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Javier Carey - Manifesto

Page history last edited by wcarey 14 years, 5 months ago

Javier Carey

Albany Bulb - Activity, Wind and Obstruction

updated 10-21-09

 

The systems I have analyzed are the wind and the human activity. More specifically, I have examined the interaction of the summer westerly winds and the obstructions on the Bulb (the vegetation and topography); and I have examined the human activity which can be classified as either relatively permanent or temporary. My thesis is that there should be a relationship between the wind and the activity, and I postulated that sheltered areas promote activity.

 

My analysis suggests that the wind actually does not affect the activity on the Bulb very much at all. Except in the case of the most permanent activity (camping/residing), all other activity takes place regardless of exposure to the wind.

The wind does not affect the short term visitors to the Bulb and their temporary activities. Exercisers, joggers, dog walkers, bikers, art appreciators all manage to navigate the entire bulb regardless of the wind. The amount of activity seems to depend on access, inversely related to obstructions. Where there are trails, where there is less dense vegetation, where the grade is even there will be temporary activity.

 

The mapping exercise, while inconclusive regarding wind's effect on temporary activity, speaks to the variety, range, popularity and relative speed of each type of activity. This analysis clarifies the relationship between temporary activity and obstruction.  Biking is fast and sticks to the main trail; it is wide, free of vegetation and evenly graded. Dog walking is slow and walkers travel the even, open areas of the flat, eastern end of the Bulb. Few people try the short steep trails to the northern shore.

 

The wind does affect the more permanent residents on the Bulb, but their response to wind is particularly localized. The homeless encampments are actually on the windy side of the Bulb (western end), but they are all within the shelter of individual trees or clusters of bushes.

 

The residents' choice to settle the windy area on the Bulb is interesting. Their requirements for privacy have keep them away from the more easily accessible areas; similarly, the temporary residents appear to respect that privacy and keep from traveling the paths on the western end of the Bulb. There is marked difference between the private area and public areas on the Bulb. The residents' area is well travelled but by fewer people so the trails are much narrower. The residents mark the spaces they possess with their belongings which are markedly absent from the more public areas of the Bulb. 

 

Another interesting case to examine are the "social" activities on the bulb. There are artists who have created (relatively) permanent installations on the Bulb, and people do come to visit and view the art. There are also spaces where people gather to socialize (where the kids go to drink). So while creating art and socializing are not necessarily as temporary as walking the dog or jogging, these activities fall under the category of temporary with regards to this argument, because the wind does not play a factor in the location of the art installation or the social spots.

 

In conclusion, the wind only affects the permanent residents of the Bulb in that they setup their encampments in the shelter of trees and bushes on the windy end of the peninsula. The temporary visitors to the Bulb are more affected by access which is a factor of the grade and density of vegetation, and they appear to respect to the privacy requirements of the permanent residents. 

 

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