''PLANTER'': Micro Climate into a Philippine Jeepney

High-density urban areas are facing long term loss of biodiversity that threaten ecosystem functioning and consequently, human well-being. Solutions are often nearsighted. Unnecessary loss and wastage of human, cultural and natural resources have also been a norm due to the influence of "want not need" as paradigm. Specific transport systems in use are energy intensive and carbon emitter.

My team will recreate a multi functional Mobile Urban micro climatic food forest Automobile cum art space that mitigates negative side-effects of urbanization. The proponent will explore ideas on historical-ecological approach using in situ ecotechnology for a regenerative living, attempt zero carbon artistic piece coined as "Planter" with Philippine transport vehicle called Jeepney as icon of reference.

Among the environmental issues are summer heat stresses caused by urban heat island effect as well as storm water related flooding both exacerbated by climate change. They encompass the negative physiological and psychological effects associated with a scarcity of appropriable open space and a general nature deficit, as well as concrete health issues related to excess noise and the intake of pollutants. The long term loss of biodiversity can threaten ecosystem functioning and consequently, human well-being.

Current transportation systems in use are energy intensive and carbon emitter.

Elevated temperatures particularly during the summer, can affect a community’s environment and quality of life like increased energy use and impaired water quality. 

High levels of urban density, industrial activity, and mobility have also local consequences such as soil sealing and contamination, the reduction of green and open spaces, noise and air pollution and associated effects such as loss of habitats.   Anthropocentric solutions often resulted to unnecessary loss and wastage of human, cultural and natural resources due to the cultural norm and influence of "want not need" as paradigm.

Both urban and rural population globally with degraded biodiversity and natural ecosystem will benefit the Planter vehicle. Particular beneficiaries are the riding public exposed in the hazards of the traffic environment.

It will attempt to contrapose a paradoxical spectacle for humanity to digest. 

Installed graphic neon light poetry provide photosynthetic exposition thru the use of grow lights. The process is critically beautiful and life giving yet still, will reward us with the extra ordinary beauty and mesmerizing synthetic urban aesthetic after sunset.

Planter will be a pioneering model transportation vehicle using ecotechnology. Micro agroforest will facilitate self regulating microclimate then provides habitat for all sorts of useful insects and birds as mobile green space. It will maximize soil and plant as internal carbon sequestration system. Even reduce noise pollution.  

It will contrapose an art spectacle of paradox that will engage millions in scientific, technological and academic communities into discussions and debates on how the circular economy, whole systems design and ecotechnology is reflected in the transportation sector. 

Planter will stir public aesthetic sensibility towards the need to collect and preserve common scraps objects into valued art pieces, the concept of Re-Art.

Our solution is to contrapose an anthropocentric spectacle and paradox using a degenerative diesel powered Philippine popular public transport icon, the Jeepney. Using in situ ecotechnology, upcyle scrapped diesel powered Jeepney and other scraps such as plastics as Closed Loop Living Green Mobile ART Space.

Solutions:

(1) Install diesel powered mobile jeepney as work of art cum green space at unconventional and unexpected locations to stir public debate about nature, environment and urbanization and as demonstrator to generate novel understanding of benefits in biodiversity regeneration through direct intervention. (2) Serve as a moving art vehicle and exhibition space. (3) Watering hole and education space for both human and nature. (4) Prototype as pioneering automobile with self sustaining plant ecosystem. (5) Sponsor tours to national and international urban and rural sites for long term sustainable activity.  (5) Empower marginal communities thru cash for scraps program as source of reusable waste materials.

Here;

...the proponent will explore ideas on historical-ecological approach based on the artist’s subjective interaction and judgment on elements and contradictions of human activity in recent geological time and space hence anthropocene’s paradox. This will be an attempt for a regenerative living, zero carbon artistic piece coined as ReArt with Philippine Jeepney as icon of reference. This will redefine transportation making that consider microclimate as essential if not primary factor. Imagine thousands of circular living micro food vehicle delivering relief and rehabilitation efforts into an isolated desert. A de facto automobile food forest. This will also attempt to contrapose a paradoxical human spectacle in the form graphic neon light poetry but with a regenerative photosynthetic exposition thru the use of grow lights. The process is critically beautiful and life giving throughout the day yet still, will reward us with the extra ordinary beauty and mesmerizing effect albeit a synthetic urban aesthetic after sunset. The artist will also explore a spectacle of zero waste and regenerative act thru the use of activated charcoal as diesel emission filtration device, Terra Preta SBR and organic toilet as closed loop experiential jeepney micro climate and food forest system.

I applied "in situ EcoTechnology" in this project; utilizing locally available and recyclable materials while causing minimal ecological disruption, by harnessing and manipulating natural forces to leverage their beneficial effects. Upcycling of diesel powered vehicle (hence seeming paradox) is accessible, cost efficient and use less carbon footprint than buying full solar vehicle from abroad.

Specific technologies are; (1) Soil as carbon capturing mechanism for bioregenerative filtration (Soil Bed Reactor) and microclimate planting substrate. (2) Soil Bed Reactor as main filtration system for the diesel exhaust gas emission. Terra Preta will be the main medium for microbial and consequent destruction of trace gases . Planned space for mushroom is also a must to facilitate mycorrhizal colonization . (4) The jeepney uses activated charcoal to control carbon dioxide and other emissions. Modified chamber is made to trap and store carbon dioxide. (5) Vertical urban gardening with Organic Comfort Room to facilitate urine nitrogen and humanure compost harvester.

