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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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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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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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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Jan 28

Communities … as Complex Systems

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

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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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)?

Continue reading »

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Jan 08

Urban Transformation: Shared Needs/Goals (Part 3)

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

Our shared needs are a result of the ‘built form’ of our cities/towns/neighbourhoods … so, our ultimate shared need is to change the ‘built form’ … to transform.

Some examples of shared problematic situations and their corresponding goals, include:

* traffic congestion … goal: to reduce auto dependency, use; improve traffic flow
* local provision of basics (food) … need to promote/support local merchants
* pedestrian access and infrastructure … need more pedestrian ‘ways’
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* excessive impermeable surfaces (asphalt, concrete) … need more green/natural/open space
* disconnected parks … need to connect into network
* lack of biodiversity … need to increase natural spaces and indigenous species
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* health (obesity, etc.) … need to increase physical activity in ‘daily living’ (walking, etc.)
* intergenerational interaction … need places/spaces for all people to frequent

This list could grow very long, as there are many more issues/ and they are very real needs: ecological, social, personal. And affect people in various ways, directly and indirectly.

No one ‘issue’ may seem overly significant … but it’s the totality over the course of each and every day, of the various ‘component needs’, and combinations of these ‘needs’ that adds up to effect our individual lives and the health/well-being of our relationships and society as a whole.

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Jan 06

Urban Transformation: Shared Needs & Goals

Business/Commerce/Industry, Urban Transformation 2 Comments »

Our shared ecological and socio-economic challenges present unprecedented opportunities.

In our highly urbanized society, cities – urban/suburban areas – are the site and/or source of so many of our problematic ecological and social situations.

While the ecological (and economic) issues may be difficult for people to ’see’ and relate to, it is the ‘urban-centric’ aspect that offers such enormous potential for systemic improvement … in part due to our shared needs and sense of common goals.

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Dec 15

EcoCities Conference … from Talk to Business

Business/Commerce/Industry, Ecological Economics, Sustainability, Urban Transformation No Comments »

We need viable business and financing models to create an industry of Urban Transformation.

The Eighth annual EcoCity World Summit (2009) is finishing up it’s two-day conference in Istanbul today.

Interestingly, this year’s meeting coincides with the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. For all the attention focussed on the Copenhagen conference, it is ‘cities’ – particularly their ‘re-development’ that holds the greatest possibilities and potential for resolving our ecological/climate issues … and improving the lives (lifestyles) of people.

We need to transform our personal lifestyles and society to be ecologically sustainable – and resilient (to endure ecological and economic ’shocks’). The ‘built-form’ of our communities/cities determines, to a great extent, our lifestyles/society: so, we can improve our individual/collective lives by improving the form of our communities/cities.

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Dec 13

Hope … for the Future – through Business.

Business/Commerce/Industry, Ecological Economics, Principles, Sustainability No Comments »

Hope is vital.

People need something to believe in … to be a part of … to aspire to.

This is evident with the current Summit meeting on Climate Change in Copenhagen. As with previous meetings, whether focussed on environmental issues as in Kyoto, or international trade as in Seattle for ‘General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade’ (GATT).

People want to be a part of something. Especially something ‘Big’.

Interestingly, to me anyway, is that for all the ‘anti-corporate’ emphasis displayed at the globalization meetings for GATT in Seattle, is that the protestors themselves had become a ‘body’ of people organized for a stated purpose – an organized ‘body’ of people is precisely the definition of a corporation that they were so against. This is amusing because people want to be a part of something ‘Big’, as evidenced by their very participation in protest against ‘Big business’.

Yes, I know very well there’s much more involved.

My point is that there is nothing inherently wrong or bad with ‘corporation’ as a concept. In fact so much of the ‘good’ we take for granted is the result of the business of corporations; business has brought us much of our beneficial developments and social progress.

Similarly, there is nothing inherently wrong or bad with ‘business’.

Indeed, it will be through business that we continue to progress as a civilization.

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Dec 01

We Re-Build Cities after War; let’s Re-Build Cities … minus the War!

Sustainability, Urban Transformation No Comments »

We can and do re-build cities after they’ve been destroyed by war.

So, let’s re-build cities … minus the war!

Let’s just forego the ‘fighting part’ and proceed straight to the re-building!

Makes sense, doesn’t it?

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Consider the destruction of buildings and ‘infrastructure’ (roads, etc.) through military conflict.

Consider the difficulty of re-building when the roads are impassable … full of debris (bricks, concrete, twisted metal, etc.); even the roads may be ruined and must be re-built before reconstructing buildings. Think of the European cities in the aftermath of WW2. Or anywhere else, for that matter, following military conflict.

Yet, we re-build.

