ENTROPIC CONDITIONS: within the fingerprint KEVIN PEREZ LA 463 PROFESSOR PHIL PREGILL FALL 2014 CAL POLY POMONA
preface + abstract.............1-3 pedestrian.....................4-7 Bike...........................8-15 Car............................16-19 boat...........................20-23 tram...........................24-27 rail...........................28-33 conclusion.....................34-35
TABLE OF CONTENTS
In an anthropogenic era we are in the realization we have to live a more environmentally conscious life while solving local and global issues in a safe and efficient manner. Amsterdam in the Netherlands has managed to do just that by applying sustainable hierarchical transportation design by sharing and allocating space for different modes of transportation. The most efficient way to navigate a city is through a grid however the figure ground image of Amsterdam reveals the shape of Amsterdam to be a fingerprint yet it has still managed to solve how transportation should be shaped. Amsterdam was one of the first cities to be shaped from functionality and beauty. The main canals, which are
now used for transportation, were oriented west towards major nodes. Alongside the canals were dedicated to businesses and high-end real estate while discouraging polluting businesses. Today. The space adjacent to the canals we can find a multitude of businesses, real estate, roads shared by people, bikers, and vehicles. Main street configurations have been designed to fit all forms of transportation including railways going in both directions. Amsterdam has created a culture were the most efficient form of transportation is biking. 40% of all amsterdamers use the bike as their first choice of transportation. There are now more bikes than actual people in the city just incase someone has an excuse not to ride a bike in the city. 1 image:http://i.imgur.com/sXVYDuC.jpg
PREFACE
ABSTRACT The connectivity of a city has a definite impact on how safe, sustainable, and successful it may be. From an analysis made in castiglion fiorentino, Italy we have identified problems in urban infrastructure, transportation, and public open spaces. The problems lie in lack of clear connectivity to public transportation, safety, and allocated open space for the townspeople. Other problems include diluted connections from the
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edges of the urban, suburban, and rural contexts. Amsterdam in the Netherlands is a leading example of how we can efficiently use and allocate space for people and vehicles in a limited amount of space without altering character of the city. Although Amsterdam has found space for everyone from bikers to boats it has yet to solve the safety issue for pedestrians and bikers. By identifying the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities,
and threats in transportation found in Amsterdam we can apply sustainable design strategies for castiglion fiorentino, Italy. What make these two cities different are their history and how each was shaped due to political, economic, and social issues. However they currently hold the same goal to become a more sustainable city while retaining their image and character. Slowly introducing
sustainable practices into the fingerprints of the cities can undoubtedly begin to alter what a city looks like and how it performs as a unified system. How can we identify coupling conditions in these cities and to have infrastructure work with nature and solve transportation issues? to unleash the latent potential found in the urban, suburban, and rural landscapes?
image: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/01/Amsterdam_Cityscape.jpg
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PEDESTRIAN In a city below sea level and an ever-increasing population the use of bridges is a vital part of connecting the city from one district to another. Bridges are used by bikers and pedestrians for crossing, meeting, and a viewing the canals. The railing on the bridges also serves as a place to secure your bike as well as a place to lock a memory with a lock as a symbol of love.
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Image: http://www.handytravelinfo.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Amsterdam-Bridges.jpg
PEDESTRIAN
The main streets of Amsterdam become human freeways on weekends and holidays. The amount of people that flood the streets in addition to the scale creates a dense atmosphere.
Image:http://blog.troygrosfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/amsterdam-streets.jpg
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PEDESTRIAN
The width of the sidewalk is cabable of carrying large amounts of people through the city while still catering to public transportation.
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Image: http://portlandtransport.com/P1010061.JPG
PEDESTRIAN Programmable streets are activated for pedestrian use for events and weekends. The barrier creates a feeling of safety, which increases use of bikes and walking.
Image: http://thejonwickproject.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/p1107400.jpg
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BIKE the urban challenge of finding a place for abandoned bicycles in amsterdam is becoming a major issue. With more bikes than actual people in amsterdam the bike has become a type of obstruction and safety issue in the city.
