New York -- before the City | Eric Sanderson

TL;DR

Follow the journey of a scientist as he uses historical maps and modern technology to recreate the ecological landscape of 17th century Manhattan, and advocates for sustainable cities of the future.

Transcript

The substance of things unseen. Cities, past and future. In Oxford, perhaps we can use Lewis Carroll and look in the looking glass that is New York City to try and see our true selves, or perhaps pass through to another world. Or, in the words of F. Scott Fitzgerald, "As the moon rose higher, the inessential houses began to melt away until graduall... Read More

Key Insights

• 🗺️ The Mannahatta Project aims to rediscover the lost world of New York City as it was in the 1600s, using historical maps and ecological data.
• 🌍 New York City was once a diverse and resilient landscape, with 55 different ecosystem types and an extraordinary biodiversity.
• 🏞️ The project creates "Muir Webs" to map the habitat relationships of plants and animals, revealing the interconnectedness of the ecological landscape.
• 🏙️ The visualization of 400-year-old landscapes can help us understand how cities are interconnected with nature and inspire sustainable urban planning in the future.
• 📚 The project emphasizes the importance of acknowledging both the historical and ecological aspects of cities, and finding a balance between meaning and basic human needs.
• 🚗 The envisioning of a future city includes car-free areas, green roofs, streams, and windmills, with a focus on sustainable living and preserving natural habitats.
• 🌱 Expanding farmland and wetlands within the city can support a denser population while maintaining the diversity and sustainability of the urban landscape.
• 🌍 The future city should learn from and integrate the sustainability of nature, preserving original ecosystems and their interconnectedness, just as Manhattan did in the past.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the speaker recreate the ecological landscape of 17th century Manhattan?

The speaker used a combination of historical maps, georeferencing technology, and data on geology, soils, and species habitat needs to recreate the ecological landscape of 17th century Manhattan. This allowed them to visualize the different ecosystems, streams, and habitats that existed at that time.

Q: What is the significance of the Muir Web in understanding the ecological landscape?

The Muir Web, named after naturalist John Muir, is a network of habitat relationships between various species and their ecosystem needs. By visualizing this network, scientists can understand the interconnectedness of different species and how they rely on specific habitats for their survival. This helps in understanding the resilience and functionality of natural ecosystems.

Q: How does the speaker envision the future of cities?

The speaker believes that future cities should prioritize sustainability and provide essential resources for their inhabitants. He envisions cities with green spaces, renewable energy sources like windmills, and a focus on preserving farmland and wetlands. This vision aims to create cities that mimic the diversity and dynamism of places like Manhattan while learning from the sustainability of the past ecosystems.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker, a scientist, stumbled upon an old map of 18th century New York City and became fascinated with the idea of recreating the ecological landscape of the past.

• By georeferencing the historical map and combining it with other data such as geology and soil information, the speaker and his team were able to visualize the different ecosystems, streams, and habitats that existed in Manhattan 400 years ago.

• They then expanded their study to include the habitat relationships of various species, creating a network of ecological connections, and used this data to envision a sustainable future for cities.