Use and Abuse: Reading the Patina of User Actions in Public Space

One of the most aggressive agents influencing change to built landscapes is the user. This usage is influenced by many factors such as the activities and functions available, climatic factors, the time of day, the day of the week and seasonal variations. In structural terms, usage is a form of mechanical loading which can be static or dynamic and exerts force upon the structure. Repeated cycles of use therefore lead to wear and tear; the intensity and frequency of these interactions dictate the impact of these forces over time. This paper will explore the conflicts between the built landscape and its users by analysing the evolving signs and symptoms of various forms of use, abuse and use appropriation throughout the city of Berlin. Abuse refers to the impact of wilful destruction which is a form of criminal vandalism. In addition, `passive´ vandalism in the form of use appropriation or unintentional destruction can occur. The visible traces of use and abuse are embedded in the form of wear, erosion, organic sediments, pollution, dirt and vegetation growth on the surfaces of built works. By applying the principles of construction pathology this patina can be `read´ and deciphered, the influencing factors determined and optimisation strategies established. Current research at the Technische Universität Berlin is based on the hypothesis that it is possible to optimise design, detailing, construction and maintenance techniques through continued analysis of project development at regular intervals after completion. The data resulting from the research enables a detailed interpretation of the impact of use and abuse as well as a deeper understanding of the causative processes involved. Case studies from the research project will be presented, illustrating and analysing the conflicts between user actions and the built landscape

Time, Design and Construction: Learning from Change to Built Landscapes Over Time

This paper discusses landscape construction teaching methods and a research project at the TU-Berlin focusing on change to built landscapes through time. The research is based on the hypothesis that it is possible to optimise design, detailing, construction and maintenance techniques by monitoring and evaluating projects at regular intervals after completion. The processes of change highlight deficiencies in detailing, construction and maintenance. The research project is developing a non-destructive monitoring method to "read" these traces of time and pinpoint frequently occurring points of weakness. A low-threshold anticipatory method will then be developed for use during the design and detailing project phase to optimise future landscape projects in terms of their durability and resilience. The construction teaching methods evolving from this research involve the students in on site analysis and evaluations of built elements. Students examine the root causes of change and reflect on interrelations between design, building materials, technical implementation, maintenance and the processes of context-related change over time. These learning techniques enable integrative learning within the fields of landscape design, urbanism, sociology of space, climatology, construction and maintenance

The Root of the Problem: Addressing the Conflicts between Spontaneous Vegetation and Built Landscape

Built landscapes are under relentless attack from both spontaneous urban vegetation (plants that colonise naturally without cultivation) and the gradual encroachment (spreading) of existing plantings onto adjacent surfaces. The location, spread and rate of this growth is highly influenced by microclimatic factors, the availability of soil and propagules, and the frequency of disturbance. Spontaneous urban plants are highly adapted to the harsh urban environment and colonise the built landscape both overground through seed dispersal and underground by means of regeneration from rhizomes. The encroachment of plantings beyond planned boundaries onto surrounding surfaces often occurs due to unrestrained growth and the insufficient removal of rooting substrate from the border area between soft and hard landscape. This paper discusses these conflicts by analysing the causes and effects of this growth over time, pinpointing areas of weakness and vulnerability, diagnosing the underlying issues, and developing optimisation strategies. Current research at the Technische Universität Berlin is focusing on analysing the processes of patination and subsequent deterioration of built landscapes over time. A low-threshold and non-destructive monitoring method to ‘read’ and decipher these traces of time is being developed in order to determine and analyse the agents of landscape transformation. The principles of construction pathology are used to identify relationships between the observed ‘visual signs and symptoms’ (effects) and ‘pathological conditions’ (causes). This enables causes to be determined and recommendations for the most appropriate course of action to be made. This paper will focus on developing optimisation strategies for the areas of weakness and vulnerability identified, and therefore aims to enhance the durability of our built works

Digital Communication of Knowledge for Academic Design-Build Initiatives

Academic Design-Build Studios engage in diverse projects throughout the world. They are often highly complex and involve numerous stakeholders of different disciplines and cultures. They therefore rely on effective communication between all parties throughout all phases of the project cycle. Digital technology offered by the worldwide web allows new means of communication and for immense amounts of information to be presented and shared. The research consortium European Design-Build Knowledge Network (EDBKN), consisting of a team of academic Design-Build practitioners, is currently developing a web-based platform designbuildXchange (dbXchange.eu) to support Design-Build stakeholders worldwide. A low-threshold, high-tech platform has been created, providing a "toolbox" for supporting projects throughout the project's life. Tools are offered for project presentation, networking, academic research, as well as dialogue and knowledge exchange between all stakeholders. This "knowledge exchange platform" allows projects to support each other by uploading information on research, design, construction details, funding, legal issues, costings, the realities of construction and much more. It will thus become a valuable source of information for all stakeholders throughout the world