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http://supermodulor.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/where-was-my-bike-again-1024x773.jpg
BIKE
As a direct result of the overwhelming amount of bikes in the city the bike garage was born. It is evident that the goal to reduce the amount of abandoned bikes in the city failed. Approximately 15% of all bikes parked in the city are unused.
Image:http://www.dutchamsterdam.nl/i/aa/bicyle_parking_garage_amsterdam_da.jpg
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BIKE
The problem of abandoned bikes has given artists the opportunity to use them as sculpture in plazas throughout the city. The idea of a bike being the most sustainable form of transportation has become a nuisance. 10
http://thisbigcity.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/bikes2.jpg
BIKE
The number one stolen item in Amsterdam is the bicycle. In this sculpture the artist was begging the question whether bike theft was actually helping Amsterdam’s bike situation.
http://richardtulloch.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/bicycle-sculpture.jpg
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BIKE Bikers are given priority on the road over the pedestrian and even the car. Paths are color brown to differentiate from the footpath. Driving a car is highly discouraged.
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http://0.tqn.com/y/goamsterdam/1/S/E/0/-/-/bike_path2.JPG
BIKE 900 cyclists get in an accident every year. Signage for bikers can be found throughout the city which helps bikers navigate and direct themselves through traffic. As a safety measure signal lights have been added to nearly every corner of main streets to prevent accidents from happening.
http://dutchbikeguy.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/dutch-traffic-lights.jpg
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BIKE The division of the footpath and the bike path have yet to be mastered. You can find people walking on bike paths which becomes problematic due to accidents. The maximum speed bikes may travel along a path is 30km/h however with bikes being given priority on the road the speed limit is more than often not aknowleged. Adjacent to bike paths are typically business and residential land uses causing pedestrians to be at risk of being caught in the middle of bike traffic.
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http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vHrmXXh5Jmw/US4A8PEjxxI/AAAAAAAAAPc/1evCty7L5B0/s1600/2013-02-01+07.22.21.jpg
professor student banker
BIKE barista
People of all socio-economic backgrounds choose the bicycle as their number one choice for transportation. Having a car would actually be a financial and physical inconvenience.
http://flybee.com/wp-content/themes/flybee/images/howtogetaroundamsterdam-
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CAR with gasoline prices three times more expensive than the US it does not make much sense to own or rent a car in Amsterdam. Parking a vehicle also requires a permit. Parking is typically found at the edges of canals or parking garages found throughout the city.
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http://love-and-adventure.com/lurve/wp-content/uploads/MG_4816.jpg
CAR
Having no barriers between parking and canals causes an increase in water pollution and an increase litter. Vehicles parked by canals also obstruct views from people traveling by boat.
http://www.zombiezodiac.com/rob/ped/amsterdam/PICT0043%20800x599
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CAR The narrowness of the streets creates problems for drivers and pedestrians. Having vehicles in such as small space increases air pollution due to exhaust fumes being trapped in the space. The narrowness of the streets also makes sharing the road with bikers overwhelming.
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https://tedbike.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/img_57991.jpg
CAR The sizes of vehicles in Europe have a tendency to be smaller than the average american car. As a measure to save space and energy people who drive electric vehicles get better parking and a charging station.
http://photo5.photokaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/20111218-Amsterdam-Dec-2011-2914-
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BOAT
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http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SgM3KaVnFnw/T-IrQl0ijlI/AAAAAAAAD_c/_MjQeGCTJBA/s1600/ferry+boat+1.jpg
The direct connection between the new film museum and the ferry found behind central station creates a powerful linkage to the film industry and culture. The ferry ride provides access to the sleepy side of the city while proving views to the active side of the city.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/71/EYE_Filmmuseum.jpgsterdam-Dec-2011-2914-
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BOAT Tourists mainly utilize canals as a means to explore the city. Locals use canals as a mean for recreation by kayak, canoe, or small boat. The historic use for canals was importing beer and other goods. Today the canals are an iconic water feature that shapes the city.
