Treatment Wetlands

Treatment wetlands are either constructed or naturally occurring wetlands that are used in the process of treating stormwater runoff and/or effluent. The representation of a treatment wetland requires elucidating the infrastructural system and active systems from the evolving and dynamic biological systems. The two systems (infrastructural and biological) can be categorized as static and dynamic respectively although both share many components. The models and illustrations will focus on this relationship between the two systems.

Framework

The framework will classify the types of wetlands, comparing and contrasting the varying infrastructural and biological systems. The framework will show how a treatment wetland is situated within a larger context. The focus will be on showing inputs/outputs and how they affect the treatment process.

This could be an animation or film component such as this animation created for the Heatherwick Expo 2010 Seed Cathedral by Squint Opera.

Another option may be to develop a tangible model or triptych that highlights the wetland types and compares their features.

Treatment Phases/Pollution Types

Process

The process will illustrate the interaction between water and the various constructed and biological infrastructures. Initially this will require finding a modeling or animation method that freezes the process. It is possible that the representation could be multiple layers of the process overlaid to illustrate changes within what is considered a constructed/static system.

Experience

Experience will illustrate the ambient quality of treatment wetland infrastructure. This will focus on the banal, illustrating the treatment wetland within the urban context, focusing on the micro/macro relationships and sensory qualities. This would be similar to the video work by Alec Crichton.

Experiential View Diagram



Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.