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Research: Visualization & Emerging Technologies

Halfmoon Township Urban Village Redevelopment Proposal

Funding Agency: RGIS, Centre Region Council of Governments
Project Dates: Summer 2004
Primary Researcher: Leah Wasser

Description

Overall Aerial (seen below) beforeThe Land Analysis Lab is assisting the Centre Region COG with visualizing development alternatives in the region. The proposal in this project, is a rezoning of existing agricultural lands to dense, mixed use and residential development. This project is unique in that the developer is interested in maintaining the "Urban Village" character of the area in it's development plans.

The proposal features mixed us, Urban Village style development along the main roadentering the Village, and more spread out residential development further back along the parcel. Other features include a walking path, a natural meadow and a play area.

Technology

Halfmoon township urban village proposal - aerial view.This project utilized a combination of 3d Nature's Visual Nature Studio 2.0 and ArcGIS 8 to create photo realistic renderings of this potential development. The images to the left show the Whitehall Road site as it is today, and with 3 potential R4 Development scenarios:

The Technology    

Click on the images below to view enlargements. Hold your mouse over each image to learn more about it.

 

Existing site - view towards proposed gazebo / green space.Gazebo / Open LawnView of the gazebo during a winter storm

Before (left) and after (right) view towards the main lawn and the gazebo

Existing site - view towards houtz lane.View From Houtz Lane Looking towards the new Development

View towards Houtz lane during a snow stormView towards Houtz lane - the calm after the storm.

View from Houtz Lane looking into the proposed development. The green leaves on the trees create an almost surreal contrast to moon-lit snow.

Existing site - view towards poposed access roads into the new Urban Village.View towards proposed access roads in Urban Village design.

Proposed side access road from Route 550 into the new development. Walkable street design includes street trees, broad sidewalks and wide grassy medians separating the road from pedestrian traffic.

Existing site, view towards proposed playground area.Playground Detail - Girl Playing Soccer. Figures created using Poser 4.0.

Detail shot of proposed soccer field and play ground. Girl playing soccer was created using Curious Labs Poser 4.0, exported as a 3ds file and imported into VNS. Other objects in the playground are 3ds (3d studio max) files imported into Visual Nature Studio. Proposed design also includes a baseball field and an extensive network of walking trails.

Existing Wetland Areas OnsiteWetlands & walking path

Existing wetland areas can be emphasized through public interpretive trainings meandering through the development.

Atmospheric effects were used to create a foggy effect in this wetland view.Wetlands Detail with Birdhouse

Above left: Experimentation with atmospheric settings in VNS. Above right: detail of existing wetlands on the site.

Existing site - view towards the gazebo lawn.Main Lawn leading up to gazebo

View up the main lawn towards the gazebo.