Benefits of green infrastructure have been well documented including climate change mitigation, economic growth and investment, land regeneration, wildlife and habitat improvements, more resilient communities and increased health and well-being (Forest Research, 2010). Recent studies (Watts and Pheasant, 2015) have demonstrated that the tranquillity construct is essentially composed of two components i.e. pleasantness and calmness. It has been found that most people prefer natural soundscapes to man-made sounds and green environments to built environments (Lam et al., 2007).

Terra Preta SBR will reduce costs of filters for existing diesel emissions. Electric vehicles will likewise benefit as a carbon sink vehicle and oxgen generator. Microclimate systems and shades from plants are  free cooling system. Thru the use of grow lights, we will create a life giving artificial light yet still, will reward us with critical, extra ordinary beauty and mesmerizing effect albeit a synthetic urban aesthetic after sunset. Circular, in situ ecotechnology will solve unnecessary waste  of energy and resources necessary for recycling. Culture of upcyling via Re Art will be a norm in the future.

Inspirations:

-Green Living Room by Turas Stuttgart, Germany;
-Carbon Dioxide Reduction in Diesel Powered Generator using Modified Charcoal http://www.ijrdet.com/files/Vo...

1. 20

2. 5000-10,000

3. 100-1000 actual visitors a day. Minimum 180,000 actual visits in five years.

4. Millions in social media campaigns.

1. Tour the jeepney in major urban cities in the Philippines.

2. Tour the jeepney in a major American city and other urban and artistic sites worldwide.

3. Build upcycled micro climate transport vehicles around the world for artistic, humanitarian, environmental and cultural intent.

1. Financial and technical barrier primarily.

2. Legal barrier as to how to transport and operate a "decrepit vehicle'' according to existing rules and regulations.

3. Our Intellectual Property Rights recognition as novel and pioneering entity being a participant in an open for public challenge.

1. By deligently pursuing my solution and particular proposal.

2. Build technical and financial hybrid (for profit and non profit) organisation based on partnerships and grants.

3. Maximise hyperbolic value adding advantage of art making to generate ample funding to build production infrastructure and network.

4. Seek MIT support on Intellectual Property as a community driven by a shared purpose: to make a better world through education, research, and innovation. As an institution committed to generating, disseminating, and preserving knowledge, and to working with others to bring this knowledge to bear on the world’s great challenges.

Full time of 5. And 10 part time contractors.

I am an entrepreneur, permaculture designer and a reluctant artist now inspired thru regenerative Art. We have an automotive professor, agriculturist, Earth citizen scientist and mycologist, a fabrication specialist, IT expert bee keeper and also art curator in our team.

Acqua Terra Myco Group (AMAG) is a partnership between my company PEXstortech Enterprise and Silangan Mushroom. 

Greenheart Ph. is a start up environmental advocacy and social enterprise doing a agro-eco circular business practice.

1. Upcyling and up valuing discarded materials thru artistic intervention. We will maximise higher value adding advantage of art making to generate ample seed fund.

2. Partnership with for profit and non profit organizations to create economy of scale and network. Currently, my prototype is being funded by National Commission for Culture and Art (the primary policy making body, coordinating, and grants giving agency for the preservation, development and promotion of Philippine arts and culture) as my first one man show. 

3. Pitching to the art community, technical community like MIT and the transport automobile industry and philanthropic organizations that support the principle of circular economy are essential partners in this project.

3. The regenerative farming, agro ecology and permaculture crowds that espouses fair share are also welcome partners in a volunteering and for profit endeavor.

1. The jeepney project is currently under a grant program with National Commission of Culture and the Arts. The primary arts and culture support of institution of the Philippines.

2. Tours and grants will further support financially.

3. Seed funding through art making or actual prototype vehicle for fleet production.

3. Second stage is sales pitching, concrete PO placements and setting up  production facility based on actual purchase order will be organised. 

We are in a third world country where finance and technical expertise hard to generate. 

If my solution get selected;

1. I will have additional funding to further develop and construct my art project.

2. I will have access to engineering and technical scientific community. We need also better mechanical solutions on our project. 

3. International exposure particularly MIT influence will give more sunshine on our advocacy. 

Regenerative and circular economy education, artistic community and crowd support.

1. MIT for fine tuning internal technologies and AI machine learning

2. Modern Art and US Museums as hosts for artistic spectacles.

3. Circular economic proponents in the technology, automobile and philanthropic business for seed funding resources. 

1. If given the AI prize, we will utilize AI based on 10 ways Machine Learning intervention can save the planet (MIT Technology Review June 20, 2019). Planter jepney is a micro ecosystem that have electricity and energy system requirements, it does have micro garden and Terra Preta Soil Bed Reactor as filter system where possible machine-learning intervention will be needed. 

2. Later on, AI will be a crucial solution on building and operationalisation  of many automobile agroforest groups.

Engine upgrade and motor vehicle science will be a big support. Upcycling a microclimate GMC bus will be great.