Research in Landscape &
Urban
ism
—Memory Mapping
By: Zachariah Adam Correa
volume i
By scaling down the site, we can see that the greater context links together three (3) bodies of water through a connected wetland. This wetland is the key to unlocking the story behind this site’s restoration.
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This historic 1930’s aerial was stitched together from a compilation of segmented aerials gathered during my research of the site. The ninety (90) year old images reveal the remarkable transformation this site has undergone by the hand of industrialism.
Within the memory of this place we can see population density increase in what used to be farmland, land reclamation at the developed port to the west of the image and the estuary to the right of the image (right of the airport). We can also see the development of wetlands and the removal of gradient land. Hardening and steepening of edges and removal of marsh and wet meadow conditions
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This contemporary 2019 Google Earth aerial, is used for comparison to the histric aerial.
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PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
The first step in analyzing the site is tracing the boundaries present in the historic aerial. Tracing these boundaries isolates these specific layers of data within the context and allows us to identify relationships between borders on this layer. This is the first in many isolations of different layers withint the context which allow us to draw new relationships between varing elements in the site.
It can be noted that higher density of streetpaths occur closer to the oceans shoreline toward the north of the site. Also, development, at this stage avoided completely the wetland zones, most likely due to lack of technology for building on such soft ground.
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The natural boundaries above are layered beneathe another study, tracing the boundaries of man-made streets and transportation pathways.
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PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
This same process is done with the 2019 aerials and overlayed on top of the historic aerials in order to map the differences that have occured in the boundaries of the site. Differences were marked and changes identified in the next phase of the mapping process.
The final map denotes locations of historical ecosystems and their locations with black letters. Red letters mark the location and proposal of potential interventions to restore the system that was historically present. The dark solid green tone is the water, and it lightens as it spills into the historic wetlands. Red dash lines on the site locate pathways of intervention along the context leading into the site..
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Combining layers of data traced from the historic aerials provides the foundation for the memory mapping.
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
Rendering of proposed intervention coming soon...
[1] What used to be a wetland stream, winding and flowing south to north from the rain forest to the ocean is now a dredged runoff canal, channeling the polluted runoff from impermeable ground cover that now surrounds the area for miles on end. Filtration is needed along these canals, as well as a method for public education on natural wetland filtration systems. Public envolvment can be created by activating this canal as a linear wetland park trail. This will clean the water, slow down its speed, engage the public and educate on wetland systems while providing a public amentity to the surrounding communities.
Rendering of proposed intervention coming soon...
[2] The polluted runoff from the surrounding communities flows at a high velocity toward a wider natural creek disturbing the aquatic life below the surface as it spills into the lagoon. The high velocity causes erosion as the wave forces batter the banks of the creek. Soil is lost and the banks become steeper and less stable. These banks become less condusive to habitat for aquatic and terrestrial species alike. A sturdy plant species such as marsh, which is historically prevelent in this area would be beneficial for reducing wave forces from disturbing the soil, slowing down currents, and re-introducing habitat to this zone.
Rendering of proposed intervention coming soon...
[3] Several marine species have died off, including many bioluminescent organisms. Pollution from runoff in the canal dumps into the natural creeks which spill out inot the lagoon. Eutrophication takes place as nutrients anarobically decompose within the water. An overabundance of nitrogen copled with many other nutrients creates imbalances within the water, depriving it of oxygen and killing fish and other aquatic life. Algae bloom is present in the lagoon, where the nutrients and runoff sit.
Rendering of proposed intervention coming soon...
[4] Currently, the canal is not used for anything but runoff. There is an unsightly chainlink fence surrounding this canal to deter pedestrians from falling in. The sidewalks to either side are detached from any public amenity and isolated by the roadways with vehicular traffic. This is currently a very dangerous site for pedestrians to walk. Wider pedestrian walkways are needed and must be pulled back from the street side, away from the vehicular traffic for both safety and mental security. By pushing the two sidewalks together, we can create a central corridor, twice as wide and pull it centered on this canal, above the wetland filtration system to be installed below. A Green Buffer can be placed at the borders of the canal where the existing sidewalk currently are.
Rendering of proposed intervention coming soon...
[5] There are no sidewalks for pedestrian traffic in much of the area. Here is a location where the canal cuts throug the land next to an existing street. The trail could continue through these spaces, connecting them with pedestrian foot traffic pathways for protected travel.
Rendering of proposed intervention coming soon...
[6] The banks of this natural creek are being eroded away, due to the streamlined canal feeding into this creek. The high water velocity causes wave action to batter the soil along the banks, loosening it and carrying it off. This erosion is evident by the steepening slope present at the banks edge. A stable creek has a more gradient slope at the banks and incorporates more plantings at the edge within the “wet meadow� zone to reduce wave action, stabalize erosion, and filter nutrients out of the water. There is much need for plantings along the banks of this eroding creek as it feeds into the lagoon and estuary to the north.
Current project is a work in progess... More to come as research progresses. Thank You!