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Nov 26

Urban Agriculture … some Socio-Economic Benefits.

Ecological Economics, Sustainability, Urban Agriculture No Comments »

Urban Agriculture provides economic benefits of great breadth and depth.

Recently, there is increasing talk and media attention regarding ‘Clean-Tech’ and ‘Green-Tech’. These ‘technologies’ generally do not address any underlying personal/social lifestyle issues. And, these so-called Clean/Green Tech’nologies focus on individual (independent) components …

My approach, rather, is to focus on designing true systemic lifestyle solutions in the form of services.

Below are just a few examples of some extended benefits of Urban Agriculture that are not immediately obvious. In fact, these points serve to illustrate the ‘whole systems’ mindset of Ecological Economics.

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Nov 16

Urban Agriculture … a Petro-Independent industry.

Ecological Economics, Garden, Sustainability, Urban Agriculture 3 Comments »

Imagine, Urban Agriculture as a new industry in which people work locally.

Imagine, the work processes designed around the use of simple hand-tools, primarily, which the workers can conveniently carry themselves in a backpack to accomplish many/most of the tasks – shoveling, raking, pruning, staking, weeding, etc … etc.

Imagine cycling as the primary mode of transportation for the distributed workers. This is symbolic of a new era.

With only a small, lightweight complement of hand-tools … the ‘fieldworkers’ can actually utilize a bicycle as a primary vehicle within their ‘fieldwork catchment area’ in the vicinity of their home.

Since employees primarily work within the immediate vicinity of their homes, and require only a small complement of lightweight hand tools … then, bicycles are the appropriate practical vehicle for employee mobilization.

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Nov 10

Olympic games … a model for Transforming Cities

Sustainability, Urban Transformation No Comments »

Toronto’s recent ‘win’ to host the Pan-Am games presents a timely opportunity to discuss ‘Urban Transformation’.

Consider the Pan-Am/Olympic sports events, World Expo, etc … as models/examples for Urban Transformation events.

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In a previous blog article, I discussed my aversion to hosting major sporting (and other) events because we have such serious ecological/social issues to contend with.

While I am certainly in favour of sports/athleticism … fitness/health, in general … I do not support the enormous financial and material resources directed to sport-specific facilities at a time when we can’t afford to maintain what we already have.

Furthermore, we have major problems throughout the communities of (all) our cities: these problems will remain after the billions of dollars are spent on Pan-Am/Olympic games, or World Expo … and the problems will be worse for the delay … compounded by additional problems!

Such events are forms of Urban Transformation, yet do not transform in the ways … or to the extent … that we need.

We can ‘transform’ such events … to actually resolve our eco/social issues, by re-developing the form of our ‘built environment’ that determines our actions/behaviours/habits and lifestyles.

We can do so through ‘Urban Transformation’.

Continue reading »

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Nov 05

‘Getting to Zero Waste’ … book review.

Optimization, Principles, Sustainability No Comments »

Here’s an excellent book: ‘Getting to Zero Waste‘, by Paul Palmer, PhD.

With his PhD. in chemistry (Yale), Mr. Palmer founded (1973) a chemical recycling (and brokering) business, and is now the Founding President of The Zero Waste Institute.

We have, in this book, a wealth of knowledge and experience gained through Palmer’s professional life. Palmer’s accounts of dealing with the ‘authorities’ will leave you laughing at the nonsense while you share his frustration. Similarly enlightening is his analysis of the ‘garbage industry’ – really, a ‘hauling’ industry.

Imagine chemical dump sites full of rusting, leaking barrels of chemicals that could otherwise have been put to good use.

Continue reading »

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Nov 02

Small Plot INtensive (SPIN) Farming … and Somerton Tanks Farms research.

Garden, Optimization, Property Design, Sustainability, Urban Agriculture No Comments »

SPIN Farming is method of Urban Agriculture.

Small Plot, INtensive Farming, ‘SPIN’, is a food production method devised by an experienced farmer for application to ‘sub-acre‘ plots of land, closer to market … thus becoming one form (of several*) of Urban Agriculture.

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Disclaimer: My positive writing on the SPIN farming – and the methods of the ‘Institute for Innovations in Local Farming’ – is purely out of respect of the founders, and partners, and their accomplishments in developing an appropriate food production method for our modern urban society. I am not compensated in any way. I am very thankful for their efforts, and sharing with me the ‘Feasibility Report’ (2007) that details the positive financial details.

Here is the link to the report:  This is the ‘Media’ page of the SPIN Farming website … scroll down to ‘Research Papers’ – second in the category … Institute for Innovations in Local Farming – Farming in Philidelphia: Feasibility Analysis (Complete Study)

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The ‘Institute for Innovations in Local Farming’ has carried out local agriculture research at the Somerton Tanks Demonstration Farm (STF) – the research is based on the SPIN methods, with the SPIN founder, Wally Satzewich as advisor.

