David Nock

Apr 08

Structural Moving: State of the Art

Business/Commerce/Industry, Optimization, Principles, Property Design, Sustainability, Urban Transformation No Comments »

Structural Moving’s impressive and practical ‘State-of-the-Art’, is matched, sadly, by society’s (peoples’) state of assumptions and limitations regarding the technical capabilities.

Unfortunately, this limits society’s ability to both comprehend the ‘issues’ and our responses to them.

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CDS Building Movers provides a particularly insightful example – for it’s social ‘assumptions’ as well as real technical capabilities. The ’special project’ featured on their website involved the moving of five historic buildings from the campus of Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario (1992).

This is a valuable learning resource.

Firstly, as the title states: ‘They said it couldn’t be done’. That is the common refrain. Most people don’t know what is possible, technically. Structural Moving is simply ‘off the radar’ of the general population. It is assumed that structures must remain ‘in place’, or be demolished … the thought of lifting/moving is, sadly, beyond peoples’ comprehension.

Even in this example at Queen’s University … where were the academic engineers and architects when it was assumed that the buildings must be demolished? Here, a university of ‘higher education’ is unable to determine the capabilities and possibilities – isn’t that (partly) what the education system exists for?

Yet, of course it ‘could be done’. It is possible to lift/move large heavy structures – as I’ve written about in previous articles, we’ve been capable of such technical marvels for ages. It ‘could’ve been done’ thousands of years ago. Aren’t the wonders of human technical capabilities a part of Queen’s University history courses?

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Tagged with: business • cities • design • Optimization • transformation

Mar 19

Technical Capabilities for Transformation ….. Part 2 ‘Structural Moving’

Business/Commerce/Industry, Optimization, Property Design, Urban Transformation No Comments »

Structural Moving is the basis of Urban Transformation.

Structural Moving is an established industry of highly skilled professions and has a long history of optimizing existing resources and minimizing waste by saving/reusing entire buildings.

In ‘Part 1′ of this Introduction, the examples of ancient history – Stonehenge; Herod’s Temple of Jerusalem – highlighted our ancestor’s accomplishments in lifting and moving huge, massive stone blocks and positioning them with great accuracy. The largest, a foundational block of the Temple Mount, was an astonishing 600 tons!! And, 2000 years ago! (4000 years ago for Stonehenge’s 20-50 tons stones, and no wheel for transport!). Sheesh.

This serves to establish our human technical capabilities.

With ‘Part 2′ of the Introduction, a few examples from recent history will highlight the specific technical capabilities of lifting and moving ‘buildings’ – spatial constructed assemblies, as opposed to solid rock.

We are capable of lifting/moving large buildings (houses). We’ve been doing so for a long time, and we now have decades of highly experienced knowledge/skill and various modern equipment/machinery to utilize.

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Tagged with: cities • design • Optimization • transformation • waste

Mar 16

Technical Capabilities for Transformation ….. Part 1 An Introduction

Business/Commerce/Industry, Optimization, Urban Transformation No Comments »

Structural Transformation of our Cities and Sub/Exurbs is entirely possible and eminently practical.

The physical ‘form’ of our ‘built environment’ is based on the large structural ‘buildings’ … residential houses, and their arrangements; and the roads along which the buildings are located. Transformation, then, primarily involves changing the ‘form’ of those individual buildings; their ‘layout’ arrangements and orientation in combination(s); and, the ‘routing’ of the roads.

‘Structural Moving’ is the key to the re-building of structural ‘form’.

Structural Moving, as an industry, is well established with highly capable and professional technologists, and a long distinguished history of successful projects. In fact, they correctly refer to themselves as the ‘original reuse/recyclers’, by saving otherwise structurally sound building from demolition.

To truly understand the extent of the possibilities, and the real potential of Urban Transformation requires an appreciation of ‘Structural Moving’ as a primary technical capability.

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Tagged with: business • cities • transformation

Mar 11

Simple Rules: Complex Community Systems

Biomimicry, Dynamical Systems, Optimization, Principles, Property Design No Comments »

Emergent patters/properties of complex adaptive systems are achieved through simple operating ‘rules’.

