if we were to be completely logical about the places where we choose to live
about the places where we choose to live
about the places where we choose to live and found our cities we really wouldn’t
and found our cities we really wouldn’t
and found our cities we really wouldn’t live anywhere near the places we call
live anywhere near the places we call
live anywhere near the places we call home today I mean who in their right
home today I mean who in their right
home today I mean who in their right mind would found one of the world’s most
mind would found one of the world’s most
mind would found one of the world’s most prolific tech capitals in a place
prolific tech capitals in a place
prolific tech capitals in a place riddled by seismic faults like San
riddled by seismic faults like San
riddled by seismic faults like San Francisco or for that matter who would
Francisco or for that matter who would
Francisco or for that matter who would build a metropolis of over 22 million
build a metropolis of over 22 million
build a metropolis of over 22 million people on a lake on a body of water and
people on a lake on a body of water and
people on a lake on a body of water and we’re actually no better we’ve chosen to
we’re actually no better we’ve chosen to
we’re actually no better we’ve chosen to live in a place that’s riddled or at
live in a place that’s riddled or at
live in a place that’s riddled or at least threatened by tropical storms five
least threatened by tropical storms five
least threatened by tropical storms five months out of every twelve every year we
months out of every twelve every year we
months out of every twelve every year we call this home as the bramble of storm
call this home as the bramble of storm
call this home as the bramble of storm tracks that you see here these are all
tracks that you see here these are all
tracks that you see here these are all the winds over 75 miles an hour that
the winds over 75 miles an hour that
the winds over 75 miles an hour that have hit Florida in the last 100 years I
was born and raised in Puerto Rico on
was born and raised in Puerto Rico on the south coast and when I was a kid I
the south coast and when I was a kid I
the south coast and when I was a kid I used to think that the mounds in the
used to think that the mounds in the
used to think that the mounds in the distance were sleeping giants they would
distance were sleeping giants they would
distance were sleeping giants they would leap out in any moment from their sleep
leap out in any moment from their sleep
leap out in any moment from their sleep and we used to ride horses and make our
and we used to ride horses and make our
and we used to ride horses and make our own slingshots and actually I remember
own slingshots and actually I remember
own slingshots and actually I remember one time when we put a Manitou fit a
one time when we put a Manitou fit a
one time when we put a Manitou fit a baby calf in the backseat of my father’s
baby calf in the backseat of my father’s
baby calf in the backseat of my father’s VW Beetle and drive it around the farm
VW Beetle and drive it around the farm
VW Beetle and drive it around the farm so I’ll give you a moment to think about
so I’ll give you a moment to think about
so I’ll give you a moment to think about that image for a second it really is
that image for a second it really is
that image for a second it really is amazing that we survived from Puerto
amazing that we survived from Puerto
amazing that we survived from Puerto Rico we moved to Venezuela and spent
Rico we moved to Venezuela and spent
Rico we moved to Venezuela and spent some amazing years there and then it was
some amazing years there and then it was
some amazing years there and then it was time to move again first to Texas then
time to move again first to Texas then
time to move again first to Texas then to Colorado then to Virginia my folks
to Colorado then to Virginia my folks
to Colorado then to Virginia my folks finally settled there and then I went on
finally settled there and then I went on
finally settled there and then I went on to study my undergrad in engineering and
to study my undergrad in engineering and
to study my undergrad in engineering and once I graduated I became a u.s. naval
once I graduated I became a u.s. naval
once I graduated I became a u.s. naval officer and I had a chance to sail the
officer and I had a chance to sail the
officer and I had a chance to sail the Atlantic the Persian Gulf in Southeast
Atlantic the Persian Gulf in Southeast
Atlantic the Persian Gulf in Southeast Asia I lived in Japan for three years is
Asia I lived in Japan for three years is
Asia I lived in Japan for three years is the last of three three the last three
the last of three three the last three
the last of three three the last three years of those four and I learned a lot
years of those four and I learned a lot
years of those four and I learned a lot during those those years really was
during those those years really was
during those those years really was about a profound respect for the natural
about a profound respect for the natural
about a profound respect for the natural world for the ocean and for the
world for the ocean and for the
world for the ocean and for the diversity of the world’s landscapes so
diversity of the world’s landscapes so
diversity of the world’s landscapes so when I look we fast forward today my
when I look we fast forward today my
when I look we fast forward today my professional arc has taken me from
