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Posts Tagged ‘protection’

Zaha Hadid Architects Make Flood Protection Look Elegant in Hamburg

28 Aug

As urban planners grapple with the need for creative flood management systems in cities around the world, Zaha Hadid Architects provides an interesting example in Hamburg.

Located along the Elbe River, the new Niederhafen River Promenade offers two functions in one: a flood wall and a riverfront promenade. Set in a popular tourist area alongside one of the city’s most important public spaces, the new promenade offers views of the Elbe, links to adjacent neighborhoods and lots of room for pedestrians, food stalls, cafes and street performers, with shops and public utilities set into the structure at street level on the side that faces the city.

The barrier at Niederhafen was first built in the 1960s in the aftermath of severe storm surge floods that caused 315 fatalities and destroyed the homes of 60,000 residents, but according to modern calculations, it was no longer high enough to be effective. In addition to raising the total height of the barrier by .8 meters, the overburdened supporting elements of the structure needed to be replaced. The city announced a competition to design a redevelopment, awarding the project to Zaha Hadid Architects.

Standing 8.6 meters (28 feet) high on the eastern side and 8.9 meters (29 feet) high on the western side, the barrier is now tall enough to protect the city from maximum winter storm surges and extreme high tides. The architects carved sculptural staircases into the sides at various points, creating angular amphitheaters that encourage people to linger and enjoy the views and “generating an oscillating sequence in the river promenade as it repeatedly widens and narrows.”

“Dedicated cycle lanes at street level run the length of the flood protection barrier. Wide ramps at Baumwell and Langdungsbrücken connect the river promenade with street level and provide accessibility for all. A third central ramp enables service vehicles to access the promenade and Überseebrücke.”

“The river promenade is divided into two sections with different spatial qualities. The zone to the west is at a larger scale, offering wide views downstream of all shipping activity on the river. To the east, the port’s marina creates amore intimate atmosphere with a long ramp alongside the amphitheater leading visitors down to the water’s edge.”

Of course, concrete flood walls aren’t right for every city, especially those where aquatic wildlife habitats have been destroyed and need to be restored. Some cities are working on plans to do just that, like Chicago’s “Wild Mile.” Read more about how “urban rewinding” can help make cities more flood resistant.

Photos by Piet Niemann via Zaha Hadid Architects


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The VEER 18 is a packable bag with inflatable camera protection that’s currently on Kickstarter

07 Feb

Bag makers Wandrd have returned to Kickstarter and this time they’ve launched a campaign for the VEER 18L packable bag with inflatable back panel and camera cube. The idea is simple. Typically packable bags lack protection and structure, making them uncomfortable to carry and not ideal for packing sensitive technology, such as cameras or laptops.

The VEER 18L solves these issues by using an inflatable back panel and camera cube which can, when deflated, be packed down to very small dimensions but turn the bag into a proper camera bag when filled with air.

As the name suggests, the VEER 18L has a volume of 18 litres. The largest camera the camera cube can hold is a Canon 5D type body with a 24-70mm lens attached. You can fit a bigger camera or a camera with battery pack but then the lens has to be stored in a different place. The bag is also large enough for a Mavic Pro sized drone. A water bottle sleeve is on board as well.

The bag is made from weather resistant materials but is not fully waterproof, so it will withstand light rain but not a fall into a river. you are good but don’t dunk it in a river.

The VEER 18L weighs only 383g (12.8oz) and packs down into a very small package, making it ideal for carrying in a bigger bag and use as a day bag.

You can reserve a VEER 18 with inflatable back panel by pledging $ 79 on Kickstarter. The version with camera cube will set you back $ 118. Delivery is scheduled for August 2019.


Disclaimer: Remember to do your research with any crowdfunding project. DPReview does its best to share only the projects that look legitimate and come from reliable creators, but as with any crowdfunded campaign, there’s always the risk of the product or service never coming to fruition.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Nikon launches Arcrest protection filter line

03 Jun

In addition to the AF-S Nikkor 28mm F1.4E ED, 8-15mm F3.5-4.5E ED fisheye and AF-P 10-20mm F4.5-5.6G VR lenses Nikon also announced the new Arcrest line of ‘professional-grade’ protection filters. The Arcrest filters are available in 67mm, 72mm, 77mm, 82mm and 95mm diameters and, according to Nikon, can survive heavy impacts while only having a minimal impact on image quality.

The filters are 2mm thick and come with special coatings that minimize color balance disturbance, reduce ghosting and flares and repel water/oil/dirt. Nikon says they are also less prone to ghosting when shooting night scenes.