The results of the four year research projects of STF operations are very impressive and encouraging … showing the great potential of Urban Agriculture, in general, and specifically local, land-based farming/gardening.

The Demonstration farm projects showcases the economic viability of a small-scale farm business: the economics of localized food production are positive.

Moreover, growing healthy food produce is a far superior use of otherwise empty grass lawns. This is an excellent example of optimization, and a means of developing the resilient and sustainable society … toward a true thriving society.

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Oct 26

Our Eco-_Social Disconnect.

Ecological Economics, Garden, Principles, Sustainability, Urban Agriculture 2 Comments »

Consider: Our society (our ’so-called’ advanced, developed western nations) are comprised of at least five (5) distinct generations of people who, after fifteen years of the formal educational system (jr. K – Gr. 12) have learned very little … if anything at all … of nature, ecology, ‘the environment’. And, through no fault of their own.

Is it any wonder that we have problems?

And with post-secondary, only those who pursue bio/eco studies have a real basis of understanding. But, then, in the typically ‘reductionist’ mode that doesn’t provide the basis for understanding the many aspects of emergent properties of dynamical systems – nature; Life; economics; society; climate; weather; and so much else are dynamical systems with emergent properties that cannot necessarily be understood from an a knowledge of their individual component parts.

This does not bode well.

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This lack of knowledge/understanding is so important since it is the decisions that people make (big and small) everyday that comprise ‘the economy’ and a civilized society.

The economy, in general, is the result of our social interactions. What people ‘busy’ themselves with – all day, everyday … their busy-ness, is, indeed, their ‘business’; and, ’the economy’ is the combination of everyones’ business. All of which is composed of decisions.

And virtually all of those decisions are based on a lack of knowledge/understanding … of the very ecological ‘asset base’ on which everything is absolutely dependent, and, from which everything derives.

Rectifying this situation … this eco–_social disconnect is a priority.

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Oct 13

Socio-Economic Benefits of Urban Agriculture: Bringing Work to People.

Ecological Economics, Urban Agriculture 2 Comments »

My primary focus of Urban Agriculture is (residential) yard food gardening.

In the North American (and to a lesser extent, Western Europe), the suburban model of primarily single-family detached homes on large residential lots provides plenty of land as well as the labour ‘pool’ in need of employment.

Also, the traffic congestion due to the expanse of suburban sprawl – and the separation of residential, commercial and other uses – requires a new approach: to bring work to people, instead of trying to improve the transportation of people to work.

So, Urban Agriculture serves many purposes … simultaneously providing a multitude of high-value eco/social benefits.

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Sep 30

Falling Leaves: Nature’s Resource Extraction and Distribution

Biomimicry, Dynamical Systems, Ecological Economics, Management, Optimization, Sustainability No Comments »

With the falling leaves of Autumn, we lament the ‘hassle’ of getting rid of the yard ‘waste’.

But these falling leaves contain the nutrients and fibrous ‘bio-mass’ to condition the soil.

Think about it … the natural cycle of the falling leaves of the deciduous trees (of the temperate regions), is the natural method of resource extraction and distribution. The tree ‘takes up’ various mineral/nutrients from deep below the ground, and with each season grows a new crown of foliage … which is later dropped onto the surface of the ground.

How elegant! No mechanical motorized equipment or machinery required. No harsh petroleum fueled chemical-industrial manufacturing facility involved.

To be sure, this is chemistry. Natural chemistry: the chemical exchange between the soil and roots, through the tree and fueled by the solar energy.

The end result, is that the chemical/mineral nutrients that were once deep in the ground are placed on the surface to replenish the top layer of soil – made available to the many shallow rooted plants.

And we don’t have to do anything. Except appreciate it.

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Sep 29

Urban Transformation: Optimization Part 5

Optimization, Principles, Property Design, Urban Transformation 2 Comments »

Urban Transformation is a prime form of Maximizing Optimization/Utilization and minimizing waste/pollution/cost.

This is because cities are the site and/or source of so many of our problematic ecological/social situations, while also the site/source of the assets/resources to resolve the issues.

By ’site and/or source of assets/resources’ I mean the concentration of people living in cities … the labour pool, who are in need of employment, as well the intellectual capabilities; as well as cities’ concentration of our ‘built environment’ that needs to be redeveloped.

These physical assets … the brick, concrete, mortar, etc. are currently intact. To destroy this through demolition is foolishness, and downright wrong.