professional arc has taken me from
professional arc has taken me from engineering to landscape architecture
engineering to landscape architecture
engineering to landscape architecture it’s allowed me to design and build
it’s allowed me to design and build
it’s allowed me to design and build places like this where
places like this where
places like this where art and environment come together and
art and environment come together and
art and environment come together and nature’s give it a place a place that
nature’s give it a place a place that
nature’s give it a place a place that allows for us to transform the places
allows for us to transform the places
allows for us to transform the places where we have where we work where we
where we have where we work where we
where we have where we work where we come together it makes them feel much
come together it makes them feel much
come together it makes them feel much more complete and it kind of respects or
more complete and it kind of respects or
more complete and it kind of respects or brings in the irrepressible qualities of
brings in the irrepressible qualities of
brings in the irrepressible qualities of our natural world ultimately I believe I
our natural world ultimately I believe I
our natural world ultimately I believe I have great hope that when we combine our
have great hope that when we combine our
have great hope that when we combine our fundamental legacy as problem-solving
fundamental legacy as problem-solving
fundamental legacy as problem-solving human beings with our creativity and our
human beings with our creativity and our
human beings with our creativity and our desire for innate beauty I think that’s
desire for innate beauty I think that’s
desire for innate beauty I think that’s a really powerful mix and so people have
a really powerful mix and so people have
a really powerful mix and so people have done this beautifully before this is
done this beautifully before this is
done this beautifully before this is alexander von humboldt whom geez you
alexander von humboldt whom geez you
alexander von humboldt whom geez you just heard about and when done right
just heard about and when done right
just heard about and when done right science can be this beautiful thing that
science can be this beautiful thing that
science can be this beautiful thing that explains our natural world and actually
explains our natural world and actually
explains our natural world and actually it’s it’s remarkable because if you
it’s it’s remarkable because if you
it’s it’s remarkable because if you think about it a couple hundred years
think about it a couple hundred years
think about it a couple hundred years ago we relied on stories we relied on
ago we relied on stories we relied on
ago we relied on stories we relied on poems we relied on prints and paintings
poems we relied on prints and paintings
poems we relied on prints and paintings to explain the natural world and that
to explain the natural world and that
to explain the natural world and that was enough that was enough to propel you
was enough that was enough to propel you
was enough that was enough to propel you know empires to bet their fortunes and
know empires to bet their fortunes and
know empires to bet their fortunes and seeking new frontiers in this new age of
seeking new frontiers in this new age of
seeking new frontiers in this new age of exploration of the natural world
exploration of the natural world
exploration of the natural world and so today it’s a little bit different
and so today it’s a little bit different
and so today it’s a little bit different but we have access to amazing amounts of
but we have access to amazing amounts of
but we have access to amazing amounts of information it seems like dozens if not
information it seems like dozens if not
information it seems like dozens if not hundreds of books and websites and
hundreds of books and websites and
hundreds of books and websites and documentaries get published every year
documentaries get published every year
documentaries get published every year and so you’d think that this remarkable
and so you’d think that this remarkable
and so you’d think that this remarkable amount of information coupled with our
amount of information coupled with our
amount of information coupled with our technological prowess would somehow have
technological prowess would somehow have
technological prowess would somehow have solved all these global and
solved all these global and
solved all these global and environmental issues that that continue
environmental issues that that continue
environmental issues that that continue to plague us and so when you think about
to plague us and so when you think about
to plague us and so when you think about that it’s not that all this technology
that it’s not that all this technology
that it’s not that all this technology has been applied to get us closer to the
has been applied to get us closer to the
has been applied to get us closer to the natural well in a way it’s kind of
natural well in a way it’s kind of
natural well in a way it’s kind of gotten us a little bit farther from it
gotten us a little bit farther from it
gotten us a little bit farther from it and out of sight has become out of mind
and out of sight has become out of mind
and out of sight has become out of mind and so when you think about the fact
and so when you think about the fact