Indeed, simple ‘rules’ are a necessity of complex dynamical interactions. A common misunderstanding is that the complex interactions are a result of complex ‘rules’.

Emergent properties may be thought of as ’simplicities’ in the sense that they are the identifiable ‘things’ … whether properties (structural behaviour), patterns (of birds in flight, schoals of birds), or ‘problems’ … which result from the complex interactions of the dynamical system.

While the interactions of the system are complex, the rules which lead to the system’s behaviour are ’simple’. This is one of many counterintuitive aspects of complex adaptive systems.

‘Life’ provides the best and most obvious example.

Applying the lessons learned from the ‘rules of Life’, to the design of Communities (and resulting social lifestyles) is a high form of Biomimicry. The notion of having a few simple rules by which to design and construct healthy vibrant communities of immense diversity and resilience is confirmed by Life.

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Tagged with: Biomimicry • cities • design • Optimization • resilience

Mar 03

Communities: Fractal Solutions

Biomimicry, Business/Commerce/Industry, Dynamical Systems, Principles, Property Design, Urban Transformation No Comments »

Our ’problems’, as emergent properties of complex adaptive (fractal) systems are (in certain cases) fractal ‘patterns’ on various scales of our eco/socio-economic system.

So, too, solutions can be fractal: an effective re-build of a system structure at one level can/will be result in solutions as emergent properties on various scales.

Communities … rebuilding the structure form of existing subdivisions, by design, to be real, integral communities … will lead to multi-scalar emergent solutions.

Indeed, an immediate ‘emergent solution’ of Urban Transformation as a new industry (industrial system) is the economic stimulus effect in terms of the innovative commercial/industrial investments and operations.

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Tagged with: Biomimicry • design • Economics • transformation

Mar 01

Solutions as Fractals …

Business/Commerce/Industry, Dynamical Systems, Optimization, Principles, Sustainability, Urban Transformation No Comments »

Complex Adaptive Systems are also known as Fractal Systems, in regards to their ’scale-independent’ or ‘fractal’ structure.

The fractal characteristic (or scale-independence) of Complex Adaptive Systems is that features of the whole are present in each of the component parts … this is also known as ’self-similarity’ … patterns that repeat at different scales.

Our ‘problems’ are (in certain cases) fractal ‘patterns’ on various scales of our eco/socio-economic system. So, too, solutions can be fractal: an effective re-build of a system structure at one level can/will be a solution on various scales.

Urban Transformation is the practical application of this principle: the improper design of the existing residential subdivisions in a primary component of many integrated multi-scalar (fractal) ‘problems’ … we can transform the existing residential subdivisions into real Communities, by design, with solutions as emergent properties on various scales.

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Tagged with: Biomimicry • cities • design • Optimization • resilience • transformation

Feb 25

Systemic Change ………………………….. Part 5 Transformation of Mindset: Paradigm of Possibilities

Business/Commerce/Industry, Dynamical Systems, Principles, Sustainability, Urban Transformation No Comments »

Developing a new understanding is a new mindset … a non-reversible neural systemic change.

Specifically, understanding Urban Transformation … the need for structural re-building of our physical communities, and the practical capabilities to do so … is a systemic change to a new mindset of possibilities.

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It is by learning a sufficient amount and variety of component ‘pieces’ of information, and their interconnections …. attaining the appropriate ‘critical mass(es)’ of learning, in a critically appropriate (short) period of time … that the systemic change of mindset or ‘understanding’ is achieved.

Likewise, in turn, when a sufficient number and variety of people … the ‘critical mass(es)’ of people … develop a new understanding – and, in a critically short period of time, a new widespread social paradigm can be achieved.

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Tagged with: business • cities • design • resilience • transformation

Feb 22

Systemic Change ……………………………… Part 4 Roads as ‘Boundary Conditions’

Business/Commerce/Industry, Dynamical Systems, Optimization, Principles, Property Design, Sustainability, Urban Transformation No Comments »

The structure of our residential subdivisions presents enormous potential for beneficial change.

