#landuse — Public Fediverse posts

Brighton And Hove Food Partnership's Land Use Plus Project
"nature friendly farming that both produces food and protects and restores rare local habitats."
https://bhfood.org.uk/project/land-use-plus-project/

#SolarPunkSunday #LandUse #Nature #Habitat #LandUsePlusProject #Farming #Food #WildLife #BioDiversity #BrightonAndHoveFoodPartnership #Brighton #BrightonAndHove

Brighton And Hove Food Partnership's Land Use Plus Project
"nature friendly farming that both produces food and protects and restores rare local habitats."
https://bhfood.org.uk/project/land-use-plus-project/

#SolarPunkSunday #LandUse #Nature #Habitat #LandUsePlusProject #Farming #Food #WildLife #BioDiversity #BrightonAndHoveFoodPartnership #Brighton #BrightonAndHove

Brighton And Hove Food Partnership's Land Use Plus Project
"nature friendly farming that both produces food and protects and restores rare local habitats."
https://bhfood.org.uk/project/land-use-plus-project/

#SolarPunkSunday #LandUse #Nature #Habitat #LandUsePlusProject #Farming #Food #WildLife #BioDiversity #BrightonAndHoveFoodPartnership #Brighton #BrightonAndHove

Brighton And Hove Food Partnership's Land Use Plus Project
"nature friendly farming that both produces food and protects and restores rare local habitats."
https://bhfood.org.uk/project/land-use-plus-project/

#SolarPunkSunday #LandUse #Nature #Habitat #LandUsePlusProject #Farming #Food #WildLife #BioDiversity #BrightonAndHoveFoodPartnership #Brighton #BrightonAndHove

Brighton And Hove Food Partnership's Land Use Plus Project
"nature friendly farming that both produces food and protects and restores rare local habitats."
https://bhfood.org.uk/project/land-use-plus-project/

#SolarPunkSunday #LandUse #Nature #Habitat #LandUsePlusProject #Farming #Food #WildLife #BioDiversity #BrightonAndHoveFoodPartnership #Brighton #BrightonAndHove

welp… i’ve often contended that the real-life Jabba The Hut is George Lucas himself. this Trump-like fuckery with his museum may actually prove me right 🍿🍿🍿

» Lucas Museum Hit With $1.9M Lawsuit Over Unpaid Bills Days Before Opening https://hoodline.com/2026/09/lucas-museum-hit-with-1-9m-lawsuit-over-unpaid-bills-days-before-opening/

#corruptocracy #landUse #museums #movies

welp… i’ve often contended that the real-life Jabba The Hut is George Lucas himself. this Trump-like fuckery with his museum may actually prove me right 🍿🍿🍿

» Lucas Museum Hit With $1.9M Lawsuit Over Unpaid Bills Days Before Opening https://hoodline.com/2026/09/lucas-museum-hit-with-1-9m-lawsuit-over-unpaid-bills-days-before-opening/

#corruptocracy #landUse #museums #movies

welp… i’ve often contended that the real-life Jabba The Hut is George Lucas himself. this Trump-like fuckery with his museum may actually prove me right 🍿🍿🍿

» Lucas Museum Hit With $1.9M Lawsuit Over Unpaid Bills Days Before Opening https://hoodline.com/2026/09/lucas-museum-hit-with-1-9m-lawsuit-over-unpaid-bills-days-before-opening/

#corruptocracy #landUse #museums #movies

welp… i’ve often contended that the real-life Jabba The Hut is George Lucas himself. this Trump-like fuckery with his museum may actually prove me right 🍿🍿🍿

» Lucas Museum Hit With $1.9M Lawsuit Over Unpaid Bills Days Before Opening https://hoodline.com/2026/09/lucas-museum-hit-with-1-9m-lawsuit-over-unpaid-bills-days-before-opening/

#corruptocracy #landUse #museums #movies

welp… i’ve often contended that the real-life Jabba The Hut is George Lucas himself. this Trump-like fuckery with his museum may actually prove me right 🍿🍿🍿

» Lucas Museum Hit With $1.9M Lawsuit Over Unpaid Bills Days Before Opening https://hoodline.com/2026/09/lucas-museum-hit-with-1-9m-lawsuit-over-unpaid-bills-days-before-opening/

#corruptocracy #landUse #museums #movies

"Continued use and access to the peat swamp forest is therefore essential for people's well-being. Formalizing the customary tenure of communities that use the peatlands could contribute to their long-term protection."

Dummett et al. (2026). "How people use the peat swamp forests of the central Congo Basin" https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2024.0489

#wetlands #peatland #peatlands #swamps #bogs #carbon #conservation #landUse #LULUCF #land #landscape #Congo #DRC #forests #fishing

"Continued use and access to the peat swamp forest is therefore essential for people's well-being. Formalizing the customary tenure of communities that use the peatlands could contribute to their long-term protection."

Dummett et al. (2026). "How people use the peat swamp forests of the central Congo Basin" https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2024.0489

#wetlands #peatland #peatlands #swamps #bogs #carbon #conservation #landUse #LULUCF #land #landscape #Congo #DRC #forests #fishing

"Continued use and access to the peat swamp forest is therefore essential for people's well-being. Formalizing the customary tenure of communities that use the peatlands could contribute to their long-term protection."

Dummett et al. (2026). "How people use the peat swamp forests of the central Congo Basin" https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2024.0489

#wetlands #peatland #peatlands #swamps #bogs #carbon #conservation #landUse #LULUCF #land #landscape #Congo #DRC #forests #fishing

"Continued use and access to the peat swamp forest is therefore essential for people's well-being. Formalizing the customary tenure of communities that use the peatlands could contribute to their long-term protection."

Dummett et al. (2026). "How people use the peat swamp forests of the central Congo Basin" https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2024.0489

#wetlands #peatland #peatlands #swamps #bogs #carbon #conservation #landUse #LULUCF #land #landscape #Congo #DRC #forests #fishing

"Continued use and access to the peat swamp forest is therefore essential for people's well-being. Formalizing the customary tenure of communities that use the peatlands could contribute to their long-term protection."

Dummett et al. (2026). "How people use the peat swamp forests of the central Congo Basin" https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2024.0489

#wetlands #peatland #peatlands #swamps #bogs #carbon #conservation #landUse #LULUCF #land #landscape #Congo #DRC #forests #fishing

#wetlands #peatland #peatlands #swamps #bogs #carbon #conservation #landUse #LULUCF #land #landscape #forests #fishing 🧵

#wetlands #peatland #peatlands #swamps #bogs #carbon #conservation #landUse #LULUCF #land #landscape #forests #fishing 🧵

#wetlands #peatland #peatlands #swamps #bogs #carbon #conservation #landUse #LULUCF #land #landscape #forests #fishing 🧵

#wetlands #peatland #peatlands #swamps #bogs #carbon #conservation #landUse #LULUCF #land #landscape #forests #fishing 🧵

#wetlands #peatland #peatlands #swamps #bogs #carbon #conservation #landUse #LULUCF #land #landscape #forests #fishing 🧵

”When our rewilding program started, many big corporations offered us huge amounts of money if we certified carbon credits. We consulted with communities. But our answer was that we don’t sell nature.”

#climateFinance #wetlands #rewetting #prevention #deterrence #rewilding #Finland #Karelia #peatland #restoration #landUse #peatlands #nature #carbon #carbonSinks #CDR #wildfires #offsets #carbonOffsets #communities

A status on land use change worldwide:

"The area used for growing crops grew significantly from 2001 to 2024. Temporary crops (such as wheat, rice and maize) increased by 104 million ha, or 11 percent, reaching 1 081 million ha. Permanent crops (such as cocoa, oil palm and coffee) grew by 59 million ha, reaching 194 million ha in 2024, an increase of over 43 percent."