and so when you think about the fact that over half the world lives in cities
that over half the world lives in cities
that over half the world lives in cities today and much of it in this tropical
today and much of it in this tropical
today and much of it in this tropical and subtropical band where 3 billion
and subtropical band where 3 billion
and subtropical band where 3 billion people live today and that projections
people live today and that projections
people live today and that projections expected to rise to 6 or 7 billion by
expected to rise to 6 or 7 billion by
expected to rise to 6 or 7 billion by 2100 I mean we’ve seen in the last year
2100 I mean we’ve seen in the last year
2100 I mean we’ve seen in the last year how we’ve
how we’ve
how we’ve battled with natural disasters of all
battled with natural disasters of all
battled with natural disasters of all kinds it’s equally true that there’s an
kinds it’s equally true that there’s an
kinds it’s equally true that there’s an environmental crisis as much as there is
environmental crisis as much as there is
environmental crisis as much as there is a crisis of communication about these
a crisis of communication about these
a crisis of communication about these things and more precisely a crisis of
things and more precisely a crisis of
things and more precisely a crisis of visualization at a time when ironically
visualization at a time when ironically
visualization at a time when ironically we consider ourselves a visual culture
we consider ourselves a visual culture
we consider ourselves a visual culture and so for the last decade I’ve been
and so for the last decade I’ve been
and so for the last decade I’ve been working on the ecological atlas which is
working on the ecological atlas which is
working on the ecological atlas which is a visualization model a tool that tries
a visualization model a tool that tries
a visualization model a tool that tries to understand the patterns and the
to understand the patterns and the
to understand the patterns and the seasons and the logic of the natural
seasons and the logic of the natural
seasons and the logic of the natural world a tool that tries to bring
world a tool that tries to bring
world a tool that tries to bring together this formidable combination of
together this formidable combination of
together this formidable combination of art and science and technology together
art and science and technology together
art and science and technology together to help us understand what’s around us
to help us understand what’s around us
to help us understand what’s around us to most people the natural world is a
to most people the natural world is a
to most people the natural world is a mystery you see this confounding amount
mystery you see this confounding amount
mystery you see this confounding amount of you know information that is a little
of you know information that is a little
of you know information that is a little off-putting and overwhelming and trust
off-putting and overwhelming and trust
off-putting and overwhelming and trust me I’m a landscape architect I know this
me I’m a landscape architect I know this
me I’m a landscape architect I know this and I felt that way before I became a
and I felt that way before I became a
and I felt that way before I became a landscape architect so if we could take
landscape architect so if we could take
landscape architect so if we could take that information and organize it in a
that information and organize it in a
that information and organize it in a logical and intuitive way and you see
logical and intuitive way and you see
logical and intuitive way and you see here this is a visual calendar that
here this is a visual calendar that
here this is a visual calendar that shows from January to December from left
shows from January to December from left
shows from January to December from left to right when things change when they
to right when things change when they
to right when things change when they flower when they lose their leaves when
flower when they lose their leaves when
flower when they lose their leaves when they bloom you could if we were in Miami
they bloom you could if we were in Miami
they bloom you could if we were in Miami in March walk outside see this yellow
in March walk outside see this yellow
in March walk outside see this yellow bright blooming tree and know
bright blooming tree and know
bright blooming tree and know intuitively that it was tabebuia Kariba
intuitively that it was tabebuia Kariba
intuitively that it was tabebuia Kariba that it was native to Brazil that it
that it was native to Brazil that it
that it was native to Brazil that it wasn’t so great in hurricanes and maybe
wasn’t so great in hurricanes and maybe
wasn’t so great in hurricanes and maybe with this knowledge armed with this
with this knowledge armed with this
with this knowledge armed with this information maybe we would plant in more
information maybe we would plant in more
information maybe we would plant in more protected areas or maybe we would
protected areas or maybe we would
protected areas or maybe we would diversify our palate so that when we do
diversify our palate so that when we do
diversify our palate so that when we do have a storm we would have a more
have a storm we would have a more
have a storm we would have a more survivable landscape outside on a
survivable landscape outside on a
survivable landscape outside on a summer’s day we might go on and walk and
summer’s day we might go on and walk and
