Mannahatta2409.org Launches
After nearly three years, Mannahatta2409.org (version 1) launches today. The site offers the public a novel platform to explore and model the environmental impacts and benefits that different ecosystems, lifestyle choices, and climate scenarios have on the urban fabric of Manhattan. Students, teachers, urban planners, and the general public are invited to create and share their visions for a more sustainable future of the city. Drawing on Eric W. Sanderson’s Mannahatta and Terra Nova projects, Mannahatta2409.org allows anyone with an internet connection to visit the site, pick an area of Manhattan, and paint different ecosystems onto the map. The effects of these changes are calculated instantly and compared against the environmental performance of the same area four hundred years ago and in the contemporary city, giving everyday citizens access to the data and modeling tools needed to make informed decisions about the city’s future. Users are encouraged to share and collaborate on visions in hopes that collectively, we can identify novel approaches to solving the environmental issues that New York City faces.
We would like to extend our appreciation to the countless individuals and institutions that have provided their expertise and feedback during development. It is through this ongoing support that we will continue to refine and expand the site, making it even easier for the average citizen to develop a more active role in planning the future of New York City.
Mannahatta2409.org to participate in the MacArthur Foundation’s HIVE program
This spring, Eric W. Sanderson and Mannahatta2409.org will participate in the MacArthur Foundation’s HIVE program, teaching a cohort of 20 high school students how to use new media and technology to transform environmental advocacy. The HIVE program will also engage students at the Queens Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo, and Central Park Zoo, joining the efforts of other program participants such as the New York Hall of Science, New York Public Libraries, and the New School.