Yes, it is possible now to re-use the broken brick/concrete ‘bits’ as aggregate in new concrete. However, this ought to be a last resort; only when adaptive re-use of the the ‘built form’ (entire buildings; sections; components; etc.) is not appropriate.

It is my belief that we already have many existing capabilities and ‘tools’ that can be used much more effectively to carry out large-scale Urban Redevelopment … Continue reading »

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Sep 28

Urban Agriculture: Optimization, Part 4 Making best use of what we already have.

Management, Optimization, Principles, Urban Agriculture, Urban Transformation No Comments »

Urban Agriculture is a primary example of Maximizing Optimization/Utilization (Max. O/U) and minimizing waste/pollution/cost.

Indeed, agriculture on it’s own is such an Optimal process from which civilization has evolved … agriculture and the permanent settlements of towns/cities are interdependent and mutually co-supportive.

In fact, through our shared history we progressed individually, and together as a society, since there was a corresponding improvement in productivity with each new agricultural technique/technology development/refinement.

For instance, from a small scratch plow to the use of the mould-board on a heavy plow (for use in heavy, wet clay soils); collared yoke harnesses for draught animals, which in turn allowed the switch from oxen to faster horses; iron tipped implements; etc.

The increased productivity allowed the time/health/opportunity for us, as a society, to ‘free-up’ human labour (and land area) for other endeavours … arts, culture … constructing better, more durable buildings.

This aspect of arts, culture and the construction of durable buildings (especially cathedrals) gave rise to the urbanized civilization as we know it.

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Sep 27

It’s Autumn. Leave the leaves … (as many as possible).

Biomimicry, Garden, Management, Optimization, Sustainability No Comments »

It’s Autumn. The ‘Fall’ season.

The plants of the temperate regions have evolved, naturally, to drop their leaves. Doing so, the fallen leaves return the nutrients and fibrous ‘bio-mass’ to the top layer of soil.

And what do we do?

We rake up … worse, nowadays, we blow or vacuum!! … the leaves to be discarded as ‘yard waste’.

It is this mindset … and our actions … this is the true ‘waste’.

Unfortunately, we don’t have any choice. We must have some leaf collection. What we can do, though, is mulch as much/best as possible on our own properties … leaving as many of the leaves in place, as is possible.

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Sep 26

Urban Farming in Detroit: Transformation in Action!

Garden, Management, Sustainability, Urban Agriculture, Urban Transformation No Comments »

This (Sept 26, ‘09) Toronto Star article about Urban Farming is Detroit is very informative and encouraging.

And this earlier article (April 3/’09) from CleanTech.com details the same Urban Farming project and principals.

Large tracts of the inner city of Detroit are vacant and the remaining residents have been taking action to make use of the available space to grow food – a vital endeavour, literally, as there are no grocery chain stores anywhere within the city limits!

Now, a larger scale urban farming enterprise is being promoted by private corporate interests to operate on 2023 hectares (in 120 hectare ‘plots’ or ‘pods’).  Continue reading »

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Sep 25

Ecological Economics … the Underlying Issue.

Ecological Economics, Principles, Sustainability No Comments »

Carbon credits … carbon trading … global warming … climate change (human induced).

Underlying all of these ‘component’ aspects, and much more, is Ecological Economics.

This week, the ‘Summit on Climate Change‘ in New York City (the preliminary discussions prior to the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Dec. ‘09), focussed discussion on Carbon emission reductions .. discussing ‘targets’ – absolute and relative amounts (and intensities) for the countries of the world; various ‘means’ of achieving the reductions; transfers of finance and technology from advanced nations to the ‘developing world’.

Putting a price on carbon: it’s Ecological Economics.

Also this week at the ‘Clinton Global Initiative’, Al Gore spoke of the ‘emergence of sustainable capitalism’ … when he and others were asked about their ‘Dream Innovation’. (An article from Treehugger.)

Sustainable Capitalism … Ecological Economics.

Continue reading »

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Sep 21

Fashion industry: Inspiration for Urban Transformation

Optimization, Sustainability, Urban Transformation No Comments »

Yes, the Fashion Industry with it’s raw innovative creativity, balanced by reuse (of past designs, trends, etc.) serves as an interesting model for the emerging industry of Urban Transformation.

Fashion designers are highly tuned to the social ‘moods’ and economic realities, presenting clothing that fit the character of the times.

Moreover, the designers are both highly creative and innovative in their use of textiles, materials, etc., while also constantly revive previous designs that have proven worthwhile. These are character traits (skills) that we need with regard to our ‘built environment’ … our cities.

As mentioned in the ‘Fashion the Future’ post, I believe we’d do well to consider our ‘buildings’ as structural clothing, and comprise our urban wardrobe.

Continue reading »

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