1. Utilizing 3D printing technology and the plasmodial slime mold Physarum polycephalum to approximate efficient transit networks of Los Angeles

2. What Is Slime Mold?
Slime mold is a typically yellow single celled multinucleated organism that forages (moves) to create the most efficient network between its food source (oat flakes in the lab)
usually found under large pieces of wood.
forages by chemotaxis (chemical attraction towards its food source)

3. Slime Mold Efficiency Source: Adamatzky (2010), Nakagaki (2001).
Source: Adamatzky (2010), Nakagaki (2001).

4. Metro Mass(ive)Transit Problem
On average the typical driver spends approximately “134 hours per year — about 5 1/2 days — waiting in traffic” (Nelson).

5. Proposed Research Solution
Utilizing 3D printing to create proportional topographical maps of Los Angeles.
Placing slime mold and its food source (oat flakes in the lab) where the Los Angeles Metro currently has its connecting stations for its mass expenditure plan taking place from now until 2040.

6. Preliminary Research
Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) –Summer 2016
Time= 0 Hours
Time= 36 Hours

7. What’s Next?
Assess the foraging of the slime mold on proportionally elevated 3D maps of Los Angeles
Quantify the data with ImageJ
Compare our data to that of the Metro’s proposed expenditure plan taking place in 2040 (Funded by Measure M)

8. Many thanks to Dr. Willette and Tanya Kuzmenko!
Works Cited:
Adamatzky, A., & Jones, J. (2010). Road planning with slime mould: if Physarum built motorways it would route M6/M74 through Newcastle. International Journal of Bifurcation and Chaos, 20(10),
Adamatzky, A. I. (2014). Route 20, autobahn 7, and slime mold: approximating the longest roads in USA and Germany with slime mold on 3-D terrains. Cybernetics, IEEE Transactions on, 44(1),
Barragan, Bianca. "The Worst Day and Time to Drive on Every Los Angeles Freeway." Curbed LA. N.p., 27 Aug Web. 26 Oct
Katsuya et al Network formation of slime mold variants using the repellent chemical substance. Naturalistae 16:39-45.
Nakagaki T., Yamada H., and Toth A., Path finding by tube morphogenesis in an amoeboid organism. Biophysical Chemistry 92 (2001)
Nelson, Laura J. "Los Angeles Area Can Claim the Worst Traffic in America. Again." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar Web. 26 Oct