Coastal Science Public Exhibition

Transcription

1 Coastal Science Public Exhibition Shifting Foundation is a permanent public exhibition at the LSU Center for River Studies in Baton Rouge, LA that explores the land loss crisis facing coastal Louisiana and the work of the state to address it. The exhibit is installed within a new building constructed to house a 90 x 120 movingbed hydrodynamic physical model of the lower Mississippi River that will be used to test the ability of the river to build new land in its Delta. The exhibit consists of murals, display walls, information rails and tables, and a diorama. The exhibit is spread out over 5000 square feet, the bulk of which is concentrated in a 3000 square foot main exhibit hall. The title of the exhibit Shifting Foundation reflects three interrelated ideas: the highly compressible soils of the Delta upon which all settlement there is built; a call for a shift in our perception and attitude about how we relate to the landscape of Coastal Louisiana; an allusion to the new ecological regime brought about by sediment diversions - engineered structures being considered with the building s hydrodynamic model for their ability to harness the river s power to build and sustain land. Jacob served as lead content designer, project manager, and co-primary investigator working with the LSU Coastal Sustainability Studio for the State of Louisiana s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA). Shifting Foundation LSU COASTAL SUSTAINABILITY STUDIO Moving bed hydrodynamic physical model Model in operation, black synthetic sediment in river channels. Left: Ultrasonic sensor on model measuring water level. Main exhibit hall Shifting foundation exhibit in the Center for River Studies prior to opening. House lighting on. Exhibit includes wall panels, information rails, interactive displays, and a diorama.

2 Entry Front Desk Entry 1A Wall 1 Chairs 1B Artifact Existing Elevator Existing Closet Existing Stair Artifact Wall 2 Delta Model Line of Catwalk Above 4A 4B Bench Table Table Diorama Wall 6 Wall 4 3C Kiosk Kiosk 3B Kiosk 3A Kiosk Kiosk Kiosk Wall 3 Wall 5 Exhibition Table 2A 2B Bench 5A Display Couch Table Chairs Bench 5B A/V Area Content Wall Content Area 1 Introduction to the Delta Model Exhibit 1A) Building Threshold - Delta Model 1B) Lobby - Shifting Foundation Area 2 Coast in Crisis 2A) What s at Stake 2B) Challenges Area 3 Restoring Coastal Louisiana 3A) Restoration Projects and Techniques 3B) Coastal Science Kiosk Hall 3C) Project Implementation Process Area 4 Coastal Research Gallery 4A) Model View Workspace 4B) Poster Gallery Area 5 Library Alcove 5A) Library 5B) Sound and Moving Images Floor plan First floor plan of the Center for River Studies with main exhibit hall and auxiliary spaces (right) and hydrodynamic physical model (left). Model exhibit (Area 7) is located on a catwalk surrounding physical model on the second floor. Area 6 Delta Model Catwalk 6A) Model Dedication Wall 6B) Physical Modeling Processes 6C) Physical Modeling in Digital Age 6D) Studying the River Delta Area 7 Gathering Space for Delta Model Overview 7A) Conference / Meeting Space 1 7B) Conference / Meeting Space 2 Wall 1 Shifting Foundation Wall 2 Interrupted Delta Wall 3 Losing Ground Wall 4 Protection & Restoration Strategies Wall 5 Project Implementation Process Wall 6 CPRA Project Wall

3 Scale of the Problem Need for Action Tools and Techniques Land Building River Dynamic Environment Stabilization Consequences In-depth What s at Stake Science Table Kiosks Project Process Coastal Sector Amount of Work River Model Social story of living in the Delta Scientific story of dynamic environent Main exhibit hall A rendered view of the main exhibit hall showing a wall outlining the restoration and protection techniques in use by the State (left), a wall addressing project implementation process (right), a map of Coastal Louisiana that marks all projects completed by the State to date (center), and a collection of in-depth topical coastal science kiosks (unbuilt to date).

4 Exhibit lobby: Shifting Foundation A sculptural mural depicting surface land use and subsurface geology of the Delta from the Gulf of Mexico to Baton Rouge. Its purpose is to emphasize that everyone in Coastal Louisiana has a stake in the Delta s restoration.

5 1 2 3 Exhibit lobby: Shifting Foundation 1) Photograph of installed Shifting Foundation mural during daytime with house lights on. 2) Detail of installed mural. Relief in routed high density foam, painted. 3) Elevation detail. Light areas around rivers indicate sand deposits and natural levee, darker browns are finer deposits. Black bands indicated organic matter and formerly exposed surfaces. Color bands show extent of previous deltaic deposits (delta lobes), each tied to time periods where the river ran in different courses.