The leaders in cropland expansion were in Africa (+78 million ha) and South America (+35 million ha).
The leaders in cropland contraction were in Northern America (−26 million ha).

https://openknowledge.fao.org/items/fbfbe167-5026-4aa1-b985-2468507d5dc1

#FAO #foodSovereignty #agriculture #crops #land #landUse #LULUCF #trade #internationalTrade #cashCrops #exports

Thousand Oaks Development Activity Report for July 2026

https://toaks.gov/corecode/storage/uber_resource/uploaded_pdfs/2026-07%20DAR_1785941996.pdf

#landuse #planning #thousandoaks #tocc

Eager Beavers - Rodents Engineer Czech Wetland Project After Years Of Human Delay [ecosystem engineers]
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https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/11/beavers-save-czech-taxpayers-by-flooding-ex-army-training-site <-- shared technical media article
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaver-engineered_dam_in_the_Czech_Republic <-- shared wiki technical page
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https://phys.org/news/2025-02-fine-beavers-czech-treasury-million.html <-- shared technical article
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https://youtu.be/GSTw8qmBP4Y?si=XK2Iy2pAltW91flj <-- shared video (Czech)
--
H/T @ScienceGirl
"We don't expect any conflict with the beaver in the next 10 years," ~ Bohumil Fiser from the Czech Nature Conservation Agency
--
“For seven years, planners struggled to complete a $1.2 million wetland restoration project in the Brdy region of the Czech Republic. The goal was to build a dam that would improve water management and bring back valuable wetland habitat, but the project remained trapped in a maze of permits and approvals.
Then a family of eight Eurasian beavers did what engineers had planned… without permits, machinery, or a budget.
The beavers built a network of dams in almost the exact area chosen for the proposed project, naturally restoring the wetland system officials had spent years trying to create. After seeing the results, authorities decided there was little point continuing with the original human-built dam.
Although some reports suggested the beavers completed the work overnight, experts say their construction likely took several weeks. The reason it seemed sudden is that the animals quietly worked away until their finished dams became impossible to miss.
Beavers are known as “ecosystem engineers” because their behaviour can reshape entire environments. By cutting trees and blocking streams, they create ponds and wetlands that support countless species, including fish, amphibians, insects, birds, and mammals.
Their wetlands also act as natural water reservoirs, helping during droughts, reducing flood risks, filtering water, storing carbon, and keeping landscapes wetter during wildfires…
Once heavily hunted across Europe, beaver populations have been recovering thanks to conservation efforts, proving that sometimes nature can solve problems humans spend years trying to fix…"
#water #hydrology #KlabavaRiver #Czech #BrdyRegion #protected #CzechRepublic #armytraining #military #beaver #Eurasianbeavers #dam #beaverdam #waterquality #restoration #biodiversity #crayfish #wetland #ecology #benefits #Beavers #NatureBasedSolutions #Wetlands #Ecology #Biodiversity #Agroforestry #EnvironmentalScience #Conservation #Wildlife #Ecosystem #bioviversity #conservation #restoration #landscaperecovery #EcosystemEngineers #nature #floodmanagement #FloodMitigation #flood #flooding #energy #floodrisk #sustainability #wetlands #hydrography #dams #impoundment #deadwood #waterresources #landscapeengineer #agriculture #benefits #vegetation #ecology #ecosystem #riversystemsstabilisation #naturalwaterregulation #resilience #drought #wildfire #valleysreborn #slowdetermination #fisheries #invertebrates #extremeweather #floodflows #sediment #baseflow #drought #landmanagement #naturalsystems #landuse #ecosystemengineers #watermanagement

On The Use Of Rainfall Time Series For Regional Landslide Prediction By Means Of Functional Regression
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https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2026.108860 <-- shared paper
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#rainfallinduced #landslide #Functionalregression #Japan #Earlywarningsystem #Spacetimeprediction #spatialanalysis #spatiotemporal #massmovement #engineeringgeology #geomorphology #hydrogeomorphology #geomorphometry #remotesensing #geostatistics #model #modeling #mechanics #rainfall #threshold #precipitation #water #hydrology #risk #hazard #hazardassessment #terrain #landscape #landform #landuse #geology #soil #lithology #functionalGeneralizedAdditiveModel #FGAM #prediction #casestudy #AI #LLM

The #EnvironmentalCost of #ArtificialIntelligence: #Carbon, #Water, and #LandFootprints

#AI’s rapid growth drives huge energy, water, and land use, raising environmental and equity challenges across its global infrastructure.

Date Published 3 Jun 2026

UNU-INWEH Report: Aczel, M., Chamanara, S., Matin, M., Farsi, A., Marwala, T., Madani, K. (2026).

"This report, Environmental Cost of Artificial Intelligence: Carbon, Water and Land Footprints, by the #UnitedNationsUniversity Institute for Water, Environment and Health ( #UNU - #INWEH ) on its 30th anniversary, examines one of the most underexplored consequences of AI’s rapid expansion: the environmental footprints of the energy required to power it. As artificial intelligence becomes embedded in economies, public services, research, communication, and everyday life, it depends on a growing physical infrastructure of #datacenters, advanced #chips, #CoolingSystems, #ElectricityGrids, #WaterResources, land, and #CriticalMineral supply chains. The report shows that AI is not only a digital technology, but also a material system with measurable #EnvironmentalCosts.

"The report moves beyond a carbon-only lens by quantifying the carbon, water, and land footprints associated with the electricity used to train, deploy, and operate AI systems at scale. Its central finding is that AI’s environmental costs depend not only on how much electricity is used, but also on where that electricity is generated and which energy sources power it. Every kilowatt-hour used by AI carries carbon, water, and land implications, and these footprints do not always move in the same direction: low-carbon electricity is not automatically low-water or low-land. The report also shows that AI’s footprint is shaped by both major infrastructure trends, including the rapid growth of data centers, and everyday use patterns, including model choice, output length, modality, and the growing use of text, image, and video generation.

"Importantly, the report frames AI’s environmental footprint as a governance and justice challenge, not only a technical problem. The benefits of AI often flow across borders and sectors, while the environmental burdens of data center siting, electricity demand, water withdrawals, #LandUse, MineralExtraction, and #EWaste can be concentrated in specific communities and regions. To address these risks, the report calls for a responsible AI ecosystem grounded in transparency, efficiency by design, equity and #EnvironmentalJustice, lifecycle responsibility, global cooperation, and sustainable use. By making AI’s carbon, water, and land footprints visible and comparable, the report provides a practical basis for integrating AI into energy, climate, water, and land-use planning, ensuring that innovation advances without shifting environmental costs onto vulnerable communities."

Download PDF:
https://unu.edu/inweh/collection/environmental-cost-of-AIs-Enrgy-Use-Carbon-water-and-land-footprints

#AIBoom #Electricity #Hyperscale #BigTech #BigData #CarbonFootprint #EnvironmentalRacism #EnvironmentalDegradation #NoisePollution #LightPollution #WaterIsLife #AIAgents #BotTraffic #GreenSpaces #Farmland #Prairies #Woodland #TechGiants #ProtectNature #NoDatacenters #EnergyConsumption #USPol #WorldPol #Datacentres
#DatacenterMoratoriums

#NativeAmericaCalling: A Native cafe, #CamasRestoration and the #IndigenousFoodPyramid

Friday, May 29, 2026

Excerpt: "Camas, a wild purple flower with an onion-like bulb, has been an important plant for Native people, mainly in the northwest. This is the time of year for harvesting and cooking them.