Speed/Accuracy Trade-Off between the Habitual and the Goal-Directed Processes

Instrumental responses are hypothesized to be of two kinds: habitual and goal-directed, mediated by the sensorimotor and the associative cortico-basal ganglia circuits, respectively. The existence of the two heterogeneous associative learning mechanisms can be hypothesized to arise from the comparative advantages that they have at different stages of learning. In this paper, we assume that the goal-directed system is behaviourally flexible, but slow in choice selection. The habitual system, in contrast, is fast in responding, but inflexible in adapting its behavioural strategy to new conditions. Based on these assumptions and using the computational theory of reinforcement learning, we propose a normative model for arbitration between the two processes that makes an approximately optimal balance between search-time and accuracy in decision making. Behaviourally, the model can explain experimental evidence on behavioural sensitivity to outcome at the early stages of learning, but insensitivity at the later stages. It also explains that when two choices with equal incentive values are available concurrently, the behaviour remains outcome-sensitive, even after extensive training. Moreover, the model can explain choice reaction time variations during the course of learning, as well as the experimental observation that as the number of choices increases, the reaction time also increases. Neurobiologically, by assuming that phasic and tonic activities of midbrain dopamine neurons carry the reward prediction error and the average reward signals used by the model, respectively, the model predicts that whereas phasic dopamine indirectly affects behaviour through reinforcing stimulus-response associations, tonic dopamine can directly affect behaviour through manipulating the competition between the habitual and the goal-directed systems and thus, affect reaction time

Low-cost crime scene mapping: reviewing emerging freeware, low-cost methods of 3D mapping and applying them to crime scene investigation and forensic evidence

Within the realm of 3D mapping, three technologies dominate; Laser, which excels at long range measurements with relatively high accuracy; Structured light systems, which excel at short range measurements at very high accuracy; and Photogrammetry, which uses only photographs, and can vary heavily with accuracy. Forensic science often utilises laser technology in a surveying role, however the other two are more specialised and used far less often. A barrier to greater use of 3D scanning and recreation is the generally large cost of the devices, some costing more than $100,000. Microsoft Kinect brought an infrared camera to the market as part of a gaming console, the Xbox. This camera functions as a mid-range structured light camera, and modified to map and measure a 3D environment. Kinect sensors are low-cost alternatives, and because of their higher accessibility, development of this technology is faster. Additionally, the development of more sophisticated software, and computational power has meant that photogrammetry has also become far more accessible, requiring only a moderate to high quality digital camera, and the accompanying program. These low-cost alternatives may prove to be invaluable for Police departments to attain greater evidence recovery in times of world-wide budget restrictions

Patina lesen: Lernen aus der kontextuellen Veränderung gebauter Landschaften im Laufe der Zeit in Berlin

This dissertation is related to research document: Catalogue of weak points and vulnerabilities http://dx.doi.org/10.14279/depositonce-8599This practice orientated cumulative PhD thesis is based on the hypothesis that it is possible to optimise design, detailing, construction and maintenance techniques by monitoring and evaluating the development of landscape architecture projects at regular intervals after completion. The aim is to enhance the performance of future projects by analysing the weak points and vulnerabilities of existing built works using a qualitative and quantitative case study research method. An individual methodological approach was developed for the root cause analysis and monitoring procedure as well as for the development of optimisation strategies. This cumulative thesis is divided into two parts. Part 1 contains the written thesis itself including the individual papers, which explains the research objectives and methods and presents the research results. Part 2 is the ‘Catalogue of weak points and vulnerabilities’ which contains the case study evaluations and optimisation strategies resulting from the research. The main results of this research are the resulting monitoring methods for assessing weak points, vulnerabilities and general performance of built landscape elements in the planning, implementation and occupancy phase of the project cycle. This follows a cyclic research method from on-site investigations to interpretation and documentation in order to generate new knowledge for future landscape architecture projects. These monitoring and evaluation methods enable the identification of the most frequently occurring points of weakness and vulnerability in built landscape works, the pinpointing of causes and the development of possible solutions. The use of this research enables practitioners of landscape architecture to identify, evaluate and forecast change, thus enhancing the performance of built landscape works and making an important contribution to the sustainability, resilience and durability of landscape construction.Die hier vorgelegte kumulative Dissertation basiert auf der Hypothese, dass es möglich ist, Entwurfs-, Detaillierungs-, Bau- und Instandhaltungstechniken zu optimieren, indem die Entwicklung von Landschaftsarchitekturprojekten in regelmäßigen Abständen nach Abschluss überwacht und bewertet wird. Ziel ist es, die Qualität zukünftiger Projekte zu erhöhen, indem die Schwachstellen und Vulnerabilitäten bestehender Bauwerke mit einer qualitativen und quantitativen Fallstudienmethode identifiziert und analysiert werden. Sowohl für die Ursachenerhebung und das Monitoring als auch für die Entwicklung von Optimierungsstrategien wurde ein eigenes methodisches Vorgehen entwickelt. Diese Arbeit ist in zwei Teile gegliedert. Teil 1 enthält die schriftliche Thesis einschließlich der einzelnen veröffentlichten und unveröffentlichten wissenschaftlichen Artikel, in der die Forschungsziele und -methoden erläutert sowie die Forschungsergebnisse präsentiert werden. Teil 2 beinhaltet den ‘Katalog der Schwachstellen und Vulnerabilitäten’, der die aus der Forschung resultierenden Fallstudienauswertungen und Optimierungsstrategien enthält. Die Hauptergebnisse dieser Forschung sind die entwickelten Monitoring-Methoden zur Beurteilung von Schwachstellen, Vulnerabilitäten und der allgemeinen Leistungsfähigkeit von gebauten Landschaftselementen in der Planungs-, Umsetzungs- und Nutzungsphase des Projektzyklus. Die Forschung folgt einer zyklischen Forschungsmethode von der Untersuchung vor Ort über die Auswertung bis hin zur Dokumentation, um neues Wissen für zukünftige landschaftsarchitektonische Entwurfsprojekte zu generieren. Diese Monitorings- und Evaluierungsmethoden ermöglichen die Identifizierung der am häufigsten auftretenden Schwachstellen und Vulnerabilitäten in gebauten Landschaften, die Aufdeckung von Ursachen und die Entwicklung von Lösungsansätzen. Die Verwendung dieser Forschungsergebnisse ermöglicht in der landschaftsarchitektonischen Praxis Veränderungsprozesse zu identifizieren, zu evaluieren und zu prognostizieren, wodurch die Leistungsfähigkeit von gebauten Landschaften verbessert und ein wichtiger Beitrag zur Nachhaltigkeit, Resilienz und Dauerhaftigkeit der Landschaftsarchitektur geleistet wird

