RESPONSIVE WATERSCAPE
JIAXI ZHAO | z5192967 Assignment3B | LAND7311 Landscape Technology2 | Term1, 2019
01 ‘HEY FISH’
00 DESIGN CONTEXT LOCATION DESIGN OPPORTUNITIES DESIGN CHALLENGES KEY DESIGN INTENTIONS DESIGN FRAMEWORK
PURPOSE WATERFRONT INTERFACE SENSOR DETAILS & INTERACTION SCENARIOS PERFORMANCE
02 ‘WASTE’ ISLAND PURPOSE PROCESS MATERIALS & VEGEATION PERFORMANCE
03 SYNTHETIC SYSTEM COLLABORATION OF TECHNOLOGIES
INTRODUCTION In recent years, due to the deteriorating climate conditions, more resilient design solutions are required to tackle environmental issues, especially for coastal areas where issues such as sea level rise, flooding, erosion are becoming more threatening than before. The conflicts between urbanisation (density growth) and ecosystem fitness has become more distinct. Under this circumstance, responsive landscape integrating technologies like parametric design, real-time modeling and visualising etc. is trending now as an effective approach to address issues of dynamic environmental system. The aim of this research is to provide design solutions based on multiple responsive landscape technologies for Gosford Central which will be suffering from a series of sequent issues in a long run due to rapid climate change especially sea level rise. Besides, due to the elevation of the regional role, Gosford also faces challege of accommodating more development although land is shrinking. Thus, How to reach a win-win solution that can accomplish density goal meanwhile enhance ecosystem health will be the key intention of Gosford in the future. Inspired by ‘Amphibious Architecture’ and ‘Synthetic Mudscape’ demonstrated in the book ‘Responsvie Landscapes’ by Bradley (2016), two landscape technologies relating to increasing water quality, mitigating flooding impact and obtaining more land for new development will be proposed.
DESIGN CONTEXT
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00 DESIGN CONTEXT
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LOCATION
Gosford is located in the middle of Sydney and City of Newcastle, about 1 hour drive away from both CBD areas. The unique strategic location gives the area the potential to expand its role within NSW. As identified as the major centre serving the whole Central Coast Region, Gosford is facing rapid population growth now with the demand of mix residental development (Government Architect NSW, 2018). In terms of landscape, Gosford is sitting in the valley with the hills to the east and west, and the harbour to the south facing Brisbane Water. The picturesque natural environment becomes a attractor for living and investment, however, how to reconcile human’s occupation with ecosystem is challenging, especially under the circumstance of climate change in recent years.
Railway Newcastle
1h
1h Sydney
Brisbane Water
Gosford Waterfront (Author, 2019)
Foreshore park (Author, 2019)
Flooding hitting water front properties (Central Coast Council, 2004)
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Narara Creek Recreation Mountains
• Natural assets Gosford is where the landscape, water and city meet together. With the great mountain and water view, the tranquil natural environment attracts many retired people settling here. • Diversity of species Gosford is home to a variety of species including diverse marine animals. How to conserve the biodiversity against flooding and bushfire is one of the key priorities in Gosford.
Natural assets of Gosford (Source: UNSW Coastal resilience Studio Group1, 2019)
Major species in Gosford (Source: UNSW Coastal resilience Studio Group1, 2019)
DESIGN OPPORTUNITIES DESIGN CHALLENGES • Flooding Flooding of Brisbane water has been threatening the whole region for decades, causing massive damages to waterfront properties. • Costal erosion and land subsidence Along with the flooding, coastal erosion and land loss is conflicting with the current demand of higher density development, and the situation is getting worse because of continuous sea level rise.