"Some Culture-keepers are reconnecting with traditional teachings and recipes handed down across generations. But environmental and land use changes are setting up more access barriers. The #ConfederatedTribesOfGrandRonde is one tribe working to protect this significant plant through a series of projects in #Oregon."

https://indianz.com/News/2026/05/29/native-america-calling-a-native-cafe-camas-restoration-and-the-indigenous-food-pyramid/

#SolarPunkSunday #LandUse #IndigenousFoods #CulturalPreservation #PlantPreservation #EnvironmentalRestoration #CamasPreservation #TraditionalFoods #TraditionalFoodSources

Erin Brockovich Asks Americans For Help As She Launches Data Center Map
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https://www.newsweek.com/erin-brockovich-asks-americans-for-help-as-she-launches-data-center-map-11989813 <-- shared media article
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https://brockovichdatacenter.com/ <-- shared Brockovich AI Data Center Reporting web site
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https://youtu.be/fp5ozQraKf4?si=7qu3g77iVVD3GGFJ <-- shared media video, @cbs Sunday Morning, “Nationwide boom in AI data centers stirs resistance”
--
#GIS #spatial #mapping #USA #nation #AI #datacenters #waterresources #utilities #energyconsumption #water #hydrology #hydrography #watermanagement #community #humanimpacts #costs #economics #ewaste #noise #risk #hazard #electricity #localcommunities #taxbreaks #cooling #energy #highenergyusage #infrastructure #landuse #environment #ecology #public #skepticism #environmentalimpact #scalability #growth #Virginia #Utah #Texas #Ohio #Arizona #Georgia
#ErinBrockovichFoundation #ErinBrockovich

Carving out 12 million cubic yards of rock for a toll road eyesore?

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission wants to eliminate the Allegheny Tunnels along the Pennsylvania Turnpike (Interstates 70/76) through Allegheny Mountain in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. The tunnels would be replaced with a massive road cut (a.k.a. ‘the Gray Cut’) that would be 250 feet deep, 1,000 feet wide and would require the excavation of 12 million cubic yards of earth and rock. That is not an engineering accomplishment, that’s a plan for a future eyesore.

A recent calculation (confirmed by using Google’s gemini.ai) has shown that 12 million cubic yards of rock would fill an entire football field to the height of a bit more than 5,600 feet…more than a mile high and nearly four Empire State Buildings tall. It would also be the tallest mountain/structure in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Even a natural conical pile of this material would be approximately 1,100 feet high. Where exactly does the Turnpike Commission plan to dump all this material?

Reasons cited for the proposed Gray Cut

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has noted that the cost of upgrading the tunnels would be approximately double that of the Gray Cut. They indicate it is also needed due to anticipated future traffic, improved safety (particularly related to accidents within the tunnels), maintenance costs for the tunnels, and the current need for hazardous cargo loads to bypass the tunnels. According to the turnpike’s website, the preliminary design phase is currently ongoing and is expected to be completed in 2028. If approved for construction, actual work would begin in 2033.

In regards to the cost comparison between the cut and tunnel improvements/upgrades, what never seems to be included in the calculations are the intangible benefits associated with the scenery, wildlife, ecosystems, water resources, culture, history, and lifestyles that would negatively impacted by this project.

“Look Doris, someday you’re going to find that your way of facing this realistic world just doesn’t work. And when you do, don’t overlook those lovely intangibles. You’ll discover they’re the only things that are worthwhile.”

– Fred from Miracle on 34th Street per imdb.com

In addition, many other tunnels across the nation ban hazardous materials. Exactly why is this being used as a reason to build this project here? Maybe manufacturers should be transporting such dangerous stuff on trains instead of trucks on highways? Or perhaps, it should just be an accepted cost of doing business.

Lastly, “anticipated future traffic” can be a tricky calculation. All too often, past data is used to guesstimate futures trends. In reality, unforeseen events can alter those calculations. Unforeseen events like gas prices now hovering around $4.50+ per gallon, with diesel prices running even higher. There are a litany of other things that could change the traffic dynamics – migration patterns, birthrates, car ownership rates, inflation, cyclical economic changes, war, and climate change to name a few.

If this project is being proposed just so the PA Turnpike can better compete with I-80 to the north and I-68 to the south, then that is a very poor reason to cause the extent of anticipated negative impacts listed below. It should be noted that neither I-80 nor I-68 have tunnels nor tolls. The Sideling Hill Cut west of Hancock, Maryland on I-68 is 340 feet deep and 720 feet wide. The much ballyhooed geological display at the site was closed 18 years after completion due to budget cuts. – en.wikipedia.org and mgs.md.gov

In addition, rockfall fencing needed to be added along both sides of the highway in the Sideling Hill Cut in 2023.

Anticipated negative impacts

Not only would such a massive trench leave a permanent disfiguring scar across this scenic mountainous landscape, but it would also have the following negative impacts, as noted by Citizens to Save Allegheny Mountain:

“The proposed Gray Cut would destroy critical wildlife habitats, disrupt migration patterns, and endanger species that rely on the unspoiled wilderness of the Allegheny Mountain.”

“The natural springs and deep wells that provide clean water to nearby communities and are at risk of being polluted or permanently altered by the construction.”

“The project will lead to the removal of forest stand and the displacement of massive amounts of soil and sediment that can never be reestablished or replaced.”

“This irreversible destruction…will also reduce recreational opportunities and threaten traditions such as hunting and fishing opportunities, which are vital to the region’s outdoor lifestyle.”

“The proposed construction will fragment these habitats, making it difficult for wildlife to find food, shelter, and mates.”

“The Gray Cut project jeopardizes these efforts [previous and current restoration efforts along the Stonycreek River Watershed].

“Beyond the Stonycreek River, other neighboring watersheds, including the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River and the Indian Lake Watersheds, are also at risk due to the Allegheny Mountain Tunnel’s unique location at a triple watershed divide.”

“Construction activities associated with the turnpike expansion will significantly increase the risk of soil erosion and sedimentation in nearby streams and rivers.”

“The increased runoff from paved surfaces carries pollutants such as oil, heavy metals, and other toxic substances into water bodies, further impacting the health of our waterways within the Stonycreek River watershed.”

“The noise, dust, and heavy machinery involved in this large-scale construction project would disrupt the lives of local residents and visitors who cherish the peace and quiet of the mountain.”

“The project will disrupt local communities by affecting the water supply for residents who rely on wells and natural springs. The potential contamination of these water sources poses serious health risks, particularly for those who rely on them for daily use.”

“The long-term environmental and social costs far outweigh any short-term economic gains.”

Other impacts not mentioned by Citizen to Save the Allegheny Mountain on their website, include, but are not limited to:

• Increased risk of animal vehicle collisions with the loss of the mountain’s natural wildlife crossing over the turnpike. This may lead to the future need of constructing a new wildlife crossing.

• “Drivers on the proposed highway would lose the tunnel’s protection from the worst of the weather near the turnpike’s highest point, 2,600 feet above sea level, where fog, icing and high winds are frequent hazards.” – penncapital-star.com

• The potential for microclimate changes in weather patterns as a result of the cut. According to google.gemini.ai, these could include: wind-channeling through the cut; alteration to the rain shadow on the east side of the mountain; creation of a cold air sink at the bottom of the cut increasing the likelihood of fog and frost; and disruption to wind patterns along the mountainside.

• The loss of the historic highway tunnels, first built in 1940 and expanded in 1965.

Steps one can take

If you feel this proposed project should go back to the drawing board, consider other alternatives, or be scrapped for upgrading the tunnels, please consider contacting Citizens to Save the Allegheny Mountain through the following links:

• https://savealleghenymountain.com

• https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565316543351

The organization’s website includes a petition one can sign along with space to provide comments.

Peace!

One cannot be a patriot and hate upon national parks

“Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism.”

– George Washington (via brainyquotes.com)

We recently drove the northern 120 miles of the Natchez Trace National Historic Parkway in Alabama and Tennessee. The corridor is typically a scenic and relaxing drive along an historic corridor that has been traverse by bison, Native American, and pioneers for centuries. The course includes access to historic sites, natural sites, and lovely view sheds.