To truly appreciate the potential for achieving systemic change … and, the potential for vast improvements, it is necessary to understand the underlying factors of our existing problematic residential ‘form’. In particular, the roads: the arterial avenues/roads, and, the ‘inner’ residential roads.

I’m focussing on roads as a primary ‘component’ because it represents a defining feature of the landscape – delineating the resultant land area that is ‘left over’ for all other uses; roads are a very high cost feature (initial construction, maintenance and repair); and, as a consequence of ‘form’, virtually all aspects of life both involve and impact roads.

In terms of systems, roads serve as a ‘boundary conditions’.

Yet, the roads are also serve as linear ‘centres’ of commerce and industry.

These are two conflicting functions, and as I believe, the source of much of our social, transportation, traffic congestion ‘problems’.

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Tagged with: business • cities • design • Economics • Optimization • resilience • transformation

Feb 19

Systemic Change …………………………… Part 3 Roads: Factor of Community Form and Function

Business/Commerce/Industry, Dynamical Systems, Optimization, Property Design, Urban Transformation No Comments »

So many of our eco/socio-economic ‘problems’ originate with the poor design of residential subdivisions: the potential of transforming this ’structure’ to real Communities presents the means of achieving systemic change to sustainable societies.

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This post continues the discussion based on Donella Meadows’ classic publication … ‘Leverage Points: Places to Intervene in a System’. Below are a few key quotes.

“The only way to fix a system that is laid out wrong is to rebuild it, if you can.”

“Physical structure is crucial in a system, but rarely a leverage point, because changing it is rarely simple. The leverage point is in proper design in the first place. After the structure is built, the leverage is in understanding it’s limitations and bottlenecks and refraining from fluctuations or expansions that strain it’s capacity.”

While these statements are applicable to all systems, in this case the focus is on the structural form of our residential ‘community’ subdivisions and the problems that result as emergent properties of the complex system of interactions.

In order for us to appreciate the need for new, properly designed ’structures’, and understand how to achieve the systemic changes, we need a deep understanding of both the lack of proper design of the original system structure (specifically, residential subdivisions) and lack of understanding of it’s limitations which has lead to the currently strained capacities … and, the ‘emergent problems’.

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Tagged with: cities • design • Optimization • resilience • transformation

Feb 17

Systemic Change …………………………….. Part 2 Community: Structure as a Leverage Point

Dynamical Systems, Property Design, Urban Transformation No Comments »

We can re-build the physical form of our residential subdivisions, by design … transforming into systemic Communities.

Doing so, we will achieve beneficial systemic non-reversible (transitional) changes on various ’scales’, simultaneously: this is a natural result of ’systems approach’ … Solutions are the ‘emergent properties’ or patterns

In the same way that the ‘problems’ or problematic situations are ‘emergent properties’ of the complex system – so too, solutions are ‘emergent properties’ of the transformed system … the resultant ‘whole pattern(s)’ of the new system’s dynamical interaction.

In this sense, the ecological/socio-economic solutions are ‘fractal’ (scale independent): that is, features of the ‘whole’ (solutions; benefits) are represented in each of the various scale ‘components’ (’component wholes’).

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As I discussed in the previous article (part 1), the physical structure/form of a system (in this case, the form of our Communities) is a critical factor in it’s functioning … whether effective or problematic (and, problematic is the existing reality). Moreover, the function of our local communities is a critical factor in the functioning of the various scales of society as a ‘whole’.

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Tagged with: cities • design • transformation

Feb 16

Systemic Change ………………………….. Part 1 Community: Structure as a Leverage Point

Dynamical Systems, Principles, Sustainability, Urban Transformation No Comments »

Transforming our subdivisions into viable integrated Communities, by design, represents a vital ‘Leverage Point’ for greater systemic non-reversible change to a sustainable society.

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The physical structure or form of a system is a critical factor in it’s functioning … whether the functioning is effective/efficient, or problematic.

