Effectiveness of Basic Special Services as A Guideline for Programming Urban Nodes. Ariadne Thread Research

Abstract

Creation of the urban nodes is a widely studied issue. In the era of intensive development of cities, that are affected by an urban sprawl, as well as areas exposed to degradation not only through human activities (areas of military conflicts) but also through natural factors (earthquakes), it is necessary to develop mechanisms for creating urban nodes that would be applicable for various environments. In the author’s opinion, an important element in ensuring the safety of life in urbanized areas is the programming of urban nodes in a way, that make them create the security system. The research conducted by the author aims to diagnose the relationship between the needs of the inhabitants of a fragment of urban area and the concentration of functions at an important point of the program of the urban node and its architectural interpretation, with time fluctuations taken into account. The research discussed here is carried out within the ‘Ariadne Thread’ project, and is a new approach to urban node formation. The ‘Ariadne Thread’ is a pilot project whose first phase focuses on an attempt to integrate four major urban systems: signage, urban lighting, local telecommunication facilities, and security systems. Through the parameterization of the factors divided into categories, it will be possible to develop a mechanism of urban nodes’ creation. A flexible and universal mechanism, which - depending on the established parameters - will be applicable in slums, shandy towns as well as areas devastated by natural disasters. In this paper, author describes the principle of creating this mechanism by presenting one of the parameters adopted as a criterion and guideline for programming, namely the effectiveness of the primary services, such as emergency services, fire brigades and police. Through the series of surveys conducted among departments of special service units, confronted with data and guidelines contained in regulations for their functioning, the author obtained a pool of parameters which are the guideline for the programmed node, showing what territory the given operational base can serve, which is the basis for developing quantitative parameters for the designed node. The author also draws attention to the principle of functioning of the already existing node, in situations of events that exceed its effectiveness or require rapid intervention in emergency situations, such as terrorist attacks. This will affect the operation of the various units, where additional large units will be needed. It will be necessary to develop a network of urban node connections by developing mechanisms for linking them to airports, helicopter landing sites and important external entities.