Having been so impressed while driven a large chunk of the Trace in 2005 between Jackson and Tupelo in Mississippi, it was disconcerting to see the lack of simply routine maintenance along this northern segment. Fallen trees, broken branches, and damaged trees about to fall were common along our 2026 trip. All one could think of was…why is being allowed to deteriorate so sadly.

What is taking place along the Natchez Trace National Parkway is symbolic of the disgraceful and disrespectful treatment of our treasured national parks, national forests, national monuments, and other public lands across the United States. When an administration’s budget priorities underfund and underserve these awe-inspiring landscapes, they begin to fall apart right in front of our eyes. For the Natchez Trace National Historic Parkway, this becomes quite evident by the plethora of fallen, damaged, and dead trees.

“Patriot” is an overused and often misapplied term in modern America. Many of our national parks and public lands preserve and protect key locations representing the formation of the nation and its ongoing cultural development. What else could be more patriotic than protecting and preserving the natural, historical, and cultural features that made America in the first place!

“Those who hate upon our national parks and public lands with budget cuts, staff reductions, selling of development rights, and essentially promoting land abuse are anything but patriots. Instead, they are selfish, greedy souls who live solely for power and the love of money.” – panethos.wordpress.com

Frankly, the description above is the current administration in D.C. in a nutshell and it is oh, so tiresome and frustrating to observe their nefarious efforts to degrade, devalue, and dismiss our national treasures. Because, one thing is for sure…money, gold, diamonds, and other coveted valuables are not riches at all when compared to majestic snowcapped mountains, scenic vistas, pristine beaches, cascading waterfalls, death-defying rock formations, free-flowing rivers, enormous canyons, and other splendid natural features dotting the American landscape.

Nor are they riches when compared to the hallowed grounds where our ancestors and loved-ones lived, passed-though, fought, fell, died, and/or are buried. Nor are they riches compared to where our freedoms were won, strengthened, and sustained whether it be on the battlefield, in the courtroom, or on the streets. And lastly, those so-called riches cannot begin to compare to the richness of the American people…their diversity, their uniqueness and individuality, and their tenacity. It doesn’t matter if we came here by ship, by plane, on foot, or already lived upon this land, our strength is rooted in our diversity.

May we, as a nation, soon return to this paradigm and always remain committed to its welcoming principles.

Peace!

Favorite outdoor stairway climbs completed to date

Identified below are this blog author’s favorite outdoor stairway climbs that have been completed to date. Each has its own individual attributes and aesthetics, whether it be the surrounding landscapes and scenery, a vast view at the top, or the narrowness of the climbing corridor. For purposes of this post, the terms stairs, stairways, and steps are used interchangeably. As more are completed, the post will be updated accordingly.

“A glorious vista is more enriching when it takes effort to get there.”

– panethos.wordpress.com

Peace!

Scalinata Salita Castello = 541 steps in Taormina, Italia (see the two images just below)

High Tower/Rockledge Stairs = 161 steps in Los Angeles (Hollywood Heights), California

Paramount Stairway = 220 steps in Los Angeles (Hollywood Heights), California

Sky Steps = 529 steps in Durango, Colorado

Scalinata di Trinità dei Monti a.k.a. “The Spanish Steps” (1725) = 135 steps in Roma, Italia

Scala dell’Arce Capitolina (1348) = 124 steps in Roma, Italia

Devil’s Head Lookout Station Stairway = 143 steps near Sedalia, Colorado

Seven Falls Stairway = 224 steps in Colorado Springs, Colorado

Ironman Stairs = 155 steps in Bisbee, Arizona

The Alcove House Climb ~ 220 wooden ladder and stone steps in Bandolier National Monument, New Mexico

Whitley Terrace Steps = 159 steps in Los Angeles (Whitley Heights), California

Washington Street Steps = 252 steps in Galena, Illinois

Rose Stairs = 151 steps in Bisbee, Arizona

Mayfield Stairs = 181 steps in Bisbee, Arizona

La Presa Steps = 181 steps in Los Angeles (Hollywood Heights), California

Walnut Creek Canyon Stairway = 237 steps in Flagstaff, Arizona

Theatre Stairs = 127 steps in Bisbee, Arizona

Laundry Stairs = 98 steps in Bisbee, Arizona

Mount Tom Dune Stairs = 101 steps in Indiana Dunes National Park

First Avenue Steps = ? steps in Jerome, Arizona

Cardiff Hill/Twain Lighthouse Stairway = 244 steps in Hannibal, Missouri

Gila Cliff Dwellings Stairs = 288 in Glia Cliff Dwellings National Monument, New Mexico

Perley Stairs = 96 steps in Bisbee, Arizona

Hurley Park Stairways = 152 steps in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Avalanche Hill Steps = 392 steps in Boyne City, Michigan

Baldwin Hills Stairs = 282 steps in Los Angeles (Baldwin Hills), California

Band Shell Stairs = 73 steps in Bisbee, Arizona

Spalding Stairs = 78 steps in Bisbee, Arizona

Walsh Stairs = 98 steps in Bisbee, Arizona

Jetty Stairway = 55 steps in Redondo Beach, California

Challenge Hill Stair Climb = 200 steps in Denver (Castle Rock), Colorado

Monks Mound Stairway = 155 steps in Cahokia Mounds State Park, Illinois

Twain Avenue to N. Fifth Street Stairs ~ 35 steps in Hannibal, Missouri

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/mar/31/uk-smallest-bird-prey-among-species-risk-extinction-study-finds; https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-70064-4 (open access). "The #merlin, Britain’s smallest bird of prey, is one of more than 200 #species that will become #extinct in the #UK if action is not taken to curb #emissions & #unsustainable #landuse, a #study has claimed."

Shifting to lower levels of meat consumption & biofuel production could help protect the climate, water resources & wildlife habitat while feeding more people. The solutions exist: drawdown.org/news/only-ha... #Agriculture #FoodSystem #LandUse #ClimateChange #FoodSecurity #Livestock #Meat #Biofuel

Only half of calories produced...

#China: Modeling suggests that integrating #FoodSystem actions across supply chains, consumer demand & land management could, by 2060, reduce GHG emissions ~40%, improve diet quality ~25% and cut inequality ~20%: doi.org/10.1016/j.sc... #SupplyChains #Consumers #LandUse #Climate #Nutrition

Redirecting

A ‘Waylaid' Teaching Diorama – USGS “Geology For Land Use”
--
For about 3 years, this gorgeous diorama has ‘just’ been sitting in a corner of a (common) hallway.
I can’t help but wonder its history:
• What prompted its creation?
• Who was the artisan (truly!) that created it and used those components and focus?
• When was it created? (late 1960s as an educated guess????)
• Why was it seen as useful / in what setting? (as I am sure it was)
• How was it funded?
(never mind that I want to claim it for my office, space notwithstanding…)
#geology #landuse #trainingaid #education #diorama #oldschool #fedscience #fedservice #education #technical #professional #spatial #landform #geomorphology #usecase #appliedscience #geoscience #USGS
@USGS

Global Subsidence Of River Deltas
--
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09928-6 <-- shared paper
--
H/T Wageningen University & Research
“🌊🔍 River deltas are sinking!
A new study [link above] reveals that river deltas worldwide are sinking significantly, faster than sea levels rise..."
#GIS #mapping #spatial #remotesensing #NASA #earthobservation #RiverDelta #ClimateChange #spatialanalysis #spatiotemporal #water #hydrology #marine #river #delta #coast #coastal #global #subsidence #groundwater #extraction #pumping #overpumping #watertable #hydrogeology #sediment #waterresources #planning #policy #landuse #landscape #hydrogeomorphology #worldwide #riverdelta #humanimpacts #ecosystems #sealevel #sealevelrise #SLR #flood #flooding #landloss #salinity #risk #hazard #salinization #vulnerable #measurements #monitoring #elevation #insar #radar #surfaceelevation #anthropogenic #urbanexpansion