And, problematic is what we currently have … ecological, social and economic.

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Tagged with: cities • design • resilience • transformation

Feb 15

Communities … and Systemic Change

Dynamical Systems, Principles, Sustainability, Urban Transformation No Comments »

Communities are a systemic ‘whole’ on a small (local) scale, while also larger-scale ‘component wholes’ … of our greater socio-economic system(s).

It is this ‘duality’ – in a fractal sense – that presents an opportunity of enormous potential.

Communities represent a key ‘leverage point’ … as a means of establishing large-scale beneficial systemic change.

In fact, this is a uniquely vital ‘Dual Leverage Point’: as an ‘end’ goal of resolving many practical ‘issues’ for local residents (a means of improving their lifestyles); and, on a greater social scale, the improvements of local behavioural interactions serves as a means of establishing large-scale transitional systemic socio-economic changes.

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Our problematic situations are systemic, and many eco/socio-economic ‘issues’ are a result of the form of our existing residential subdivisions.

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Tagged with: cities • design • resilience • transformation

Feb 10

Understanding Systemic Change

Biomimicry, Dynamical Systems, Principles, Sustainability No Comments »

Systemic non-reversible solutions are needed to ‘resolve’ our problematic situations.

A real resolution of our problematic situation(s) implies ‘change’ … a transitional change … and, permanent change: In systems science, this is referred to as a ‘non-reversible’ systemic change.

After all, it’d do no good to change ‘for the better’, only for the system to revert back to the same (or similar) problematic situation.

This is a true transformation – transforming the ‘whole’ system to achieve a ‘non-reversible’ resolution to the problematic situation(s).

Understanding systems and requires great effort to learn: there are various types of systems, each with many ‘aspects’ or component parts, and interconnections; there is the issue of ’scale’ and ’scope’ (scale of breadth and depth).

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Tagged with: Biomimicry • resilience • transformation

Feb 08

Systems: A Primer

Dynamical Systems, Principles No Comments »

‘System’ … this is a very broad term, and includes many categories, types, etc. There are various definitions of systems.

In fact, even amongst the experts, there is no single classification for all types of systems, or for all purposes of analyses.

My intent with this article is not to provide a ’specific’ definition or even to describe ‘what’ systems … rather, my goal here is to help you, dear reader, to learn and develop an understanding of systems (prompting further study), and ultimately to ‘think’ in terms of systems with a ’systems mindset’.

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Tagged with: ecosystems

Feb 03

Identity and ‘Place’: Vital Aspects of Community

Biomimicry, Dynamical Systems, Optimization, Principles, Property Design, Sustainability, Urban Transformation No Comments »

From a distance, a community would have a ‘dimensional’ look to it – similar to a city with it’s downtown core.

So, there’d be a sense of Place, both from afar and within. The community core would be visually evident and obvious, so that with a glance from a distance even a visitor could easily/immediately locate the centre.

A self-contained community, then, can be thought of as a fractal structure – in which, the features of the whole are represented in each of the various scaled components. Community; district; city; region … are (ought to be) representative ‘wholes’ of increasing scale. This will be a topic of further discussion in a following article.

This ’self-similarity’ or, ’scale-independence’ is a fundamental aspect of dynamical, complex adaptive systems … a (successful) feature of nature; a replicable model … so, why then aren’t we adopting/adapting natures successes?! This is an aspect of Biomimicry that deserves serious attention.

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Tagged with: Biomimicry • cities • design • resilience • transformation

Feb 01

Residential Subdivisions … are Not Communities.

Business/Commerce/Industry, Dynamical Systems, Optimization, Principles, Property Design, Uncategorized No Comments »

Complex Systems involve a multiplicity of components and connections.

A vibrant Community, being a complex system, is comprised of a multiplicity (amount and variety) of components and connections.

In the previous blog articles, ‘Systems Approach to Solutions’ (Parts 1 & 2), I briefly described the nature of systems, especially complex systems, and the ’systems approach’ to designing meaningful solutions.

Our ecological and socio-economic ‘issues’ are truly complex, involving many interconnected component aspects.