Distribution of Acid Sulfate Soil in Gosford (Data sourced from SEED website, 2019)
• Deteriorating water quality Gosford harbour is heavily polluted by heavy metal. And due to leach of acid sulfate soil into water body by runoff and tides, PH of water is impacting some marine animals’ survival to a great extent. 7
KEY DESIGN INTENTIONS
+ Connectivity
Uninterrupted views to the water and facilitating pedestrians’movement from city centre to waterfront
Floodscape
Inviting the water in during high tides and ooding as an asset to create public attractions
+ Habitats Enhancement
Conserving existing habitats and creating more diverse habitats for local species
City Centre Revitalisation
Providing more services and interaction opportunities in city centre walking catchment
A
Retreat through EcoHydrology
B
Adaptive Urban Interventions
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Artificial water channel
New islands
Original landform
Public transport loop
C
Defend AND Evolve
Growing Islands Based on analysis of the context, our studio group proposed four key design intentions as illustrated left. And to serve the intentions, we also put forward three strategies - ‘Retreat’, ‘Adaptive’,and ‘Defend & Evolve’, attempting to address the design challenges by flooding and climate change, meanwhile accommodating the desired development density. Strategy A is basically a ‘Business As Usual’ strategy with reclaiming waterfront land as buffer area and move properties to less flooding-prone area. Strategy B is attempting to utilize small urban design interventions to increase adaptive capacity through water-retaining infrastructure. Strategy C is inclined to be a Utopian design solution with artificial water channels to quickly divert water when massive flood occurs. In this case, several islands will be created for future high density development and to facilitate movement, a public transport loop will be introduced to enhance connectivity among islands. Through comparative analysis against ‘City Resilience Framework’ (Rockefeller Foundation, 2019), it is considered Strategy C is the most resilient solution if budget permits. 9
DESIGN FRAMEWORK To realise Strategy C, two technologies are introduced here to establish a comprehensive system that can facilitate smarter design interventions. The first one is ‘HEY FISH’ real-time water quality monitor which can vividly inform public water and marine life conditions meanwhile build datasets for future decisions. The other is ‘WASTE’ island technology which is basically a method of land build to reimburse land loss caused by erosion and sea level rise. The two technologies ultimately will collaborate to form a dynamic self-managing and evolving system that can adapt to changes of climate, and promote sustainable development of both natural envrironment and local economy.
Technology 1 ‘HEY FISH’ PURPOSES
Data senging to
Technology 2 ‘WASTE’ ISLAND
• Mitigating flood impact to properties • Sustainable land building for new development • Improving water quality for health of marine life • Raising public awareness of ecosystem conservation • Activating nighttime use of waterfront open spaces • Adaptive landscape system with real-time database
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‘HEY FISH’
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01 ‘HEY FISH’ - Interactive Water System Monitor PURPOSE
The purpose of this technology is to monitor water quality as well as raising public awareness of ecosystem conservation. It is inspired by the project ‘Amphibious Architecture’ which is a temporal light installation at East River and Bronx River, New York Harbor. It enables public to know the current condition of water system and marine life by changing colour of light. It also allows people to text ‘fish’ via a SMS interface to know what happened under water, rather than using too scientific information to inform non-experts (Cantrell and Holzman, 2016).
Fig,1 Floating light installation situated on the Bronx and East River in New York City (The Living and The xClinic Environmental Health Clinic, 2009) Fig,2 SMS interface communicating with ‘fish’ (The Living and The xClinic Environmental Health Clinic, 2009)
Fig.1
Fig.2
Key intentions of ‘HEY FISH’ interactive water system monitor are: 1. Monitoring water quality 24/7 and generating daily feedback report to increase database fidelity; 2. Raising public awareness of watersystem conservation and health of marine life; 3. Activate waterfront open spaces by this interactive lighting installation
WATERFRONT INTERFACE
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DETAILS & INTERACTION SCENARIOS
The monitors will be installed in the close proximity to open spaces at water front area. There are three types of sensors signaling concurrent water quality, fish touch and human touch respectively, so as to create the ‘communication’ between human and other lifes under water. When water quality gets better, the light will change from purple to blue. When fish touches the light, it will twinkle and getting brighter, if at the same time people also touches it, the light will change to yellow and move with position of hand. Other interactive scenarios are shown below. People are also allowed to participate in improving water quality by holding the hand on light for more than 10 seconds when the light goes purple, the monitor will receive the signal and adjust water PH by releasing agricultural limestone. Installation area (in the proximity of open spaces)