9.3% Of Earth’s Land Flagged In New Outbreak Risk Map
--
https://www.earth.com/news/93-of-earths-land-flagged-in-new-outbreak-risk-map-pr25/ <-- shared technical article
--
https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adw6363 <-- shared paper
--
#GIS #spatial #mapping #global #outbreak #risk #hazard #publichealth #publicsafety #death #AI #machinelearning #remotesensing #earthobservation #epidemic #pandemic #disease #environment #cost #highrisk #mediumrisk #zoonotic #zoonoticdisease #climate #climatechange #temperature #extremeweather #pluvial #rainfall #precipitation #water #hydrology #drought #landuse #changes #deforestation #population #demographics #livestock #biodiversity #mitigation #planning #response #monitoring
@EUCommission | @WHO

State of Public Outdoor Access Report 2026 [New Zealand]
--
https://www.herengaanuku.govt.nz/our-work/publications/state-of-public-access <-- shared report
--
"This inaugural State of Public Outdoor Access Report, which provides a comprehensive snapshot of public access to the outdoors across Aotearoa..."
--
#spatial #mapping #pocketmaps #app #parcels #catalogue #easement #comprise #cadastre #outdooraccess #PublicLand #PrivateLand #accomodation #NewZealand #recreation #landuse #landtypes #outdoorspaces #access #legislation #framework #reserves #authority #paperroads #cycleways #bicycle #hunting #fishing #coast #coastal #mountains #commission #reporting #government #tangatawhenua #indigenous #firstnation #maori #localcouncils #communitygroups #landowners #publicaccess #education #environment #restoration #support #respect #landrights #walkways #tramping #trails #hiking #camping #services #land
@HerengaāNukuAotearoa | #HerengaāNukuAotearoa | #OutdoorAccessCommission

Remotely Sensed Soil Moisture Can Capture Dynamics Relevant To Plant Water Uptake
--
https://doi.org/10.1029/2022WR033814 <-- shared (2023) paper
--
#GIS #spatial #mapping #remotesensing #global #soil #moisture #earthobservation #Lband #satellite #landsurface #landuse #biosphere #hydrosphere #microwave #vegetation #botany #roots #agriculture #pluvial #rainfall #taproot #planthealth #foodsecurity #production #rootzones #spatialanalysis #spatiotemporal #grasslands #croplands #shrubs #trees #seasonal #water #hydrology #wateruptake #SMAP
@nasa @nasa Goddard @AGU

Geologically-Driven Migration of Landmines and Explosive Remnants of War - A Feature Focusing on the Western Balkans
-
https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences13060178 <-- shared 2023 paper
--
https://www.kpbs.org/news/2014/05/20/balkan-floods-expose-deadly-mines-from-1990s <-- shared 2014 media example
--
[mechanics/process I know I (fortunately) don’t consider - but fascinating!]
#landmine #unexplodedordnance #explosiveordnance #abandonedexplosiveordnance #IED #improvisedexplosivedevice #military #minefield #war #publicsafety #flood #flooding #landslide #WesternBalkans #balkans #Bosnia #Herzegovina #Serbia #Croatia #stochastic #deterministic #model #modeling #war #battlefield #ordanance #injury #fatality #massmovement #landsurface #processes #engineeringgeology #geology #geology #soil #debrisflow #water #hydrology #risk #hazard #hydromorphology #morphology #geomorphometry #spatialanalysis #GIS #spatial #mapping #riskmapping #fieldsurvey #spatiotemporal #research #hazardmap #planning #polict #landuse #emergency #publichealth #riskmanagement

My pick for “Best Planning Book” published in 2025

Now and then one comes across a book that sets new standards for excellence in print. It may be due to its content, the context, the impact of the publication on society, or a defining aspect of the book that sets it apart from others. In this particular case, Chicago Homes: A Portrait of the City’s Everyday Architecture solidly achieves at least three of the aforementioned pinnacles, with its rich and defining illustrations being beyond exemplary.

Chicago Homes by Carla Bruni and Phil Thompson succeeds in telling the history of one of America’s greatest and most-beloved cities through its housing heritage — specifically the styles and trends in housing that shaped Chicago’s residential development from a lonely outpost at the forks of the Chicago River through World War II. This contextual relationship between Chicago’s housing biography and the city’s overall urban history is tremendously informative and is filled with many interesting tidbits and anecdotes.

Too often as planners, we get tied up in the scale of scope of large projects, whether they be towering skyscrapers, enormous transportation projects, placid and serene parks, or large commercial and industrial developments. Meanwhile, it is the individual house, the home, a dwelling unit, or an apartment that in unison form the largest proportion of the communities we serve. As a result, it is their relationship to the overall city that can largely shape one’s sense of place.

” Chicago was built on change. we’re still culturally the same old city, and our homes are still extensions of who were are, individually and collectively. Architecture is politics. Architecture is whimsy. Architecture is people.”

Source: “Chicago Homes,” page 298.

The icing on the cake to Chicago Homes is the stunningly detailed and gorgeous illustrations provided throughout the book showing the progression of architectural trends, styles, and decorative features that developed over time for residential dwellings throughout the city. The amazing illustrations prepared by Mr. Thompson’s Wonder City Studio alone could be framed and sold in galleries across the country they are so beautiful.

As the book addresses Chicago’s housing history up to and including World War II, more recent trends (both good and bad) are not incorporated in the book except with brief references in the epilogue and elsewhere. This aspect in no way detracts from the book and would make for a fascinating sequel publication in the future.

This retired planner strongly recommends this book, and not only to existing, former, or wannabe Chicagoans and architecture geeks. For Chicago Homes transcends both geography and genre in a manner that should captivate most any reader with its fascinating content, its broadly appealing context, and its truly defining illustrations.

Peace!

#apartments #art #CarlaBruni #Chicago #ChicagoHomes #cities #dwellings #geography #historicPreservation #history #homes #housing #illustrations #landUse #neighborhoods #PhilThompson #planning #residences #travel #WonderCityStudio

Working list: Tallest student housing towers by university

Listed below are the tallest student housing towers by university across the United States. This list includes on-campus housing and dormitories for students, as well as off-campus privately operated rental housing for students. It does not include strictly condominium buildings.

As can be seen from the data, there have been two great boom period for constructing tall student housing towers. The first in the 1960s and early 1970s (46 from the list) were principally on-campus dormitories those the baby boom generation. The second, was in the 2005-2020 (24 from the list) time period as private firms constructed and offered varied high-rise off-campus living for students. This second boom period appears to be continuing well into the 2020s with nine more towers completed or underway.

As more such towers are identified, they will be added to the list if they are the tallest for a particular university. Please note, in cases where the exact height is not known , “~” is used to show the height is an estimate based on the number of floors times 10 feet per floor.

Peace!

