Uploaded on 2016-06-21 by Jason B. Santos

Exercise 1: Making the Invisible Visible - the case of EDSA Highway, Mandaluyong City, Philippines The picture depicts a typical road scene in the Philippines. This area is specifically located in the Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue, Mandaluyong City and commonly referred to as EDSA or previously Highway 54. This is the main thoroughfare and circumferential freeway around Metro Manila. Looking at the photo, the following “visible” information can be derived. First, there are buses plying along the yellow lane of the highway; and the specific bus indicates its route, plate number, and the contact details of the responsible government agency tasked to monitor them. Also, there is a marketing advertisement that is wrapping the rear window of the bus. Second, the traffic flow is reasonably smooth as there is an open lane beside the lane where the buses are; though the opposite lane is not visible in the given photo. Visible at the right side of the picture, there is a slight build-up of vehicles; it can be derived that it is an on-grade parking area or a by-pass road leading to a building. Third, on the left portion of the photo, there is an elevated platform with railings and there is a passing blue and white train. The opposite portion shows also an elevated platform or uncovered walkway leading to the road and building on the right side. Fourth, on the far right of the photograph is a towering building that reflects a series of individual-type windows instead of the common curtain-type windows. The fifth information set that can be derived from the picture is the street scene which involves people and pedestrian movement. It is observed that the pedestrians are grouped under the waiting shed on the right, given that it is a sunny day, and wherein at least to (2) people are under the umbrella. Also there are two (2) people that can be considered as vendors or hawkers doing business on the street and sidewalk gutter that needs repainting – near the area which is not fenced or barricaded. While on the left road island pavement is a sparsely planted shrub. Lastly, there are overhead electrical cables near the elevated walkway on the right portion of the picture. By understanding and envisaging the information reflected in the picture; it is important to highlight two (2) sets of invisible information can be derived from the picture, one coming from the movement of people and the vehicles, the other one comes from the static objects like the infrastructure and buildings. It can be said that the highway is an integral part of the city or urban area. This is because of the fact that cars, major bus lines and including the train system runs along this given space. Significant invisible information, which can be derived from this scene, is that the photo was taken near a transportation node wherein; there is a train station, a bus stop or waiting area and an on-grade parking area. The intensity of people movement – some are walking, while the others are waiting; is relatively high in this area given the evidence that this is near a transportation node it is also observed that there are people walking on the street and can be considered as a traffic violation – “j-walking”. Looking at the flow of traffic on this avenue, it is noticeable that it is light to moderate with unnoticeable traffic build-up, meaning the photo was taken during a non-peak time hence, it is not considered as “rush-hour” traffic. This observation is also evident by analyzing the pedestrians, they are wearing casual clothing, it seems like they are not in a hurry or slow paced thus, it can be concluded that the scene was photographed on a weekend. While studying the pedestrians on the right, their partial demographics can be extracted. There is slightly more female than male on the sidewalk that have different age groups – no visible children or minor as seen. It is likely based on this picture, that several of the male population are using personal vehicles instead of using public transportation. With regards to the bus routes, there are a number of routes which pass-through EDSA as reflected by the people waiting for the other buses. The layout of the waiting area and bus stop can be analyzed as well. Looking closely, there are people who are not using the bus stops properly instead of using the sidewalk, they are utilizing the street. The barricades also defeat the purpose of protecting the pedestrians as they are on the road. It is also important to consider that the elevated walkway on the right is somewhat underutilized by the pedestrians by moving under it. This may be due to the fact that it is uncovered – no shade or roof protection from the elements that is why people opt to use the shaded portion of the street underneath. Also, the presence of sidewalk vendors and hawkers along the sidewalk is an indication that there are more people utilizing the sidewalk instead of the elevated walkway as described previously. As the saying goes that business is good where the “market” and “population” is, the chances of “profitability” is much higher in high foot-traffic areas. And taking on profitability is the topic of marketing. The advertisement on the back of the bus means, that the bus takes on a long route. The advertiser’s mindset is that their brand will go a long way and will be seen by more people, in other words – “media mileage”. It is the reason that they capitalized on the bus route, subsequently sacrificing view and safety of the riding public. Regarding safety, protection from the elements will be a factor based on this photo. People will have a hard time when the rain pours. Also, storms might affect electricity provisions because of the over-head wires and cables. Another learning that can be resulted is the parking situation of the building. There is cueing and pile-up of cars. Given that it is a weekend, the building might be a commercial-oriented building or mall. Usually, parking provisions in malls in the Philippines are not enough to serve the vehicular population. It is hard to say whether the cars are making an ingress or egress. In addition, with regards to “urban greening”, this part of the highway is very far-behind by considering the sparsely planted shrub or tree on the left pavement portion. In connecting information to develop as knowledge, requires a number of factors and a series processes like simulation and exploration because as mentioned in Module 1, “It is not entirely clear how data and information are combined in the cognitive process into knowledge”. But on a personal note, I believe that any invisible information regarding the city including its inhabitants, forces internally and externally can be transformed into valuable and functional knowledge that contribute to the planning of a more liveable urban space. Determining the end-goal or objective which is planning for a sustainable urban future of the city must be at the core of the plan in order for the information to be positioned properly for synthesis and from that knowledge can be established in support of the core. The users of the urban space affect the built-environment or the space they are in. Vice-versa, the space is also affected by the users of it. What links both factors will be the available data they produce, that develops into information and then translates into usable knowledge. It is important to analyze and answer or satisfy the questions like; how, why, what for, and to whom in the city context is a way to sieve this invisible information to become essential knowledge. With reference to the photo, is the elevated and uncovered walkway effective in the provision of safe access for the pedestrians along the highway while leading them to their destination? Using this question to derive information, my opinion is that the walkway can be improved for better use by covering it for the convenience of the public. In connection to this more knowledge will be connected like, provision of ramps, stairs, elevators and escalators. Also, “greening” of the walkway is a must to improve the urban space. In contrast, the city’s power consumption will increase for the provision of additional electrical and mechanical device for the walkway. Also water will be consumed for the irrigation of the plants. However, knowledge will augment solutions for the perceived problems like, using energy efficient electrical devices, using natural light and ventilation to the advantage of the walkway system and implementing water recycling methods for the irrigation of plants. There are countless problems, but with countless solutions are available by organizing data and information and utilizing knowledge developed from it to provide proper planning of the future urban space in relation to the city. There are also additional questions coming from the photo. Does the city provide users of the urban space efficient connectivity? What is the behavior of people while in transit and while waiting? Are their ample parking spaces for cars of the building? Is there a connection from the highway leading to the tall building? Why are there sidewalk vendors? Is the bus and train transportation safe? Is the city being managed properly? Is it resilient and sustainable? And so on…With this questions information can be derived and definitely be developed into knowledge which can positively be used in planning of the urban environment of Mandaluyong City, Philippines. In a nutshell, the people and its environment is the most important element of the future city and the liveable urban space is for them; for them to have an improved, sustainable and resilient quality of life. Therefore, data, information that translates into knowledge must be placed in this manner all directing to the people and its environment.