It appears that at least for now the Arcrest line will only be released in the Japanese market. Prices range from ¥9,680 ($ 88) for the 67mm filter to ¥25,799 ($ 234) for the largest diameter version. The product page on the Nikon Japan website offers a good selection of sample images and comparison shots against filters from competing brands.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Flat-Pack Bicycle Helmet: Portable Paper Head Protection for Cyclists

01 Jan

[ By WebUrbanist in Design & Products & Packaging. ]

paper-bike-helmets

As urban cycling continues to increase in popularity, bike commuters still face the same challenge: carrying a clunky helmet with them wherever they go. For part-time, on-demand cyclists in places with bike share programs the problem is even more pronounced: hopping a ride is simply not a safe option unless they happen to have headgear handy.

paper-helmet

Hence the EcoHelmet by Isis Shiffer, a graduate of the Pratt Institute of Design in New York. Her collapsible helmet is designed to be low-cost (around $ 5) and easy to pack into vending machines paired with bike sharing stations.

safe-bike-paper

Recycled paper is woven into a folding honeycomb structure that is light, durable and portable, forming a protective cover in moments. A waterproof coating also protects the helmet from rainfall. Paper sounds like an implausible material, but the design has passed European safety reviews and is looking for approval in the United States. Still skeptical? The video below features some impressive impact tests — sure, the helmet may need to be replaced after an accident, but if it does the job in the moment that is what really matter.

collapsing-helmet-design

The low price tag presumably makes these cheap enough that riders won’t balk at buying one even for a single ride (though hopefully they would save and store them for future trips given how compact they are when folded up.

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[ By WebUrbanist in Design & Products & Packaging. ]

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Hammock suspension adds extra protection in the Kontrast Pro DSLR Backpack from Case Logic

25 Jul

Bag manufacturer Case Logic has launched a new backpack that features a hammock system, suspending a DSLR with lens attached within the space in the middle of the bag. The company claims this adds extra protection as less of the camera body is in direct contact with the structure of the bag. Read more

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Wilderness Protection – Only As Strong As The Wilderness Act

20 Aug
Caribou Pass, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

View of the Kongakut River Valley, looking south towards the Brooks Mountain Range over Caribou Pass at midnight

This weekend an interesting OpEd hit the New York Times titled Rethinking the Wild,  The Wilderness Act Is Facing a Midlife Crisis. If you haven’t read it I highly recommend you do, as you’ll hear much of this narrative in the coming months and years as various forces continue to try to chip away at it to weaken it if not undo it.

The Wilderness Act of 1964 did something amazing, it protected 9.1 million acres of federal land and now protects 109.5 million acres. This act oversees the protection of national parks, national forests, U.S. fish and wildlife services and the bureau of land management. What this piece of legislation defined as wilderness is such:

DEFINITION OF WILDERNESS 
(c) A wilderness, in contrast with those areas where man and his own works dominate the landscape, is hereby recognized as an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain. An area of wilderness is further defined to mean in this Act an area of undeveloped Federal land retaining its primeval character and influence, without permanent improvements or human habitation, which is protected and managed so as to preserve its natural conditions and which (1) generally appears to have been affected primarily by the forces of nature, with the imprint of man’s work substantially unnoticeable; (2) has outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation; (3) has at least five thousand acres of land or is of sufficient size as to make practicable its preservation and use in an unimpaired condition; and (4) may also contain ecological, geological, or other features of scientific, educational, scenic, or historical value.

The Rethinking the Wilderness Act OpEd” in short argues “we need to accept our role as reluctant gardeners.” Unfortunately this argument assumes that we have a full understanding of our environment and opens the doors to the organizations and people the act was put in place to protect the land from. Who will the “gardeners” be and what will their motivation be? Yes climate change is real, but it is also a very convenient excuse and lever for foes of the Wilderness act to weaken its strict protections.

The OpEd had one incredibly relevant quote that still holds true from Frank Egler:

“Ecosystems are not only more complex than we think, they are more complex than we can think.”

Humanity suffers from a good deal of well intentioned ignorance when it comes to our environment.  While we’ve made great strides technologically advancing our civilization, but we’ve done a very bad job managing and fully understanding the impact we make on our environment. Just because we can make changes, even well intentioned changes, it doesn’t mean that we fully understand environmental systems let alone the ramifications of counter efforts.   Case in point, as a teenager in the 80′s & 90′s they had signs up in Yosemite stating that Mirror Lake was drying up and was due to disappear in a decade or two. Now they know its a seasonal lake that ebbs and flows with snow melt. It’s a good thing they didn’t build a dam to try and preserve the lake.