summer’s day we might go on and walk and see this bright red flower and
see this bright red flower and
see this bright red flower and immediately immediately be able to tell
immediately immediately be able to tell
immediately immediately be able to tell that it was a native flower
that it was a native flower
that it was a native flower Beach Blanket flower that it was great
Beach Blanket flower that it was great
Beach Blanket flower that it was great for soil stabilization wonderful for
for soil stabilization wonderful for
for soil stabilization wonderful for storm surge maybe you would plant other
storm surge maybe you would plant other
storm surge maybe you would plant other things that were more vulnerable and
things that were more vulnerable and
things that were more vulnerable and still retain a certain palette that had
still retain a certain palette that had
still retain a certain palette that had this robust
this robust
this robust to survive we could do that for all of
to survive we could do that for all of
to survive we could do that for all of these living things as we’ve done here
these living things as we’ve done here
these living things as we’ve done here this is an alphabetical catalog of
this is an alphabetical catalog of
this is an alphabetical catalog of wildflowers of Florida we’ve catalogued
wildflowers of Florida we’ve catalogued
wildflowers of Florida we’ve catalogued over a hundred of them organize them
over a hundred of them organize them
over a hundred of them organize them alphabetically so that you can look them
alphabetically so that you can look them
alphabetically so that you can look them up but that is data that you could just
up but that is data that you could just
up but that is data that you could just simply rearrange if you wanted to know
simply rearrange if you wanted to know
simply rearrange if you wanted to know for example bloom times on the far left
for example bloom times on the far left
for example bloom times on the far left the calendar here is on the vertical
the calendar here is on the vertical
the calendar here is on the vertical axis you understand when the early
axis you understand when the early
axis you understand when the early bloomers happen and when the late
bloomers happen and when the late
bloomers happen and when the late bloomers happen on the far right and
bloomers happen on the far right and
bloomers happen on the far right and this slow gentle drift would allow us to
this slow gentle drift would allow us to
this slow gentle drift would allow us to design landscapes that had an overlap in
design landscapes that had an overlap in
design landscapes that had an overlap in terms of their bloom time so we would
terms of their bloom time so we would
terms of their bloom time so we would have interests year-round that same
have interests year-round that same
have interests year-round that same information could be arranged by color
information could be arranged by color
information could be arranged by color so if it was important to you to plant a
so if it was important to you to plant a
so if it was important to you to plant a garden that was native to Florida
garden that was native to Florida
garden that was native to Florida drought tolerance that bloomed from
drought tolerance that bloomed from
drought tolerance that bloomed from February to May and it was lavender you
February to May and it was lavender you
February to May and it was lavender you could sift through this terabytes of
could sift through this terabytes of
could sift through this terabytes of information and quickly identify what
information and quickly identify what
information and quickly identify what your choices were and who wouldn’t want
your choices were and who wouldn’t want
your choices were and who wouldn’t want that and who would want to do that when
that and who would want to do that when
that and who would want to do that when you have to contend with all this
you have to contend with all this
you have to contend with all this information to rely on experts and web
information to rely on experts and web
information to rely on experts and web sites and all these sources that are
sites and all these sources that are
sites and all these sources that are truly overwhelming we’ve done this in a
truly overwhelming we’ve done this in a
truly overwhelming we’ve done this in a way that I affectionately call an
way that I affectionately call an
way that I affectionately call an artisanal way we’ve assembled this data
artisanal way we’ve assembled this data
artisanal way we’ve assembled this data by hand and as the next step in the
by hand and as the next step in the
by hand and as the next step in the process we’re looking to to create a
process we’re looking to to create a
process we’re looking to to create a digital tool that will automate that
digital tool that will automate that
digital tool that will automate that frankly I can’t wait for that to happen
frankly I can’t wait for that to happen
frankly I can’t wait for that to happen because if lunch looked this good and
because if lunch looked this good and
because if lunch looked this good and you knew that it was local and it was in
you knew that it was local and it was in
you knew that it was local and it was in season and there was a way for you to
season and there was a way for you to
season and there was a way for you to know that it was both you might not care
know that it was both you might not care