In the subdivisions of our urban/suburban societies, our lifestyle behaviours represent a primary component of our problematic situation(s): our auto-dependent … highly mobile, yet also highly sedentary lifestyles and excessive processed food result in many health ‘issues’; energy-intensity (electricity; petro; etc.) causes ecological/economic impacts; and on …

Our lifestyles, though, are ‘pre-determined’ in the sense that we’re constrained by the physical form of the built-environment in which we live … so many (most) of us live in subdivisions (inner suburban sprawl of a previous generation; new suburbs); and, the suburbs are so similar.

So, residential subdivisions as a physical ‘form’ are a major component of our problematic situations, imposing major negative ecological, social and economic impacts.

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Tagged with: cities • design • Optimization • resilience • social issues • transformation

Jan 28

Communities … as Complex Systems

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A community system, specifically a complex adaptive system is comprised of a multitude of components and (inter)connections.

So a real community – as a complex adaptive system – requires the necessary critical mass of components and connections.

Actually, we could think in terms of the main ‘component’ sub-systems: physical infrastructural system; social system; and, the greater ecological/environmental system.

Scale and scope … of the subsystems and their components and connections. In fact, scale and scope of each of the ’scales’ and ’scopes’.

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Tagged with: business • cities • design • Optimization • resilience • transformation

Jan 26

A ‘Systems Approach’ to Solutions (Part 2)

Dynamical Systems, Principles, Sustainability No Comments »

Consider, from a ’systems mindset’, that our problematic situations are systemic: a consequent result of the various components and their interactions that comprise the ‘whole’ system.

Without a sufficient understanding (in breadth and depth) of the system as a whole, we cannot alter or change any ‘one’ component and expect a drastic beneficial result … even a drastic change to a single component will not necessarily fundamentally alter the whole … it may, but not necessarily; even changes to two or more components, individually or independently, is likely insufficient to achieve fundamental system change.

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Tagged with: design • resilience • transformation

Jan 21

Community … by Design

Business/Commerce/Industry, Dynamical Systems, Optimization, Property Design, Urban Transformation No Comments »

Understanding the existing ‘lack’ of design is necessary to design true Communities.

To the extent that physical form of modern subdivisions are (or, can be said to be) ‘designed’, it is really only the linear aspect of the roads in the planar realm – the linear geometric shapes of the flat ground level roads, as seen from above.

Foolishness! A geometrical layout as observed from where no-one sees! A ‘visual’ design that has no beneficial effect … in fact, these silly layouts may well have detrimental impacts on daily living.

Furthermore, subdivisions (even the ‘mature’ subdivisions of a previous generation) lack the balance and diversity of commerce, industry and arts/culture/etc. to be true communities.

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Tagged with: cities • design • Economics • Optimization • resilience • transformation

Jan 19

Community Oriented Development … Sense it! …

Property Design, Sustainability, Urban Transformation No Comments »

Visualize … Community designed for People!

Designing for people includes pedestrian scale, so that everyone lives within a reasonable walk from the Community Core: the standard being, the rate of walking travel of the slowest persons – young toddlers; elderly and physically challenged.

What is an appropriate geographical size?

What would such a Community look like?

And designing for ‘people’ includes those who are visually impaired or blind. In which case, what would such a Community ‘feel’ like or be ’sensed’ by these people (whether residents or visitors)?

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Tagged with: business • cities • design • resilience

Jan 13

We must be more discerning … of ‘Planners’

Management No Comments »

We need to be more discerning of our Urban Planners.

It is absurd that the populace is so discerning of the actions/decisions of the players of professional sports teams, yet pay little or no attention to the planning that shapes our cities and directly affects our lives.

People will scrutinize the decisions of an assistant coach, and study the reams of statistical data of the players … which really has no effect on their daily lives. All the while, a single decision from a junior staffer in the planning department may have serious negative consequences for years/decades/generations to come; and such decisions take place, for the most part, out of sight (and conveniently out of mind).

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Tagged with: cities

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