6 2 1 3 Main hall: Interrupted Delta Wall exploring the management of the Mississippi River. 1) Lead map image depicting the area of the continent draining to the Delta. Shades of brown indicate sediment-availability (USGS model data) drawing a link between watershed and the land building process. 2) Dynamic delta system panel exploring how the river shifted course and built different areas of the Delta over time. 3) The Interrupted delta wall and information rails installed.

7 Main hall: Interrupted Delta 1) Stabilizing the river panel exploring how the levee system enabled development in the Delta. 2) Unintended effects panel showing land loss and community vulnerability to storm surge. 3) Information rail under Stabilizing the river panel (1) showing history of flood control in the Delta and how it enables development. 4) Information rail for Unintended effects panel describing the many factors contributing to land loss. 2 3

8 Main hall: Losing Ground Exhibit wall exploring the impact of wetland loss on Coastal Louisiana. Large photo collage compresses gradual landscape change to make land loss visible and emphasizes the vulnerability this brings to settlement.

9 Main hall: Losing Ground 1) Losing ground wall installed, house lights on, with daylight. 2) Disappearing wetlands panel installed with information rail and interactive touch screen panel. 3) Losing ground lead graphic detail showing vulnerable settlements. Green indicates land projected to be built by the river over the next 50 years while red indicates areas predicted to be lost if nothing further is done. 4) Disappearing wetlands information rail exploring what is put at risk by land loss. 5) Rail detail emphasizing that the issues facing the Delta are relational and require consideration from social, economic, and environmental perspectives.

10 Main hall: Managing Change This wall explores the management of the river and the available techniques for restoring and protecting the Delta. 1) Managing change map showing all existing and proposed river diversion infrastructure. 2) Map detail with river diversions indicated with blue arrows. Yellow indicates settlement, dendritic pattern show drainage paths, many cut off from the river by levees. 3) Systems approach panel explores when and how different restoration and protection techniques are used and underscores their formation of a comprehensive systems for managing the coastal environment. 4) Panel detail showing the basic relationship of a river diversion to a delta. 2

11 Main hall: Managing Change Managing change wall and rails installed. Brushed metal used on raised titles and rail surface. House lighting. 2) Rail for the Systems approach panel describes each of the restoration techniques employed by the State. 3) Rail detail showing freshwater and sediment river diversion content sections. 4) Rail detail emphasizing the overall strategy of the State to reconnect the Mississippi river to its delta.

12 1 2 3 Main hall: Creating Solutions Wall describing the implementation process State projects follow and who is involved. 1) Creating solutions wall lead graphic outlining the project implementation process using a river diversion and a marsh creation project as example. This pairing emphasizes the need to combine the river s ability to build and sustain land with active technique of pumping sand in place. 2) Build panel showing an active barrier island restoration scene. Project steps associated with design and construction are outlined.

13 Main hall: Creating Solutions 1) Creating solutions wall and rail installed. Stairs leading up to the catwalk exhibit visible behind. 2) Innovate panel showes a view of Baton Rouge and a description of the project planning process. Center for river studies building shown in foreground above Outreach and engagement text (white roof). 3) Sustain panel showing a planting event and describing the post-construction life of projects. 4) Rail for Innovate panel providing additional details on the planning process employed by the State. 5) Rail under the Build panel with additional details about the design and construction process. Community engagement opportunities are outlines at each step of the project implementation process.

14 Main hall: Project wall Large map of Coastal Louisiana showing all projects built by the State since the restoration and protection master plan process began post-hurricane Katrina. Numbered and color coded pins show project locations, new ones added as projects are implemented.

15 1 2 3 Curved background image wall Shelf brushed aluminum w/graphic treatment Steel rail Diorama elements Brushed aluminum frame Main hall: Project wall 1) Project wall installed. Screen displays rotating images of implemented projects. 2) Detail of project pins as installed. 3) Diorama as installed. Design development and implementation by sub-contractor. 4) Diorama as designed by project team. 4

16 1 2 Model catwalk: Mississippi River Model 1) Wall introducing the 90 x 120 physical hydrodynamic model. The map is the model s coverage area and includes a mechanical diagram of its water flow regulation system and sensors. 2) Key map showing location of the elements in the catwalk area exhibit.

17 Model catwalk: Mississippi River Model 1) Welcome information rail with orientation map and interactive screen. 2) Model in Action information rail overlooking the model as installed. Printed brushed metal finish. 3) Content layout of the Model in action rail. Data viewer screen gives access to real-time data from the model such as flow rate. water level, and number of years simulated. Model viewer screen provides close up video of the model. 4) Model features information rail explains how river diversions are modeled. Modeling diversions interactive viewer displays which diversions are being modeled and connects their location on the model to their actual location on the coast. 5) Story board for the Modeling diversions interactive viewer.