know that it was both you might not care about farm-to-table or sustainability or
about farm-to-table or sustainability or
about farm-to-table or sustainability or resilience you certainly want to have
resilience you certainly want to have
resilience you certainly want to have that lunch though and so we’ve taken
that lunch though and so we’ve taken
that lunch though and so we’ve taken that information and we’ve catalogued
that information and we’ve catalogued
that information and we’ve catalogued things like butterflies and birds and
things like butterflies and birds and
things like butterflies and birds and fruit and fish and while understanding
fruit and fish and while understanding
fruit and fish and while understanding these things individually is extremely
these things individually is extremely
these things individually is extremely valuable it’s far more powerful to look
valuable it’s far more powerful to look
valuable it’s far more powerful to look at this as a complement of relationships
at this as a complement of relationships
at this as a complement of relationships and look at for example over 350 birds
and look at for example over 350 birds
and look at for example over 350 birds like we have for Florida
like we have for Florida
like we have for Florida and map them in such a way that when you
and map them in such a way that when you
and map them in such a way that when you see two birds together you know that
see two birds together you know that
see two birds together you know that it’s mating season and when they’re
it’s mating season and when they’re
it’s mating season and when they’re almost invisible they’re not migrating
almost invisible they’re not migrating
almost invisible they’re not migrating through our state and we could do this
through our state and we could do this
through our state and we could do this for any part of the world because the
for any part of the world because the
for any part of the world because the data is out there we just have to find a
data is out there we just have to find a
data is out there we just have to find a way to orchestrate it and show it
way to orchestrate it and show it
way to orchestrate it and show it intuitively and we’ve had the fortune to
intuitively and we’ve had the fortune to
intuitively and we’ve had the fortune to show our work through galleries and
show our work through galleries and
show our work through galleries and exhibits and museums and people
exhibits and museums and people
exhibits and museums and people immediately respond to the aesthetics of
immediately respond to the aesthetics of
immediately respond to the aesthetics of the project and then they realize that
the project and then they realize that
the project and then they realize that it’s basically a DNA signature of their
it’s basically a DNA signature of their
it’s basically a DNA signature of their environment and you know there’s no
environment and you know there’s no
environment and you know there’s no amount of projection or facts or figures
amount of projection or facts or figures
amount of projection or facts or figures that will convince us to do the right
that will convince us to do the right
that will convince us to do the right thing but when you show it in a
thing but when you show it in a
thing but when you show it in a beautiful and intuitive way you get much
beautiful and intuitive way you get much
beautiful and intuitive way you get much farther ahead and being able to make the
farther ahead and being able to make the
farther ahead and being able to make the right decision and that’s at the core of
right decision and that’s at the core of
right decision and that’s at the core of the ecological atlas we’ve taken that
the ecological atlas we’ve taken that
the ecological atlas we’ve taken that information we’ve organized it here to
information we’ve organized it here to
information we’ve organized it here to both space and time and tune to show a
both space and time and tune to show a
both space and time and tune to show a typical section of the coastline so then
typical section of the coastline so then
typical section of the coastline so then on the vertical axis again we see the
on the vertical axis again we see the
on the vertical axis again we see the seasons of how things change we go one
seasons of how things change we go one
seasons of how things change we go one step further and we arrange the
step further and we arrange the
step further and we arrange the different plant communities as you get
different plant communities as you get
different plant communities as you get close to the water and we see how they
close to the water and we see how they
close to the water and we see how they change from a maritime forest all the
change from a maritime forest all the
change from a maritime forest all the way down to beach dunes and near shore
way down to beach dunes and near shore
way down to beach dunes and near shore and seagrass beds we think this can be
and seagrass beds we think this can be
and seagrass beds we think this can be an amazing teaching tool we’ve also used
an amazing teaching tool we’ve also used
an amazing teaching tool we’ve also used that information to catalog the
that information to catalog the
that information to catalog the wildflowers in Florida for example in
wildflowers in Florida for example in
wildflowers in Florida for example in South Florida in particular and out of
South Florida in particular and out of
