Month: April 2015

Integrating Paleoecology and Time-lapse Technology in an Elevator

Posted on by Anna Klimaszewski-Patterson

I love when my interests align in a brilliant example of integrating paleolandscape reconstructions, human ecodynamics, and technology for public consumption — this time in the guise of a time-lapse video on an elevator ride.

Five elevators which will be servicing the observatory atop the new 1 World Trade Center (in NYC) will show a 47-second video time-lapsing 515 years of panoramic landscape change along the tip of Manhattan Island. What a brilliant documentary and concept!

55-feet below ground, visitors begin in 1500AD. At 250 feet they reach 1760AD — the British Colonial Era. By the time they reach 1,269 feet above ground, visitors have seen skyline landmarks come and go.

For more information visit the original article at: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/20/nyregion/on-time-lapse-rocket-ride-to-trade-centers-top-ghostly-glimpse-of-doomed-tower.html?smid=fb-share&_r=1

Fun at Conferences: Chicago Public Transport Edition

Posted on by Anna Klimaszewski-Patterson

Almost every year that I’ve made the pilgrimage to the annual Association of American Geographers (AAG) meeting, I’ve used public transportation to get around – Chicago is no exception. The exception, this time, was that I managed to get turned around upon arrival, as opposed to a few days in (really? Who puts the north AND southbound buses at the SAME STOP. Facing the SAME DIRECTION. With the same text on their display. At night. In the rain? That’s just asking for it).

So 20 minutes in to going the wrong way on the bus, I use my handy-dandy Google Maps app to see how much farther until I need to request a stop (the app had said ~27 minutes to my destination when I got on). That’s when I discovered I was going southbound Continue reading “Fun at Conferences: Chicago Public Transport Edition” →