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http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/37/Amsterdam_Canals_-_July_2006.jpg
http://touf2011.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/amsterdam_nl_1835.jpg
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TRAM trams are integrated within the city as an answer to efficient public transportation. Unlike the bike the tram is able to transport large amounts of people to distant parts of the city.
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http://www.astro.rug.nl/~weygaert/knawvoids/amsterdam.tram.jpg
TRAM
The average fare for a tram ride can reach up to 8 euros. Once inside the tram you may purchase a ticket that is valid for a day or hours if needed. The downfall of tram rides is space for luggage and full trams at peak hours
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/84/
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TRAM The way that the street is divided leaves the tram in the center with trams running in both directions. in some instances there can be up to four trams in the center of a street. Adjacent to each side of the trams are roads for vehicles, bike paths, and footpaths.
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http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/67/Leidsestraat_met_tram.jpg
Sharing the road with trams can be problematic since there are no barriers between pedestrians, bikers and cars. Common accidents include bike wheels getting caught within the tram tracks.
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RAIL The metro is a common form of transportation in Amsterdam. Common destinations include the airport. Navigating underground is one of the best ways to travel longer distances in Amsterdam.
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http://people.reed.edu/~reyn/Amsterdam08.jpg
RAIL
Central Station in amsterdam is the most used for of transportation. 250,000 people use the rail every day. http://www.lagunabeachbikini.com/amazing-travel-photos/TrainAMStoHAM-23Mar2010/bin/images/large/DSC_2404.jpg
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RAIL Netherlands has a high-speed rail track. The HSL-Zuid Hogesnelheidslijn Zuid, or High Speed Line South is 125km of line running from just after Schiphol airport to Rotterdam and then onto the Dutch/Belgian border towards Antwerp.
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http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/13/ICE_at_Amsterdam_Centraal.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/31/Hal_CS_Amsterdam.jpg
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RAIL The industrial look of central station makes the station a type of landmark. The roof spans approximately 40 meters and features cast iron. The building is situated on three man-made islands, which are supported by 8,687 wooden piles pounded deep into the sandy soil.
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http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c9/Amsterdam_centraal_side.jpg
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CONCLUSION Amsterdam has accomplished many sustainable goals for transportation but has yet to solve the major problem that comes with trying to be a sustainable and safe city. It is evident that being a pedestrian in Amsterdam is not the same as being a pedestrian in a more walkable city such as New York. The safety issues of being a pedestrian in Amsterdam still need to be solved by prioritizing the pedestrian instead of the bike. We can make specialized walking paths that create the illusion of safety. We have learned that even though the city uses the bicycle as their main source of transportation there are problems arising such as bike abandonment. With more bikes than people in the city parking garages for bikes 34
are popping up every year. However, are bike garages really the answer to reducing the amount of abandoned bikes in the city? This may be one of the biggest problems Amsterdam has but I feel that this issue can be solved by recycling bike material and using it throughout the city as a new building material for infrastructure Or art pieces. The future of the car in the city does not seem very promising or practical due to the limited space found for street use. Perhaps the future may deem cars illegal in the city in order to save space for the pedestrians and bikers. One very underutilized aspect of the city are the canals.
the canals have the potential to be used more efficiently for transportation instead of guided tours. The way locals use the canals can be more proactive if the canals were geared more towards recreational activities. By activating the canals the amount of street traffic would be reduced. The future of the tram may be one of the most promising forms of transportation for Amsterdam. The tram has the power of moving large amounts of people without creating environmental issue for the city. Finally the iconic Central station is the key connector into the city for people in different regions of the county and internationally as well due to the airport connection.
Amsterdam is a great example of being sustainable however they still have to tackle other issues that come with sustainability. By analyzing Amsterdam we can now take ideas and practices and apply them not only to Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy but future cities. Both cities have to opportunity to create sustainable solutions while working with the elements found in the region such as rain, snow, sunshine, and geothermal energy. In both cities none have achieved to couple infrastructure with nature. If the idea is achieved we can tackle the side effects sustainability brings into the city.
image:http://i.imgur.com/sXVYDuC.jpg
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