Climate change certainly is happening, but nature is resilient. It will only remain resilient and in a wild state when left alone and protected as it has been, strictly as wilderness, free from natural resource hungry companies (oil, mineral, developers, etc.) To experience true wilderness you should make every effort to visit a U.S. National Wildlife Refuge. They’re not as easily accessible as National Parks, but you’ll quickly get an idea of how strictly these lands are protected. My favorite National Wildlife Refuge is the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (pictured above), but many smaller refuges are near major urban centers. If you’re a nature or wildlife enthusiast then pay close attention to up coming discussions on revising the Wilderness Act as what you know and love may be irrevocably changed.

Copyright Jim M. Goldstein, All Rights Reserved

Wilderness Protection – Only As Strong As The Wilderness Act

The post Wilderness Protection – Only As Strong As The Wilderness Act appeared first on JMG-Galleries – Landscape, Nature & Travel Photography.

        

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Wilderness Protection – Only As Strong As The Wilderness Act

07 Jul
Caribou Pass, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

View of the Kongakut River Valley, looking south towards the Brooks Mountain Range over Caribou Pass at midnight

This weekend an interesting OpEd hit the New York Times titled Rethinking the Wild,  The Wilderness Act Is Facing a Midlife Crisis. If you haven’t read it I highly recommend you do, as you’ll hear much of this narrative in the coming months and years as various forces continue to try to chip away at it to weaken it if not undo it.

The Wilderness Act of 1964 did something amazing, it protected 9.1 million acres of federal land and now protects 109.5 million acres. This act oversees the protection of national parks, national forests, U.S. fish and wildlife services and the bureau of land management. What this piece of legislation defined as wilderness is such:

DEFINITION OF WILDERNESS 
(c) A wilderness, in contrast with those areas where man and his own works dominate the landscape, is hereby recognized as an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain. An area of wilderness is further defined to mean in this Act an area of undeveloped Federal land retaining its primeval character and influence, without permanent improvements or human habitation, which is protected and managed so as to preserve its natural conditions and which (1) generally appears to have been affected primarily by the forces of nature, with the imprint of man’s work substantially unnoticeable; (2) has outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation; (3) has at least five thousand acres of land or is of sufficient size as to make practicable its preservation and use in an unimpaired condition; and (4) may also contain ecological, geological, or other features of scientific, educational, scenic, or historical value.

The Rethinking the Wilderness Act OpEd” in short argues “we need to accept our role as reluctant gardeners.” Unfortunately this argument assumes that we have a full understanding of our environment and opens the doors to the organizations and people the act was put in place to protect the land from. Who will the “gardeners” be and what will their motivation be? Yes climate change is real, but it is also a very convenient excuse and lever for foes of the Wilderness act to weak its strict protections.

The OpEd had one incredibly relevant quote that still holds true from Frank Egler:

“Ecosystems are not only more complex than we think, they are more complex than we can think.”

Humanity suffers from a good deal of well intentioned ignorance when it comes to our environment.  While we’ve made great strides technologically advancing our civilization, but we’ve done a very bad job managing and fully understanding the impact we make on our environment. Just because we can make changes, even well intentioned changes, it doesn’t mean that we fully understand environmental systems let alone the ramifications of counter efforts.   Case in point, as a teenager in the 80′s & 90′s they had signs up in Yosemite stating that Mirror Lake was drying up and was due to disappear in a decade or two. Now they know its a seasonal lake that ebbs and flows with snow melt. It’s a good thing they didn’t build a dam to try and preserve the lake.

Climate change certainly is happening, but nature is resilient. It will only remain resilient and in a wild state when left alone and protected as it has been, strictly as wilderness, free from natural resource hungry companies (oil, mineral, developers, etc.) To experience true wilderness you should make every effort to visit a U.S. National Wildlife Refuge. They’re not as easily accessible as National Parks, but you’ll quickly get an idea of how strictly these lands are protected. My favorite National Wildlife Refuge is the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (pictured above), but many smaller refuges are near major urban centers. If you’re a nature or wildlife enthusiast then pay close attention to up coming discussions on revising the Wilderness Act as what you know and love may be irrevocably changed.

Copyright Jim M. Goldstein, All Rights Reserved

Wilderness Protection – Only As Strong As The Wilderness Act

The post Wilderness Protection – Only As Strong As The Wilderness Act appeared first on JMG-Galleries – Landscape, Nature & Travel Photography.

       

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  • Exhibit & Book Not To Miss – Carleton Watkins: The Stanford Albums – Enclosure
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Phase One offers investment protection plan

30 Sep

Phase One has announced a guaranteed trade-in scheme for customers wishing to upgrade to newer products. Within 6 months of a new product being launched, existing customers can receive up to 90% of their original purchase price against digital backs and up to 50% against camera bodies and lenses.
News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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