Light signaling water quality Blue-good Purple-bad Brighter-fish touches Light signaling human touches Sensors (sensing human’s temperature) Adruino controller Foam collar for floatation
GOOD
BAD
Threaded rod
Zip tie Sensor for marine life touches Concrete balastt Waterproof cap
Adapted from ‘Amphibious Architecture’ project by The Living and The xclinic Environmental Health Clinic, 2009)
People and fish touch the same pole
Only people touch the pole
People and fish touch the same pole
Only people touch the pole
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PERFORMANCE
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• Cheap materials and low cost for installation • Low level of maintenance
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• Real-time adjustment of water PH to mitigate acid soil impact • Increasing fidelity of water quality database • Monitor marine animals activities and their health levels • Environmentalfriendly materials
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mullet
S SOC IAL BENEFIT • Educating public with water quality and environmental conditions without too scientific and boring information • Raising public awareness of protecting ecosystem health and sea animals • Involving public in improving water qualitysmall effort matters Activating waterfront open spaces greatly by interactive lighting
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‘WASTE’ ISLAND
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02 ‘WASTE’ ISLAND -
Naturally Built Urban ECO Islands
PURPOSE
The aim of this technology is to repurpose the urban waste by reusing them to landfill process, so as to fortify the newly constructed urban islands. The ‘waste islands’ will raise the land capacity for new development, meanwhile mitigating impact of climate change (sea level rise, flooding, land subsidence, etc.), so as to reach a win-win situation for both human habitation and ecosystem resilience. This technology is inspired by Synthetic Mudscape undertaken by Louisiana State University Coastal Sustainability Studio in 2013 and Augmented Landscape-Floating Reef Islands by OUTR in 2010. Key intentions of ‘WASTE’ Islands are: 1. Creating new land for ongoing growth of density 2. Mitigating impact of sea level rise, coastal erosion and land subsidence issues 3. Sustainably reusing and recycling urban waste materials 4. Creating iconic urban form and scenery to
Floating light installation situated on the Bronx and East River in New York City (The Living and The xClinic Environmental Health Clinic, 2009)
Floating light installation situated on the Bronx and East River in New York City (The Living and The xClinic Environmental Health Clinic, 2009)
areas severely prone to flooding and costal erosion--potential area to apply technology Flooded area by 1% ARI +existing PMF (Data sourced from central coast flood study by Cardno in 2015)
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PROCESS Rapid sea level rise are even more threatening the coastal propertities greatly, especially for low lying areas. Besides, water quality is deteriorating not only by leach of acid soil but also untreated urban runoffs. Thus, stormwater will first run through constructed Bio-filtration wetlands to be physically purified. After that, sediments will be collected in the clay nearby and the treated water will be discharged to ocean. Apart from the sediments, land reclamation will also rely on recycled urban waste and dredged materials from other areas. Another technology introduced here is BIOROCK technology which utilises ‘electrically conductive materials like steel to build structures in the sea (Goreau, 2014).BIOROCK will facilitate growth and ‘allow salt marsh to be extended seawards, deeper than it would normally grow’, which is also a way of regaining land (Goreau, 2014). 17
MATERIALS & VEGETATION Vegetation is carefully selected for two purposes: biofiltration basin (trapping the coarse sediments) and restoration of salt marsh. On top this, eastern gama grass is also particularly used to function as a biological filter and contaminant-uptake system to absorb heavy metal pollutants in water (Negri, 1996).
Constructed wetlands system to purify water and collect sediments+Salt marsh to regain land
Constructed biofiltration system to treat urban runoff
Vegetation for salt marsh Sporobolus virginicus
Sarcocornia quinqueflora
Sea rush
Bare twig rush
Stormwater runoff (Thicker=less sediments/ pollutants)
Water quality Sediments accumulation sensors
Biorock Structure
Salt Marshes
Hiearchy of biofiltration ponds (mainly for sedimentation purpose)
Roads/hard surfaces in urban areas
Vegetation for biofiltration Stormwater runoff
Tropic cascade
Pennisetum
Lomandra
Shara lomandra
Treat heavy metal pollution in water Wild hyacinth
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‘Sediments trap pod’
Buildings
Materials for land building
KEY COARSE SEDIMENTS
URBAN WASTE
General waste
Commodity recyclables and carbon-based waste Plasma gasification technology
Incinerated and composted
Gravel
Channeled sludge
DREDGED MATERIALS
Peat and organic soil
Clay
Cobble
Cemented soil
