large amounts of destruction, tropical cyclones have also been known to end droughts and they carry heat away from the tropics which helps maintain the equilibrium of the earth's atmosphere.

(tropical cyclone seen from International Space Station, courtesy of NASA)

Most cyclones form within 10 to 30 degrees of the equator. After formation, they move on in one of the seven major basins. Although rare, cyclones sometimes form in other parts of the world. In a few instances cyclones have formed in the Medditerranean Sea and even in the Great Lakes. Tropical cyclones each take on their own path, as seen in this mapping of the directions of each tropical storm in 2005:

Tropical cyclones occur year-round with different season for different basins. The North Atlantic season is from June 1 to November 30, while the Southern Hemisphere experiences cyclones from October to May, and the Northwest Pacific has a year-round season. There are seven basins where tropical storms occur on a regular basis:

Tropical cyclones are classified into three groups:

Tropical Depressions: winds less that 38 mph with no eye or spiral shape
Tropical Storm: winds between 39 and 73 mph with a cyclonic shape, but no eye
Hurricane/ Typhoon/Cyclone: winds of 74 mph or greater with an eye and cyclonic rotation.
There are 5 categories of hurricanes:
-Category 1: 74-95 mph sustained winds
-Category 2: 96-110 mph sustained winds
-Category 3: 111-130 mph sustained winds
-Category 4: 131-155 mph sustained winds
-Category 5: >155 mph sustained winds

Typhoons are categorized as a storm with winds greater that 73 mph, and a storm with winds greater than 150 mph is categorized as a super typhoon. Australian meteorologists divide cyclones into five categories based on wind gusts, with a category 1 storm of less than 78 mph gusts and a category 5 storm with atleast 174 mph gusts. Tropical cyclone winds have been recorded up to speeds of 190 mph.

(Hurricane Katrina - category 3)

the SUMO in action!

2006-09-25T17:46:00.000-04:00

We tested out the motion of the individual SUMO pieces:

oh so close

2006-09-25T17:02:00.000-04:00

The full seat of the SUMO:

Outer rib:

Detail of outer rib:

Detail of rib graphic:

Adding padding to the seat:

Detail of seat padding material:

The SUMO is starting to look more complete:

The second seating position:

sunday night in the studio

2006-09-25T16:30:00.000-04:00

Sunday night we managed to get a lot of work done, inspite of issues with the CNC router. The router bit went bad and tore up our foam. However we did get it to cut the masonite, so we were able to continue production on the SUMO.

The polycarbonate panel was cut using a jigsaw and then fitted into the foam and masonite frame.

We also spent some time cleaning up our massive mess of foam scraps.

We ended up leaving a trail at every doorway we had to walk through:

All our hard work is finally paying off. We now have the entire inner section of the SUMO glued together:

mega cuts

2006-09-18T18:35:00.000-04:00

Today we began cutting the ribs for the SUMO. Several of us learned to use the CNC and I'm excited by how accurate it is. The ribs look amazing and the pieces fit together perfectly at their joints. Tomorrow is going to be a day full of CNC for the MEGA studio!

The International Space Station

2006-09-15T16:08:00.001-04:00

The International Space Station is a massive international building project taking place high above the earth. It is one of the largest and most complex scientific projects in history, and involves the efforts of sixteen countries across the globe. The ISS establishes a colony for humanity outside of the earth, and is continually inhabited year-round. NASA hopes to use the space station to study the long-term effects of space on the human body. They will use the results of this study to design future missions to mars and propose further space travel.

The ISS weighs 430,000 pounds and measures 240 feet across its solar arrays and is 146 feet long. It orbits the earth once every 92 minutes at an altitude of 250 miles. On NASA's site you can track the orbit of the space station in the sky. The ISS is approximately four times the size of the Russian space station Mir.

The source for electrical power for the ISS is a set of solar panels that convert light from the sun into electrical energy. This energy powers the life support system for the space station, and also fuels the research taking place in the station's six laboratories. This research will lead to discoveries in medicine, materials and fundamental science that will have international benefits. There are currently 16 countries participating in ISS, making it a truly international effort.

Countries currently participating in the International Space Station project:

The opening of the ISS has created a new vacation spot for some wealthy individuals. Three people have already paid approximately $20 million each to become space tourists, traveling to the ISS onboard a Russian supply mission. With travel for civilians and extended stays in space becoming a real possibility, it may not be long before whole cities are established in space. Could future generations be raised in space colonies?

collaboration

2006-09-08T18:26:00.001-04:00

Once again we revised our proposals for the communication chamber. As the number of people collaborating increases, the amount of disagreement does as well. I feel like we spent a lot of time talking before we finally reached a decision that everyone agreed with. Our proposal can be seen on Melissa's blog.

The surprising thing about today's class was that when the time came to combine the two proposals into one, everyone was able to make a decision very quickly. I guess all the arguing before paid off.

South China Mall

2006-09-08T02:58:00.000-04:00

South China Mall is located in Dongguan City, China and is currently the largest mall in the world, with 7.1 million square feet of rentable space. The mall is spread over 100 acres, with most areas being two to three stories, and department stores reaching five stories in height. The mall is comprised of seven zones which are modeled after international locations, including Venice, Paris, Egypt, and California. The mall also includes roller coasters, water slides, an Imax theater, and a canal over a mile long that allows shoppers to travel by boat around its perimeter.

