Tracking the Community for Better Resource Development

Tracking the Community for Better Resource Development Digital Design and Architecture on an Urban Scale

JEREMY GOUCHER

Concept Proposal My proposed idea incorporates digital design and architecture on an urban scale.

When the Census is delivered in a certain area it only informs you as to where an individual is for a small, inactive portion of the day. The census basically only tells the government where individuals sleep. While people are sleeping they have very limited pull on the electrical power grid. I believe that the Census is good for counting people and dividing political boundaries, but that it could be used for much more.

After the Census is taken and the government knows how many individuals live in each household, I propose that small tracking devices be sent to each individual.

After each person has activated there device, there locations will begin to be recorded by a database. This database will compile all the locations of people throughout the day. The informational map could be displayed on a website and projected into public places like the City Hall, the Court House, or community centers.

I believe that this specific type of information could be beneficial for cities and governments when planning urban development projects like highways, new facilities, or power supply sources.

Concept Description For better distribution of community resources a voluntary geotracking 'Application' that can be added to one's cell phone or laptop computer. The purpose of the app is to (voluntarily) track an individual during the day time (the most active part of the day). The purpose of this is to see patterns that develop within communities, so that with these patterns being made visible, vital infrastructure such as highways and power supplies maybe placed with greater influence.

Concept Brief Typology: A type of caching, geotracking or global positioning system for electronics frequently used human beings.

Target: Volunteers within the community, Community/Government Development Agencies, Architectural Planning Firms, Utility Companies, etc.

Original Characteristics: Using the basic idea of a cell phone app to track people during there daily routines as a way to plan community development strategies.

Digital Technologies: Cellular Telephones, Computers, Web Applications, Websites.

Message: Simple technologies that do not require much effort from the community can have a beneficial impact.

Mood: Contributes to the ‘sustainability’ craze of current timesgiving people a sense that little effort on their part can be beneficial to their self and the greater community for better allocation of resources.

Concept Research http://www.gpsfortoday.com/free-gps-tracking-applications-andsoftware/ http://www.aphonetracker.com http://www.makeuseof.com/dir/buddyway-free-gps-cell-phonetracking-application/

These websites offer the basic technology that I seek to use, with different intent. http://www.visualcomplexity.com/vc/project_details.cfm?id=331&ind ex=26&domain=Transportation%20Networks

This type of mapping could be very useful in showing the concentration of people in certain areas. http://www.weeplaces.com/

Similar concept to those represented on this site (Foursquare, Facebook Places, and Gowalla). The difference is that my geotracking idea does not required one to ‘check-in’, therefore requiring less effort and greater accuracy of an individual’s location at a certain time.

Concept Development

Concept Development

Concept Development

volunteers

Concept Development

volunteers

resources

Concept Development

volunteers

Concept Development

volunteers

resources

Concept Representation

volunteers

resources

Concept Representation

volunteers

resources

Concept Launch + Promotion For this concept to come alive it would have to have funding provided by a body that would benefit from the data generated by the ‘application’.

Privately Funded Groups http://www.urban-resources.net/ All the team of Urban-Resources is pleased to welcome you in this resource fund devoted to photography, architecture, industrial archaeology and urban exploration realization. http://www.techstars.org/ get the opportunity to pitch to hundreds of angel investors and venture capitalists at the end of the program.

Government Funded Groups http://www.canurb.com/general/info_urbanresources.php The Canadian Urban Institute (CUI) convenes many different events including conferences and seminars, which connect urban decision-makers from governments, the corporate community and academic sectors to urban issues.