Masters Thesis: The Nomad, The Technologist.

A 21st Century Steppe Fable

Harvard GSD Masters in Landscape Architecture 2013, Advisor: Pierre Blanger

The Proposal: 133 Nomadic Free Trade Zones across the Mongolian Steppe

Mappings for 133 sites + automated zoning diagrams made using Processing Processing sketches available online at http://xiaoweiwang.com/steppeurbanism

Overall Geographical Context and adjacencies for Free Trade Zones

Regional Context

Indexical Model showing abstraction of DEM + additional layering in preparation modeling stochastic movement through a compiled suitability model. If the old model for urban planning (an industrial based one) was points/lines as function of cost and suitability boundaries, vivid plans for an advanced capitalism use a Markov chain for calculating probability and eventual steady state.
Grasshopper scripts + Processing code available on xiaoweiwang.com/steppeurbanism

This layered model shows the topography of site 35 (Sayan Ovoo), its hardware (logistics corridor), but most importantly serves as a study model for real time data of soil moisture to live update the Rhino model. As sensor points increased or decreased in moisture levels, it changed the settlement grid in Rhino, either decreasing or increasing in density based on subdivision rules established through precendent study of nomadic camp sites. A second level of processing occurred after the distorted grid was gathered in order to make this approach abide by the overall rules of the stochastic matrix/nomadic capitalist index.
Scripts available on xiaoweiwang.com/steppeurbanism, use of Grasshopper, Arduino + Firefly components

Sensor values A 36.639582848474 B 222.80287495945 C 578.88868710906 D 59.215234117217

Sensor values A 538.04295851758 B 25.254398223597 C 685.50926387567 D 826.98814914887

Sensor values A 537.66835595373 B 716.65121823393 C 506.90772421048 D 119.2894206379

Sensor values A 614.02305555252 B 542.01913573873 C 168.9188041207 D 651.26787132177

Willets Point Flushing Bay Studio project

Harvard GSD, Studio Critic: Miho Mazereeuw

Harvard GSD Studio

Massachussetts Military Reservation

Fiber Optic Networks linking US Research Bases, Budget and funding for military research in the US DOD

Air quality mapping using kites in Beijing

FLOAT Beijing Through the playful act of kite flying FLOAT_Beijing has empowered hundreds of citizens to take action and protest current air quality standards, leading to people-driven improved policies for healthier lives. FLOAT is a tool to collect air quality data and circumvent state controlled channels of information. At community workshops participants learn about the health hazards of air pollutants and their detection through DIY sensors, which they learn to build and attach to kites. FLOAT modules are designed to be transparent and reconfigured by users. Residents challenge the invisibility of official data by flying their air quality sensing kites in highly visible public spaces. Kites have a strong cultural history in China which draws in diverse participants connecting them to new technologies. Participants are empowered by the ability to sense air quality. More importantly, through FLOAT_Beijing, citizens become active agents in monitoring, and eventually transforming their own environments. For more visualizations and images please head to: f-l-o-a-t.com For video documentary see: chinafile.com/stars-haze

Beijing air quality levels, sources of anomalies (grasshopper [ghowl], processing, GIS)

Calculated average air currents over Beijing from select weather stations showing topographic correlations (gis + processing)