Rentable space of malls in square feet:

For further info: http://www.icsc.org/srch/sct/sct1004/cover_4.php

studio charette

2006-09-07T10:05:00.000-04:00

After less than an hour of quick discussion and sketching, our group's proposal can be seen on Melissa's and Mandi's blogs.

a/v proposal

2006-09-06T13:05:00.000-04:00

Jason and I have developed a proposal for one contained unit that can be rolled to any destination:

Once in place, legs fold down to secure the pod in its location:

The top hinges up to allow the student to enter the pod:

Once inside, the student can close the flap to view the video screen, which is also visible to those outside of the pod. The translucent portion of the pod allows light in so the camera is able to see the student within the pod. The bottom flap remains open to allow leg room for students, allowing for the different heights of the students in the class.

This proposal also contains the possibility of a detatchable upper flap, allowing the video screen to be set up in another location for conversations involving the entire class.

a/v research

2006-09-04T13:46:00.000-04:00

The progress of the audio visual group can be seen on Jason's blog.

thoughts on friday

2006-09-01T16:40:00.000-04:00

I think that the video conversation was very helpful in studio. It's nice to get some verbal explanation to go along with the written. I'm excited to see how our communication takes on a new form with the chamber that we design.

The Amazon River

2006-09-01T12:00:00.000-04:00

The Amazon River is the world's largest river. It has a greater flow than the six largest rivers combined, and is the second longest river on earth. The river is 4,049 miles long with an average width of 25 miles during flood season. The river discharges water into the Atlantic Ocean at a rate of 7 million cubic feet per second. The river is navigable by large ocean steamers for 900 miles upriver, and for 2,250 miles by smaller ocean vessels.

The Amazon River has a mega impact on the earth's environment. One fifth of the total volume of fresh water entering the world's oceans comes from the Amazon. Drinkable water can be pulled from the ocean near the river's mouth even when out of sight of the shore, and the water is brackish for up to one hundred miles away from the coast. The river basin provides life to the Amazon Rainforest, which is home to the largest diversity of plant-life on the planet.

The Mouth of the Amazon River is 207 miles wide:

The Amazon River Basin covers 40% of the South America:

The mega size of the Amazon is evident when compared to other rivers:

Sources for further information:
Wikipedia
River Systems of the World

new version, same random crashes

2006-09-01T01:27:00.000-04:00

Well, here are my form-z animation exercises. These were quite a struggle to get onto the web.

Exercise One:

(View in Windows Media)

Exercise Two:

(View in Windows Media)

Exercise Three:

(View in Windows Media)

studio communication

2006-08-30T17:23:00.000-04:00

So far I think that communication in studio has been much easier than I expected. I think that the blogs have been very useful for getting information about our assignments and have served us well in communicating our ideas back to the world. I have been frustrated at times with Blogger because it occasionally seems to be very slow and takes a long time to operate. I think some other blogging sites like livejournal and xanga are much easier to use, but hopefully I will grow to appreciate blogger more. I enjoyed the chat and I like the fact that it can be saved so that we can go back and review the information and critiques given during the conversation. The video conferences were an exciting experience, and I was surprised at how easy they were to set up. The only problem there is that the video feed frequently gets disrupted either by computer glitches or by the spotty wireless in the studios. Overall, I think that communication so far has been a success and I am interested to see how much easier it gets as we get used to sharing our ideas in this way.

Ultima Tower - Eugene Tsui

2006-08-30T14:35:00.000-04:00

Eugene Tsui originally conceived the idea of the Ultima Tower as part of a study of the compact urban area of San Francisco. The project combines nature with urban environment on a mega scale. The tower is two miles high with a base of 6000 feet in diameter. The structure's shape is modeled after the tallest structure not made by man-- African termite nests. The Ultima Tower is 500 stories tall and is intended to house one million residents.

The tower explores the idea of stacking nature vertically to conserve space. The structure contains stacked levels of soil that form individual landscapes with "skies" between 30 and 50 meters high. Neighborhoods of architectural structures can be built on these landscapes, forming a vertical city.

The structure is designed to be energy efficient. It has built in solar panels on its exterior, self-shading glass, windmills, and a water-based cooling system. The structure also utilizes Atmospheric Energy Conversion, converts the difference in atmospheric pressure at the top and bottom of the structure into electrical power.

The base of the Ultima Tower as seen covering San Francisco:

If the total area of the Ultima Tower were spread out over San Francisco it would cover the main part of the city:

Comparison of the height of the Ultima Tower:

Population comparison of current San Francisco to the proposed Ultima Tower:

here it comes, another year

2006-08-23T12:43:00.000-04:00

At this point it is hard to know what to expect from this studio. Mainly, I expect it to be a tremendous challenge. The concept is intriguing, and I am interested to see how it will work out.

My main goal for this studio is learn what I need to in order to prepare for the future. At this point my plan is to go on to graduate school in architecture. I hope that this class helps me to grow more comfortable with the design process and gives me more confidence in my ability as an architect. I have been struggling to decide what I want for my future, and I hope this class makes the decision easier for me. My ultimate goal would be for this studio to make me more certain about my decision to pursue a graduate degree, and for the class to help me build a strong portfolio for that process. However, if architecture is not the path for me, then my goal would be for this class to help me see what that path might be.