1 Information Architecture Project 1: System Mapping Jeremy Wood Carolina Torres Hsiao-Ying Huang 02/08/2007

2 Group 2: Environment  Emerging Information System: "Geographic Information System” (mapping software technology)  Definition: "A geographic information system (GIS), or more commonly referred to as a geospatial information system is a system for capturing, storing, analyzing and managing data and associated attributes which are spatially referenced to the earth. In the strictest sense, it is a computer system capable of integrating, storing, editing, analyzing, sharing, and displaying geographically-referenced information.” (wikipedia -

3 Example 1 Taking Notice: Green Spaces in Urbanized Settings  Reference: design center for American urban landscapes: "mapping green spaces in the center of the twin cities region" by Jason Zimmermann ( u/projects/current/green/taking_notice_g reen.html) u/projects/current/green/taking_notice_g reen.html

4 Example 2 NASA Study of Plant Resource Mapping  Reference: "A Green View: Mapping Human Food and Fuel from Space" by Tariq Malik ( y/plant_food_ html) y/plant_food_ html Urban areas with dense populations like that of New York City seen here (Manhattan is at center) require 300 times the amount of plant- derived resources their regions can produce. CREDIT: NASA/GSFC/METI/ERSDAC/JAROS/US-JAPAN ASTER.

5 Example 3 Urban Spatial Patterns Study in China  Reference: “Urban Spatial Patterns Based on the Urban Green Space System: A Strategic Plan for Wuhan Metropolitan Area, P.R. China” by Shi Song, Lu Wei and Lu Waqian ( gram.html) gram.html

6 GIS Boundaries  Narrow System physical boundaries - e.g. geographical city limit, green spaces in a city, people in a city, other resources in a city social boundaries - e.g. laws, rules and architectural/planning/zoning codes virtual boundaries - geographically related data digital (user/software) interface  Wider System: network of data collection tools, satellites, sensing/scanning devices, data storage and transmission devices, modeling tools, cartographic modeling/mapping; digital (user) interface environment - scientific community, global and local resource management and (natural and urban - geographic) environmental impact, policy, and planning, cartography and route planning, criminology/law enforcement, business and commercial/marketing  Input/Output: data from and to outside source, social/political behavior and agendas and impact of system of social/political agendas and decision-making

7 GIS Elements  Real-world Objects: discrete objects (raster data) (green spaces, satellites, people) continuous fields (vector data) (social needs/priorities) non-spatial data (tree species)  Data Collection Tools : Sensors, imaging devices, digital scanning devices  Data Collected: Green space/satellite data / geospatial data social (e.g. census) data  Data Storage, Transmission and Sharing: databases, data formats and interchange, data networks  Modeling and Analysis Tools: digital imaging and representation/imaging tools, traditional geographic information (latitude, longitude, elevation), geocodes - examples: map image/digitally generated, information map, ZIP, city, state, country, highway mile markers

8 GIS Attributes & Relationships  Human Characteristics: age, gender, ethnicity, socio-demographic (mobile populations - 'low- mobility')  Geospatial & Other Physical Characteristics: size, quantity, color, density / concentration, location - relative and geospatial  Urban Environment Characteristics: density, developing/underdeveloped, infrastructure characteristics  Social, Political, and Economic Attributes  Meta-data: e.g. non-spatial information (tree species, etc.)  Technica/Functional Attributes  Data Interface/Exchange Attributes: sharing, tagging, mark-up/exchange/protocol, API, etc. * Feedback Relationships

9 GIS Behaviors & Structures  how people use a green space - recreation, social activities, e.g. gathering/festival/commercial uses  why green spaces are where they are - why they exist, why they are located where located  maintenance of green space  planning and developing new green spaces (adaptation)  urban setting / infrastructure (physical - e.g. buildings, streets, parks, etc.)  network of urban traffic and transportation  social structures and institutions - governments, institutions, social groups / residents, commercial interests/orgs  data collection infrastructure (satellites, sensors, cameras, etc.)  information network physical infrastructure and social and virtual communication paths (hierarchy of technologies)  digital imaging / analysis/ representation tools

10 GIS Flows & Communication  maintenance of green space  urban traffic and transportation  social energy, individual agency / action / participation - how each human actor participates, their roles, expectations, costs/benefits  data - (material) flow  knowledge - virtual / social information flow

11 GIS Data Sets  time, position, latitude, longitude, elevation, geocodes - examples: ZIP, city, state, country, highway mile markers  social and demographic data  natural resource data

12 GIS Intervention  GIS-based systems provide feedback, to individuals and social, political, scientific, government organizations about emergent properties of emerging phenomenon of urban public / green spaces. these people will use this information/feedback to develop goals (social and political and environmental/natural science priorities) and make decisions and implement changes / adaptation, (goal-seeking behavior)