Deflated if water submerge the pod and then fall down to waterbed
OTHER MATERIALS
Low carbon cement
Large rocks/Boulders
Steel BIOROCK Technology
Ash
Slag glass
Silts
Biorock structure
To regain land against erosion and subsidence, 4 types of materials are to be used. Firstly, urban waste can be treated by incineration and Plasma gasification technology as per their attributes (general or recyclable waste) (Han, Schaefer & Barry, 2013), then deposited at optimum location used for land fill later. Secondly, sediments from urban runoff will also be accumulated in sediment pod installed in sedimentation pond. Once the water level rises, the pod will be pumped out and deflated to the bottom of seabed. Apart from this,Biorock technology is employed as a structural frame, meanwhile restoring coral and salt marsh. Lastly, dredged materials from other sites and deep cement mixing will also contribute to land fill if islands for heavy development are needed in the future. 19
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• Creating more habitats for multiple species • Purifying urban runoffs discharged to ocean • Regaining land for occupation • Sustainable reuse of urban waste and sediments • Restoration of corals, seagrass, and salt marsh which are all important to healthy environmental system • Responsive island building system adapted to climate change (sea level rise particularly • Increasing fidelity of Brisbane water system database by collecting real-time information about every components of the water system, facilitating evidence-based decisions in the future
ME NT AL B
PERFORMANCE
• Recycling and reusing urban waste (general waste, construction waste, etc.) • Replace conventional costly land fill process with ‘naturally building’ process using biorock structure, sediments pods, etc. and every component has multiple benefits for the entire ecological system • Creating unique urban form and landscape scenery attracting tourism and investment
S SOC IAL BENEFIT • More urban green spaces created for better living environment for residents • Encouraging public participation in recycling waste and garbage classification to help with the formation of proposed islands, so as to promote sustainable lifestyle and environment conservation.
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SYNTHETIC SYSTEM
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COLLABORATION OF TECHNOLOGIES As stated by Bradley Cantrell (2013), ‘responsive technologies, computational iteration, and autonomy are employed towards new methods for building, establishing, and adaptively maintaining synthetic ecologies’ (Cantrell, 2013, p.7). Collaboration of technology 1 and 2 will comprehensively understand what happen to ecological system and respond to the changes promptly. In this case, the whole system is not static but evolving with change of nature and consolidated constantly by collecting realtime data, approximating natural structure and forces, as well as tackling issues with natural ways.
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REFERENCES Cantrell, B., & Holzman, J. (2014). SYNTHETIC ECOLOGIES PROTOCOLS, SIMULATION, AND MANIPULATION FOR INDETERMINATE LANDSCAPES. Retrieved from http://papers.cumincad.org/data/works/att/acadia14_709.content.pdf Cantrell, Bradley, and Justine Holzman. “Synthetic ecologies: Protocols, simulation, and manipulation for indeterminate landscapes.” (2014). Cantrell, B. E., & Holzman, J. (2016). Responsive landscapes: strategies for responsive technologies in landscape architecture. Routledge. Cleveland State University. (1998). Water quality. Retrieved from Cuyahoga River Water Quality Monitoring Program: https://www.grc. nasa.gov/www/k-12/fenlewis/Waterquality.html Goreau, T. J. (2014). BIOROCK® TECHNOLOGY: Cost-effective solutions to major marine resource management problems including construction and repair, shore protection, ecological restoration, sustainable aquaculture, and climate change adaptation. Retrieved from Global coral: http://www.globalcoral.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Biorock_Benefits.pdf Government Architect NSW. (2018). Gosford Urban Design Framework. NSW Government. Han, Q., Schaefer, W., & Barry, N. (2013, January). Land reclamation using waste as fill material: a case study in Jakarta. In Proceedings of World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology (No. 78, p. 647). World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology (WASET). IADC. (2018). Types of materials to be dredged include a wide variety of sediments, soils, clays, silt, rock, sand and debris. Retrieved from International association of dredging companies: https://www2.iadc-dredging.com/subject/what-is-dredging/types-materialdredged Malpas, J. (2017). Amphibious Architecture – What Does the Derwent Want? Retrieved from Landscape Architecture Australia: https:// landscapeaustralia.com/articles/Amphibious-Architecture/#img-3 Negri, C. (1996). Plants That Remove Contaminants From the Environment. Laboratory Medicine, 36-40. Retrieved from Lab Medicine: https://watermark.silverchair.com/labmed27-0036.pdf?token=AQECAHi208BE49Ooan9kkhW_ Rockefeller Foundation. (2019). The City Resilience Framework. Retrieved from 100 resilient cities: http://www.100resilientcities.org/ resources/#section-2 23
THANKS .