——-

1. Evo at Cira Centre South (2014): Philadelphia/UPenn and Drexel University = 430 feet

2. 33 Beekman Street (2015): New York City/Pace University = 384 feet

3. Rhodes Hall (1971): Cleveland State, OH = 373 feet – being converted to student housing

4. West Sixth Tower Two (2009): Tempe/Arizona State = 345 feet

5. Union on San Antonio (2025): Austin/University of Texas = 332 feet

6. John Hancock Student Village (2009): Boston University, MA = 331 feet

7. The Hub (1983): Columbia/University of South Carolina = 325 feet

8. MIT Site 4 (2020): Cambridge/Massachusetts Institute of Technology = 315 feet

9. West End Tower (2021): Nashville/Vanderbilt University, TN = 305 feet

10. Watterson Towers (1969): Bloomington/Illinois State = 299 feet

11-13. Eastman, Livingston, and Stuyvesant Towers (1967): Albany/State University of NY = 286 feet each

14. 2128 Oxford (approved): Berkeley/University of California = 285 feet

15. The Hub on Campus (2018): Minneapolis/University of Minnesota = 284 feet

16. Treehouse Residence Hall (2012): Boston/Massachusetts College of Health Sciences and Massachusetts School of Art & Design = 280 feet

17-21. Calvin Coolidge, John Adams, John Q. Adams, John F. Kennedy, and George Washington Towers (1966): Amherst/UMass = 276 feet each

22. Gwinn Hall (1967): Denton/Texas Women’s University = 271 feet

23. Vilcek Hall (1984): New York City/NYU = 269 feet

24. 309 Green (2009): Champaign/University of Illinois = 268 feet

25-26. Lincoln and Morrill Dormitory Towers (1967): Columbus/Ohio State = 260 feet

27. Whistler (2023): Atlanta/Georgia Tech ~ 250 feet

27. Pearce-Ford Tower (1970): Bowling Green/Western Kentucky = 247 feet

29-30. Rhoads Hall (1968): Richmond/Virginia Commonwealth and The M (2020): Seattle/University of Washington = 240 feet

31-32. Moody Towers x 2 (1970): University of Houston, TX = 239 feet each – to be decommissioned in 2027

33-34. Sunvilla Tower (1963): Springfield/Missouri State and Lawrinson Hall (1965): Syracuse/Syracuse University, NY= 233 feet

35. Straz Tower (1954): Milwaukee/Marquette University, WI = 229 feet

36. The Standard (2020): New Brunswick/Rutgers University, NJ = 225 feet

37-39. McMahon Residence Hall (1992): New York City/Fordham University and GrandMarc Residence Hall (2015): Boston/Northeastern University, MA = 222 feet

40. Student Living Center (1990): Rochester/Eastman School of Music, NY = 213 feet

41-42. REV Northgate Student Living (2023): Bryan-College Station/Texas A & M = 200 feet and Commonwealth Hall (1970): Richmond/Eastern Kentucky ~ 200 feet

43. Parks Tower (1971): Toledo/University of Toledo, OH = 199 feet

44-45. Woodlawn Residential and Dining (2020): Chicago/University of Chicago, IL = 190 feet and Mertz Hall: Chicago/Loyola University, IL ~ 190 feet

46. Edge College Hill (2018): Providence/Brown University and others, RI = 172 feet

47. The Pacific (2013): Tucson/University of Arizona = 170 feet

48-49. The RISE at Riverfront Crossing (2018): Iowa City/University of Iowa and The RISE on Chauncey (2019): West Lafayette/Purdue University, IN = 167 feet

50. Abel Hall: Lincoln/University of Nebraska = 161 feet

51. Bulger Residence Hall (1969): Akron/University of Akron, OH = 160 feet

52-54. The Abbot (2020): East Lansing/Michigan State = 150 feet and Twin Towers East & West: Huntington/Marshall University, WV ~ 150 feet

55-57. East and West Towers (1965): Ithaca/Ithaca College, NY and The University Lofts (2002): Atlanta/Georgia State = 148 feet

58-60. Eigenmann Hall (1970); Bloomington/Indiana University and Dancer and Bender Halls (1969): Cedar Falls/Northern Iowa = 147 feet

61-62. The Metropolitan (2017): State College/Penn State and White Hall (1967): Laramie/University of Wyoming = 146 feet

63. Vic Village North (2019): Ann Arbor/University of Michigan = 144 feet

64-65. Webb Tower: Los Angeles/University of Southern California and Academe at 198 (2024): San Francisco/Cal Law School ~ 140 feet

66-67. Aber and Jesse Halls (1968/1969): Missoula/University of Montana = 138 feet

68. Gamow Tower: Boulder/Colorado University = 135 feet

69. Goodyear Hall (1960): Buffalo/University of Buffalo, NY = 133 feet

70. Legacy Tower (2004): Ames/Iowa State = 132 feet

71-73. Westfall and Duward Towers (1967): Fort Collins/Colorado State and Morse College Residential Tower (1962): New Haven/Yale University = 131 feet

74-76. Beatty Towers East and West (1967): Gainesville/University of Florida and Tamiami Hall (2022): Miami/Florida International ~ 130 feet

77. The RISE on 9th (2017): Columbia/University of Missouri = 128 feet

78-86. The Hub/515 Broadway (2015): Eugene/University of Oregon; Slusher Tower (1972): Blacksburg/Virginia Tech; The Hub (2026): Raleigh/North Carolina State; Stevenson Towers x four (1967/1968): DeKalb/Northern Illinois; Ellingson Hall: Rochester Institute of Technology, NY; and Sid Richardson Residences (2021): Houston/Rice University, TX ~ 120 feet

87-89. North Hedges/South Hedges and Roskie Residence Halls (1964/1966): Bozeman/Montana State ~ 115 feet

90. Eagleson Residence Hall: Durham/North Carolina Central = 112 feet

91-100. Theophilus Tower (1967): Moscow/University of Idaho; Yocum Hall (1963): Fayetteville/University of Arkansas; The Hub (2023): College Park/University of Maryland; Byrnes, Lever, and Manning Halls (1967/1968): Clemson/Clemson University, SC; Kays Hall: Jonesboro/Arkansas State; James Stukel Towers: University of Illinois-Chicago, IL; Anthony Wayne Student Apartments (2019): Detroit/Wayne State, MI; Offenhouer Tower (1971): Bowling Green State, OH; and C.J. Dunn Tower (1994): Montgomery/Alabama State ~ 110 feet