South Florida in particular and out of 84 if we remove all the ones that are
84 if we remove all the ones that are
84 if we remove all the ones that are not salt tolerant we see that 84 turns
not salt tolerant we see that 84 turns
not salt tolerant we see that 84 turns into 31 and that’s striking in its own
into 31 and that’s striking in its own
into 31 and that’s striking in its own right but then we use that information
right but then we use that information
right but then we use that information to map out the relationships between
to map out the relationships between
to map out the relationships between those plants and the habitats that it
those plants and the habitats that it
those plants and the habitats that it supports on the left hand side that
supports on the left hand side that
supports on the left hand side that green tangle of lines or all the
green tangle of lines or all the
green tangle of lines or all the connections between the plants and the
connections between the plants and the
connections between the plants and the butterfly and the butterflies I use them
butterfly and the butterflies I use them
butterfly and the butterflies I use them for hosts so that there
for hosts so that there
for hosts so that there lay eggs there and caterpillars can feed
lay eggs there and caterpillars can feed
lay eggs there and caterpillars can feed on the right as adult butterflies those
on the right as adult butterflies those
on the right as adult butterflies those are the nectar plants and again if we
are the nectar plants and again if we
are the nectar plants and again if we take that data that information we
take that data that information we
take that data that information we filter out we take out the things that
filter out we take out the things that
filter out we take out the things that are not solved tolerant this is what
are not solved tolerant this is what
are not solved tolerant this is what we’re left with and so immediately when
we’re left with and so immediately when
we’re left with and so immediately when people look at this I think abstractly
people look at this I think abstractly
people look at this I think abstractly you understand that our environment will
you understand that our environment will
you understand that our environment will change and it’s changing but then you’re
change and it’s changing but then you’re
change and it’s changing but then you’re able to illustrate it and show it in a
able to illustrate it and show it in a
able to illustrate it and show it in a way that immediately brings that to the
way that immediately brings that to the
way that immediately brings that to the fore and you understand that it’s not
fore and you understand that it’s not
fore and you understand that it’s not just one thing it’s all the
just one thing it’s all the
just one thing it’s all the relationships that come as a result and
relationships that come as a result and
relationships that come as a result and so throughout this project I’ve learned
so throughout this project I’ve learned
so throughout this project I’ve learned that the things that threaten us the
that the things that threaten us the
that the things that threaten us the things that call into question our
things that call into question our
things that call into question our ability to survive or both a source of
ability to survive or both a source of
ability to survive or both a source of fear as much as the our source of
fear as much as the our source of
fear as much as the our source of inspiration we choose to live in
inspiration we choose to live in
inspiration we choose to live in beautiful yet threatened places it’s not
beautiful yet threatened places it’s not
beautiful yet threatened places it’s not because it’s rational or logical but
because it’s rational or logical but
because it’s rational or logical but because it pulls it or it makes our
because it pulls it or it makes our
because it pulls it or it makes our hearts race and it makes that magnetic
hearts race and it makes that magnetic
hearts race and it makes that magnetic allure of the natural environment think
allure of the natural environment think
allure of the natural environment think differently about the places we we call
differently about the places we we call
differently about the places we we call home so when I look at Puerto Rico and I
home so when I look at Puerto Rico and I
home so when I look at Puerto Rico and I see how it’s affected my family my
see how it’s affected my family my
see how it’s affected my family my friends my Puerto Rican landscape my
friends my Puerto Rican landscape my
friends my Puerto Rican landscape my fellow American citizens I can’t help
fellow American citizens I can’t help
fellow American citizens I can’t help but think of a more perfect time to use
but think of a more perfect time to use
but think of a more perfect time to use that powerful mix of art and science and
that powerful mix of art and science and
that powerful mix of art and science and technology to better imagine what’s
technology to better imagine what’s
technology to better imagine what’s around us better understand it and
around us better understand it and
around us better understand it and better conceive of the possibilities of
better conceive of the possibilities of
better conceive of the possibilities of what already surrounds us thank you
what already surrounds us thank you
what already surrounds us thank you [Applause]
”
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