A COMMON TRANSECT

A common transect has a simple expansion of the typical section cut technique. In a natural condition this slices through a number of ecosystems. The definition from the CATS site gives a quick idea of the concept of transect which borrows from the ecological concept: "A transect is a cut or path through part of the environment showing a range of different habitats. Biologists and ecologists use transects to study the many symbiotic elements that contribute to habitats where certain plants and animals thrive. Human beings also thrive in different habitats. Some people prefer urban centers and would suffer in a rural place, while others thrive in the rural or sub-urban zones. Before the automobile, American development patterns were walkable, and transects within towns and city neighborhoods revealed areas that were less urban and more urban in character. This urbanism could be analyzed as natural transects are analyzed." (from LANDSCAPE+URBANISM)

This article is very interesting so I can recomend reading it on Representing Transects

but the comments to the post is starting a good discussion to;

michelle said...

Great Post. I have always been attracted to the simplicity of the transect and its ability to convey a lot of information, albeit general, in a graphically pleasing way. Applying the transect to the urban growth boundary is a tricky, but I think doable task.

There is a bit of a disconnect between the UGB line on the map and the resulting landscape. The development takes time to catch up with planning. I was driving through Damascus the other day the the farms gave way quickly to the dense neighborhoods. Between those were the remnants of the 3-5 acre rural lots. It was all in all a spotty, hard to comprehend landscape. It would make for an interesting looking transect. What I see happening more and more is the urban growth boundary is not a circle but more of a blob with arms. It would be interesting to see what a transect looks like that starts in the UGB travels through the rural area and reenters the UGB in another arm.

Thanks for the collection of info.

Michelle, December 30, 2009 1:24 PM

ABDaigle said...

Michelle, I have been thinking about your post, because the application of the Transect to walkable urbanism intends just that - the wave-like action of urban separated by rural (although each "urban" area has its own characteristics and level of urbanism, from hamlet to village to city to regional center).
The primary point is that each "increment" of urbanism must be, at minimum, an approximate 1/4 mile" pedestrian shed" to make it truly sustainable (i.e., meaning most daily needs are within walking distance and rich with a diversity of living, working and shopping opportunities).
This assumes the largest lots are primarily on the neighborhood edge as a transition from urban to rural, adjacent preferably to rural agriculture, and that a mix of ag and preserved "wilderness" likewise separate communities.
This concept can be valid in a number of urban settings, from small town neighborhoods to highly urban areas.
While with PlaceMakers, we designed a community of eight hamlets and saved the majority of land between each one as natural landscape. (The original plan had been to fully develop in sprawl mode the entire land area.) The Waters is outside Montgomery, AL, and hamlet one is well underway. Here is a link to the Master Plan:
http://www.thewatersal.com/WatersMasterPlan.pdf
It is a good example of how one can plan complete neighborhoods, maintain a small town feel while building compactly to ensure walkability, and conserve land. There are many design tools to accomplish similar effects in more urban areas, from conservation easements to urban agriculture to regional parks and greenways.
I love Germany, where the urban edge ends abruptly and agriculture or forests take over. (Large suburban size lots are almost nonexistent there, where efficiency seems to trump other considerations and public shared space is well-designed and abundant.)

Ann Daigle, Community Design & Plan Strategy, March 3, 2010 1:08 PM