101. Sechrist Hall (1967): Flagstaff/Northern Arizona = 109 feet

102. The Flats at West Village (2014): Charlottesville/University of Virginia = 101 feet

SOURCES:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campustown_(Champaign,_Illinois)
• https://riseatriverfrontcrossings.com/?utm_source=GBP&utm_medium=organic&utm_perq=gbp
• https://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?cityID=3887
• https://www.skydb.net/building/279092465/legacy-tower-ames/
• https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/city/west-lafayette
• https://bloomingpedia.org/wiki/Eigenmann_Hall#:~:text=10th%20Street.,Carl%20Eigenmann%2C%20a%20famous%20ichthyologist.
• https://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=42951
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watterson_Towers
• https://kids.kiddle.co/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Columbia,_Missouri
• https://beatricedailysun.com/
• https://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?cityID=6973
• https://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=108877
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hub_(Minneapolis,_Minnesota)
• https://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=116059
• https://www.rhodepartners.com/tallest-building-between-austin-and-houston-reaches-construction-milestone
• https://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=119740
• https://www.instagram.com/p/C3onYx1rzvS/?hl=en
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Tucson
• https://www.skydb.net/city/795831059/tempe/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_buildings_and_structures_in_Missoula,_Montana
• https://skyscraperpage.com/cities/maps/?cityID=6413
• https://www.jhconst.com/portfolios/the-hub-515-broadway/
• https://sfyimby.com/2024/09/berkeley-gives-approval-for-tallest-building-yet-at-2128-oxford-street.html
• https://www.skydb.net/building/172288864/yocum-hall-fayetteville/
• https://www.skydb.net/building/694527676/sunvilla-tower-springfield/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Nashville
• https://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=66994
• https://skyscraperpage.com/cities/maps/?cityID=133
• https://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=102958
• https://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=44924
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Albany
• https://www.antunovich.com/hub-college-park
• https://ilovecville.com/tallestbuildingsincharlottesville/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Buffalo
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Syracuse,_New_York
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Massachusetts_outside_of_Boston
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_New_Haven
• https://artinruins.com/property/edge-college-hill/
• https://www.evophilly.com/?switch_cls%5Bid%5D=67805&utm_source=gmb&utm_medium=organic&oll_switch_cls%5Bid%5D=67805&oll_utm_source=gmb&oll_utm_medium=organic
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Philadelphia
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Richmond
• https://kids.kiddle.co/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Durham,_North_Carolina
• https://www.multifamilydive.com/news/core-spaces-student-housing-in-north-carolina-university/724886/
• gemini.google.ai
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Columbia,_South_Carolina
• https://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=71067
• https://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=142502
• https://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=142499
• https://www.skydb.net/city/763601355/gainesville/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Akron
• https://www.utoledo.edu/studentaffairs/reslife/ResidenceHalls/ParksTower.html
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Columbus,_Ohio
• https://www.niu.edu/housing/halls/stevenson/index.shtml
• https://www.elkus-manfredi.com/project/university-of-chicago-woodlawn-residential-and-dining-commons/
• https://www.luc.edu/reslife/futureresidents/livingoptions/mertzhall/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Milwaukee
• https://detroit.curbed.com/2019/10/14/20914288/wsu-anthony-wayne-drive-apartments-state-university#:~:text=The%20Anthony%20Wayne%20Drive%20Apartments%20are%20a,*%20**Studio%20with%20a%20private%20bath**%20$5%2C953
• https://signalcleveland.org/cleveland-state-eyes-major-overhaul-of-iconic-rhodes-tower/#:~:text=Cleveland%20State%20University’s%20Rhodes%20Tower%20is%20a,*%20**Add%20life%20to%20the%20downtown%20campus**
• https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/building/the-standard-at-new-brunswick/33718
• https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/building/vilcek-hall/34149
• https://wikimapia.org/3502034/McMahon-Residential-Hall
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_Towers
• https://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?buildingID=72290
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_educational_buildings
• https://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?buildingID=40126
• https://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?buildingID=68595
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Rochester,_New_York
• https://housing.usc.edu/index.php/buildings/webb-tower-residential-college/
• https://sfyimby.com/2024/02/uc-law-opens-the-academe-at-198-in-san-francisco.html
• https://aviewoncities.com/philadelphia/buildings/evo-at-cira-centre-south
• https://www.seattle.gov/dpd/AppDocs/GroupMeetings/DRProposal3037917AgendaID9218.pdf
• https://mds.marshall.edu/sc_bom/72/
• https://www.pace.edu/housing/residence-halls/33-beekman#:~:text=At%2034%20stories%2C%2033%20Beekman,boasts%20sweeping%20views%20of%20NYC.
• https://digitalcollections.eku.edu/exhibits/show/discovereku/campusbeautiful/admin/commonwealth
• https://wyo4news.com/news/its-skyscraper-day-what-is-wyomings-tallest-building/#:~:text=According%20to%20emporis.com%20and,faculty%20from%201913%20to%201948.
• https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/education/article263817078.html
• https://www.alasu.edu/_qa/residencehalls.php
• https://issuu.com/uh_csm/docs/cooglife_housing_and_decor_2023/s/27949499
• https://magazine.rice.edu/spring-2021/new-sid-block
• https://web.archive.org/web/20140426215505/http://www.emporis.com/statistics/tallest-buildings-denton-tx-usa

#cities #colleges #dorms #geography #highRises #history #housing #landUse #offCampus #onCampus #planning #residences #skyscrapers #statistics #studentHousing #towers #universities

“The Lost Bus” Torches the Screen With Tension

Earlier this week, we had the opportunity to watch The Lost Bus starring Matthew McConaughey and American Ferrera on Apple TV. This tension-packed film tells the harrowing story of a school bus driver, grade school teacher, and 22 elementary school students trying desperately to escape the 2018 Camp Fire that destroyed the City of Paradise, California.

The realism of the movie, including the immeasurable strength and tenacity of the wildfire, the valiant attempts by Cal Fire to get it under control, and the terrifying efforts to escape the rapid advance of flames and choking smoke by bus, car, or on foot, were simply spellbinding. Viewers will definitely be on the edge of they seats/sofas while viewing this memorable film.

It’s hard to fathom a wildfire that ignites at 6:15 a.m., reaches a city of 27,000 people (Paradise) located eight (8) miles away in two hours, and utterly torches it within four. One can only shake their head in awe (and fear) of the overarching power of Mother Nature when she’s been wronged by humanity’s disregard for the Earth.

As one who is in awe of the bravery of Smokejumpers, Hot Shot Crews, and other wildfire fighters, this film does a great job depicting the dangerous and deadly conditions they face on a regular basis. We owe them such an enormous debt of gratitude regardless of their place of birth for putting their lives on the line to protect us. It’s dedication like this and/or in service to our nation through the military, that should be rewarded and commended…not coldly tossed aside.

Peace!

#AmericaFerrera #AppleTV #CALFIRE #California #cinema #cities #environment #film #geography #history #landUse #MatthewMcConaughey #movies #Paradise #schoolBuses #TheLostBus #transportation #wildfire

Hiking to the first fire lookout in the Rockies

In 1912, the very first fire lookout in the Rocky Mountains began operation atop 9,748 foot tall Devil’s Head located west of Castle Rock, Colorado. Today, 113 plus years later, a fire lookout structure (built in 1951) still graces its stony summit, as the lookout’s cabin residence sits astride the trail at the base of the winding metal stairway that rises to the majestic apex.

As peak climbers, certain mountains exude an extra touch of charisma than others. It may be the vista, the trail, the scenery, the challenge, the height, the history, or some indescribable other factor. Well, to this avid peak climber, Devil’s Head possesses all of the above factors and then some.

The exhilaration one feels upon reaching the summit of this impressive and tallest Rampart Range mountain (a subrange of the Rocky Mountains) is truly palpable. Its zenith in altitude is only challenged by the fulfilling accomplishment and personal pride. Meanwhile, the sheer awe of the surroundings, the overarching skies, and the distant horizons boosts ones endorphins into an intoxicating overdrive. Perhaps, this is why the informational signs along the route up from the trailhead offer a series of inspired poems as motivation to complete this hike.

Throughout such hikes, I often feel at one with the mountain…but only as a guest who has been allowed to trek and observe the varied terrain, not as a permanent resident. That is only reserved for the flora and fauna who know this mountain as their home. Scurrying chipmunks and squirrels, melodic nuthatches and chickadees, wafting butterflies, silent leafy and piney sentinels, weathered geological wonders, and delicate floral arrangements are among its most visible August citizens.

Devil’s Head does not offer up its ultimate ascent easily. One must scale a series of 143 stair steps affixed to the rugged rock pinnacle. Not for the fainthearted, each step upward paints a separate image of the eons of weathered history that has taken place on Devil’s Head and that we humans are but a brief chapter in its storied narrative.

Oh…but to be just a momentary blip in this mountain’s timeless epochs is an honor I will always prize. Peace!

——-

p.s. Devil’s Head in Colorado is one clear example of why we must ardently defend the United States Forest Service, the National Park Service, and related agencies for the great, good work they do in preserving and protecting our nation’s scenic natural wonders.

#adventure #Colorado #DevilSHead #environment #fireLookouts #fun #geography #hiking #history #landUse #lookouts #mountains #nature #trails #travel #treks

🚨 IÖR startet Forschungsdaten-Repositorium #ioerDATA.

