Introduction to Designing Environments: Paradigms & Approaches

Description

The Designing Environments book series addresses questions regarding necessary environmental transformation in the context of the fast-unfolding environmental crisis. This is done from a broad interdisciplinary perspective, examining the negative impact of human transformations of the environment and providing different inroads towards sustainable environmental transformation with net positive impact. Volume one of the Designing Environments book series brings together experts from different disciplines and often inter- and transdisciplinary contexts, who discuss specific approaches to overcoming the negative impact of the transformation of environments by humans. Across the 12 chapters of volume one, specific keywords recur that are indicative of shared insights and concerns. These include Anthropocene, climate change, complexity, critical zone, ecosystem services, and sustainability. Furthermore, interdisciplinary approaches to human–environment interactions, sustainability transitions, and socio-ecological systems take center stage and are discussed in relation to conceptual and methodological as well as societal and technological challenges and opportunities. Preface Contents Editors and Contributors About the Editors Contributors Chapter 1: Introduction to Designing Environments 1.1 Designing Environments 1.2 Volume 1 References Chapter 2: Complexity and Sustainability: From System Dynamics to Coevolutionary Spacetimes 2.1 Introduction 2.2 From Dynamical Systems to Information Geometry 2.2.1 Fundamentals on Dynamical Systems 2.2.2 Linking Dynamical Systems to Thermodynamics and Information Geometry 2.2.3 Dynamical Systems Descriptors: A Journey Across Scales and Beyond 2.2.4 Distinguishing Internal Feedbacks from Real Structural Change 2.2.5 From the Order in Chaos to Climate Change 2.3 Spatiotemporal Coevolution in Complex System Dynamics 2.3.1 Discerning Coevolutionary Complexity 2.3.2 Unveiling the Synergistic Dynamic Codex of Coevolutionary Complexity 2.4 Conclusion References Chapter 3: Mapping Transitions and Alterations in Complex Environments 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Geo-computation, Technology and Mapping 3.3 Geo-environmental Data: The Bloom 3.4 Geo-environmental Data: The Imbalance 3.5 The Earth Sciences and Humanities 3.6 Geo-computing and Expert Knowledge 3.7 Conclusion References Chapter 4: Socio-ecological Reflections for a Sustainable Society 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Healing Powers of Nature 4.3 ‘This is Mine’ 4.4 Interhuman Challenges 4.5 Towards a Sustainable Society 4.5.1 Stimulating a New Ecological Consciousness 4.5.2 Stimulating a New Language 4.5.3 Organizing Communication and Dialogue 4.5.4 Reconsidering Democratic Decision-Making 4.5.5 Redesigning Our Cities 4.6 Conclusion: It Is All About Connection References Chapter 5: Socio-metabolic Transitions 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Past Energy Transitions and Socio-metabolic Transitions 5.2.1 Past Socio-metabolic Transitions 5.2.2 Material stock Patterns of Different Modes of Subsistence 5.3 Current Trajectories and Transition Options 5.3.1 Global Sustainability Challenges 5.3.2 Can Designing Environments Facilitate Sustainability Transitions? 5.4 Outlook and Conclusions References Chapter 6: Ecological Restoration in Support of Sustainability Transitions: Repairing the Planet in the Anthropocene 6.1 Introduction 6.2 A Primer on Ecological Restoration 6.3 Actions Needed for Ecological Restoration in the Anthropocene 6.3.1 Learn and Refine as We Do Restoration 6.3.2 Embrace Bold and Creative Ideas 6.3.3 Adopt a Design and Systems-Thinking Approach 6.3.4 View Restoration as a Complement Rather Than a Safety Net 6.3.5 Work with Nature 6.3.6 Create Opportunities for Massive Engagement 6.3.7 Bridge Science and Practice 6.3.8 Ensure that Restoration is Equitable and Just 6.3.9 Insert Restoration into Social-Technical Systems 6.3.10 Invest in Restoration and Sustainability Transitions 6.4 Conclusion: Thinking about Ecological Restoration and Sustainability Transitions References Chapter 7: Territory Subject: Designing Human-Environment Interactions in Cities and Territories 7.1 Introduction 7.1.1 Three Proposed Hypotheses 7.2 Discourse I: Political Ecology as a Stance for the Post-rationality of Social Ecologies 7.2.1 Towards a Design Discourse in Political Ecology 7.2.2 A Paradigm Shift for the Vietnamese Mekong Delta: New Territorial Rationalities 7.3 Discourse II: The Territory-Subject 7.3.1 A Shift Towards Weak Structures 7.3.2 Soil and Labor: A Vision for Greater Geneva 7.4 Discourse III: Design in Technonature 7.4.1 The Hybridity of Nature and Technology in the Design Process 7.4.2 Position: Technonature as a Necessity 7.4.3 Case Study: Ring-Parks in Over De Ring, Antwerp 7.5 Conclusion and Outlook References Chapter 8: Urban Aquatic Nature-Based Solutions in the Context of Global Change: Uncovering the Social-ecological-technological Framework 8.1 Introduction 8.2 An Integrated Framework for Aquatic Nature-Based Solutions 8.3 The Importance of Scale to Use SETS for the Study of aquaNbS 8.4 The Wider Context 8.5 Set of Essential Variables to Monitor aquaNbS Within the SET Framework 8.5.1 Governance 8.5.2 Values 8.5.3 Ecological Dimensions 8.5.4 Technological Dimensions 8.6 Conclusion References Chapter 9: iGuess4ESTIMUM: A Geospatial Ecosystem Service and Urban Metabolism Platform Based on iGuess® 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Interoperable Decision Support Systems 9.2.1 Web-Based Decision Support Systems 9.2.2 Interoperability 9.3 System Design of the iGuess®-Based ESTIMUM Platform 9.3.1 Use Cases 9.3.2 Domain Model 9.4 Technological Architecture 9.4.1 Software Components 9.4.2 The Web Processing Service Interface 9.5 User Interface 9.5.1 Data Manager 9.5.2 Modules or Applications 9.5.3 Decision Support 9.6 Using the iGuess® Platform for the Use Case Esch-sur-Alzette 9.6.1 Introduction to the Use Case 9.6.2 Platform Application to the Use Case 9.6.3 Results 9.7 Conclusion References Chapter 10: Architectures of the Critical Zone: Architecture and Environment Integration en Route to Designing Environments 10.1 Introduction 10.2 Traits of Embedded Architectures 10.2.1 Agency 10.2.2 Urban Landform 10.2.3 Access, Experiences, Engagements and Practices 10.2.4 Change & Uncertainty 10.3 Knowledge Recovery from Precedents: Ecological Prototypes 10.4 Knowledge Discovery through Design: Embedded Architectures 10.5 Conclusions & Outlook References Chapter 11: Human-Building Interaction: Sensing Technologies and Design 11.1 Introduction 11.1.1 Research Directions 11.2 Sensing Technologies and Human-Building Interaction 11.2.1 Detection of Aspects of Human Behavior 11.2.2 Detection of Indoor Air Conditions 11.2.3 Detection of Light Conditions 11.2.4 Detection of Sound Conditions 11.3 Research Projects 11.3.1 Climate Control and Space Usage in Outdoor Public Space 11.3.2 Contactless and Context-Aware Decision Making for Automated Building Access Systems 11.4 Outlook and Conclusions References Index