Reading Patina: Catalogue of weak points and vulnerabilities

This research document is related to the dissertation: Learning from the contextual change of built landscape architecture elements over time in Berlin http://dx.doi.org/10.14279/depositonce-8600The research results benefit all stakeholders in the field of landscape architecture by generating a breadth of new knowledge that can be used to enhance the design, construction and maintenance of landscape architecture works. The main results of this research are the resulting monitoring methods for assessing weak points, vulnerabilities and general performance of built landscape elements in the planning, implementation and occupancy phase of the project cycle. This follows a cyclic research method from on-site investigations to interpretation and documentation in order to generate new knowledge for future landscape architecture projects. These monitoring and evaluation methods enable the identification of the most frequently occurring points of weakness and vulnerability in built landscape works, the pinpointing of causes and the development of possible solutions. The catalogue (Part 2) with the results of the case study evaluations can be used by practitioners in order to predict change and detect points of weakness by analogy in the design phase of future projects. This can also be used for supporting post occupancy constructional inspections. The use of this research enables practitioners of landscape architecture to identify, evaluate and forecast change, thus enhancing the performance of built landscape works and making an important contribution to the sustainability, resilience and durability of landscape construction.Die Hauptergebnisse dieser Forschung sind die entwickelten Monitoring-Methoden zur Beurteilung von Schwachstellen, Vulnerabilitäten und der allgemeinen Leistungsfähigkeit von gebauten Landschaftselementen in der Planungs-, Umsetzungs- und Nutzungsphase des Projektzyklus. Die Forschung folgt einer zyklischen Forschungsmethode von der Untersuchung vor Ort über die Auswertung bis hin zur Dokumentation, um neues Wissen für zukünftige landschaftsarchitektonische Entwurfsprojekte zu generieren. Diese Monitorings- und Evaluierungsmethoden ermöglichen die Identifizierung der am häufigsten auftretenden Schwachstellen und Vulnerabilitäten in gebauten Landschaften, die Aufdeckung von Ursachen und die Entwicklung von Lösungsansätzen. Der Katalog (Teil 2) mit den Ergebnissen der Fallstudienevaluierungen kann von Anwendern genutzt werden, um Veränderungen vorherzusagen und Schwachstellen in der Planungsphase zukünftiger Projekte analog zu erkennen. Er kann auch in der Nutzungsphase zur Unterstützung von Bauwerksinspektionen eingesetzt werden. Die Verwendung dieser Forschungsergebnisse ermöglicht in der landschaftsarchitektonischen Praxis Veränderungsprozesse zu identifizieren, zu evaluieren und zu prognostizieren, wodurch die Leistungsfähigkeit von gebauten Landschaften verbessert und ein wichtiger Beitrag zur Nachhaltigkeit, Resilienz und Dauerhaftigkeit der Landschaftsarchitektur geleistet wird