Hochauflösende und gut dokumentierte Daten zu 🌐 Flächenverbrauch, 🌳 Stadtgrün, 🏨 Bauwerksbestand etc., kostenfrei und FAIR. Kuratiert und verwaltet durch das #IOER_FDZ. Mehr Infos 👉 https://www.ioer.de/presse/aktuelles/repositorium-ioer-data-gestartet

@smc_germany @a_tack @BKG @BMWSB_Bund @NFDI

#GeoData #SpatialData #ioerDATA #IOER_FDZ #Landuse #Flächenverbauch #Geoinformatics #Flächennutzung #Raumentwicklung #SustainabilityTransition

Landslide Susceptibility Assessment In The Marin Khola Watershed Of The Sub Himalaya, Central Nepal
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https://doi.org/10.3126/jist.v30i1.76264 <-- shared paper
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#GIS #spatial #mapping #geology #engineeringgeology #massmovement #landslides #Nepal #susceptibility #MarinKhola #watershed #InfoVal #Siwaliks #Himalayas #risk #hazard #cost #infrastructure #publicsafety #lossoflife #propertydamage #damage #geomorphology #water #hydrology #geomorphometry #casestudies #spatialanalysis #water #hydrology #factors #topography #geology #soil #landuse #landcover #model #modeling #accuracy

Planning for cities with linear skylines

Shown below are some of the cities around the globe that have linear skylines. While these can be visually impressive, especially when set as a backdrop against the coastline or mountains, they also can be challenging from a planning and infrastructure perspective, unless they are adapted properly to address this unique urban landform.

Bear in mind, that linear skylines are not just a coastal or narrow valley phenomenon. Las Vegas is perfect example of an inland city with a very linear skyline that resulted in part due to how the city developed as a desert oasis along a single major corridor. Other examples may result from topographic settings like narrow mountain valleys, river valleys, peninsulas, or islands.

The length of linear skylines can tend to dissuade walking, as the distances between sites can be intimidating. Furthermore, if the focus is too concentrated, primary streets that run the length of the skyline, such as the Las Vegas Strip, can become overwhelmed by traffic and people.

That is why it is important to have viable and efficient alternatives — light rail, buses, bicycling routes, trollies, or as Las Vegas has developed, a monorail line. Safe crossings of busy thoroughfares is also needed. As the image are shows, overpasses or tunnels for pedestrians may be necessary. Otherwise, crosswalks must be set up to allow time for safe movement across the avenues.

In some ways, a linear design can be efficient when it comes to utilities, because they can be focused in a narrower area. However, they must constructed of sufficient size and scale to handle the concentrated needs for water, sewer, electricity, gas, etc. Otherwise, the streets and roads may be constantly torn up to increase capacity. Utility managers will also need to address verticality of the service area, to assure water pressure and other services are maintained at their highest levels.

Another important factor to consider is public safety, particularly from fire-fighting and emergency response standpoints. By their very nature, linear skylines tend to be more dense and as a result taller. This is very evident from the photos provided below. How public safety services address the inherently denser and taller structures is critically important for assuring public safety is always a top priority for avoiding potential tragedies.

Another factor to consider for tourist-oriented linear skyline is the variations between on and off-season. Any and all planning efforts will need to take this into account as the extent of impacts can fluctuate greatly over a calendar year.

What is likely to be the most linear (and perhaps vertical) skyline of them all is the controversial 106 mile long, new city of Neom being constructed in Saudi Arabia (see images above and below. How this project will eventually turn out and whether it will achieve the stated goals of livability and sustainability remains to be seen. If it is successful, it may be a defining development for the future. Otherwise, it could be a precautionary tale to avoid excepting very specialized circumstances.

As has been noted throughout this post, linear skylines can have their challenges. How effectively these are addressed will help determine whether or not the infrastructure and services can meet the concentrated demand. At the same time, the opportunities are not quite as apparent. To this retired planner, ambitious individual developments that are overly lengthy or excessively vertical may not achieve their “lofty” goals. Similarly, it remains to be seen how efficient and effective such a narrow, dense and lengthy urban form can be.

Peace!

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Las Vegas, Nevada – centered along the Strip (Las Vegas Boulevard)

Surfers Paradise, Queensland, Australia and other beachfront cities – centered along the beachfront

Balneário Camboriú, Brazil

Miami Beach, Florida

Daytona Beach

Virginia Beach, Virginia

Ocean City, Maryland

Cancun, Mexico

Grand Rapids, Michigan – the tallest buildings are centered along the Grand River

Pikeville, Kentucky – a very unique linear “semi-circle” in the Appalachian Mountains.

Danang, Vietnam – concentrated along both the river and along the coastline at My Khe Beach

#BalneárioCamboriú #Cancun #cities #coastlines #Danang #DaytonaBeach #downtown #geography #GrandRapids #history #landUse #LasVegas #linearSkylines #MiamiBeach #Neom #OceanCity #Pikeville #planning #skylines #SurfersParadise #topography #transit #transportation #travel #valleys #VirginiaBeach #walking #Yanjing

(7/x) Globally, #landuse—clearing forests etc. for #grazing land or feed production—is the largest driver of #beef-related #emissions. And land used for #cattle cannot be returned to nature to remove #carbon from the atmosphere... https://drawdown.org/insights/greenwashing-and-denial-wont-solve-beefs-enormous-climate-problems #opportunitycost

Where do we go from here?

Unlike the Cowichan River, the #Koksilah is an uncontrolled #river with no storage and as such, there are limited options available to manage flows. The only options available to us are to change our current practices around #LandUse and #WaterUse. Most importantly, the #KoksilahRiver is challenging all of us to work together to collaboratively identify and implement solutions that will impact us all. New collaborations and partnerships are emerging.

An informal “Koksilah #DroughtManagement team” has been formed to discuss how to collaboratively make short term in-season decisions and work with water users to navigate periods of low flow. This ad-hoc group is comprised of representatives from #FLNRORD, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Cowichan Station’s Koksilah Working Group, BC Dairy Association, BC Agriculture Council, Cowichan Watershed Board, Farmland Advantage, Water Survey of Canada, Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre and private forestry representatives.

In the longer term, an innovative government to government partnership has been struck between Cowichan Tribes and the FNLRORD to explore and scope the feasibility of initiating a joint #WaterSustainability Planning process, an innovative new tool under #BCWaterSustainabilityAct (2016).

For more information about the potential of Water Sustainability Plans, see Curran, D. and O.M. Brandes. 2019 Water Sustainability Plans: Potential, Options and Essential Content (2019) by Deborah Curran and Oliver M. Brandes, University of Victoria Environmental Law Centre and the POLIS Project on Ecological Governance.

https://poliswaterproject.org/polis-research-publication/water-sustainability-plans/

"As one element in the modernized provincial water regime, Water Sustainability Plans are a promising tool that can enable and enhance adaptive water management and new governance relationships that express core elements of government-to-government relationships for water and watersheds, as well as address the challenges of environmental flows, sustainable groundwater management, drought planning and protecting and enhancing watershed health."

Deborah Curran & Oliver M. Brandes
Water Sustainability Plans: Potential, Options and Essential Content (2019)

#BackroadAdventures #VancouverIsland #water #river #Shawnigan #DayAdventure #DayTrip #PacificNorthwest #ProtectWatersheds #nature #VanIsle #Cascadia #PNW #NaturesPower #WaterIsLife #ProtectWatersheds #ProtectNature #Hydro #RiversOfBC #RiversOfVancouverIsland #Indigenous #FirstNations #Historical #Cowichan #WaterFlow #RiverFlows #HydrologyManagement

Delighted to share our publication on capturing #EnvironmentalExposure. We proposed a new method for linking the #BuiltEnvironment and #Health #Longitudinal using #GIS!

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20031953

We measured #EnvironmentalExposure at the #IndividualLevel across various domains including #AirQuality, #RoadTraffic, #Greenness, #Greenspace, #PublicTransport, #FoodEnvrionment, #LandUse, #Walkability, #StreetCentrality/ #SpaceSyntax, #BuiltForm and #IndoorQualities.

@spacesyntax