This Green Mapmaking process was part of Green Map staff member Carlos Martinez's university thesis research project: Urban ecotourism proposal towards the revitalization of public spaces by means of usage, valuation and conservation. Case of study: New York's Chinatown. Carlos also wrote this profile.
This research's study area was defined by concentration of Asian residents over 50% (based on U.S. Census 2000) and the location of nearby garment manufacturing shops. While the area surrounding the garment shops does not have a very high population of Asian residents, this area is an economic and sociocultural cornerstone of Chinatown. After these boundaries were defined the author in his role as an external agent or observer adopts as analytic and diagnosis method the historic-hermeneutic approach in its ethnographic version.
In a special way this research materialized a video-documentary and this Green Map, creative and participative education tools of environmental empowerment. Other supporting Green Maps were created for this research. You will find them in the thesis paper (available upon request). Both Spanish and English introductions to the project can be found in GreenAppleMap.org's Our NYC Maps section.
Some of the aspects addressed in this Green Map project were: mobility (bike lanes, pedestrian zones, bike racks, bridges, plazas, mass transit stations), tourist info (kiosks, museums, etc.), special places (parks, community gardens, public art, churches) and many more with special consideration on public spaces.
Use onscreen or print it out.
This thesis research was recognized as outstanding by the Environmental Science Faculty of Universidad Tecnologica de Pereira, Colombia.
Kelly N. Cabrera. February 1, 2005. <a href="http://www.utp.edu.co/comunicaciones/htm/detalleHTML.php?idNota=1827">"People Abroad"</a>, Campus InForma, UTP (Universidad Tecnologica de Pereira), Colombia.
An academic thesis with valuable information and initiatives on Urban Ecotourism on the neighborhood scale.
With the experience Carlos gained making this map, he was able to develop workshops and an outreach method that has resulted in Green Map projects taking root in many areas of his hometown community in the traditional coffee growing region in Colombia. In NYC, a group of Pace University students have found this map very helpful to their own charting of Chinatown, too.
The thesis paper, the Green Maps and the dissertation slideshow are available upon request. The 15-minute video-documentary will be posted on YouTube.com soon.
This specific Green Mapmaking experience was shared colleagues, community leaders, non-profits and universities in the Coffee Growing Ecoregion. As Green Map System's Latin American liaison, he frequently helps local Green Map projects throughout Latin America.
An updated version of this Green Map printed for distribution for residents and visitors (pocket size map) and/or a poster version for distribution to communty centers and kiosks.
Carlos would like to thank Wendy Brawer and GMS's network and staff, my advisors, Professors Carlos E. Lopez, Jorge E. Osorio and Claudia M. Londoño, and my supporters, including my family, colleagues and friends.
In the digital age, the use of Microsoft Paint and PowerPoint are considered low-tech tools. In the Resources Section, Carlos has shared his lessons learned as his map was made.
Once a Green Mapmaker, Always a Green Mapmaker... you will start seeing your environment through different eyes.
Este proceso de Mapeo Verde hizo parte del proyecto de investigación de Carlos Martínez, coordinador del programa de Mapa Verde para América Latina y el Caribe desde la ciudad de Nueva York. Su propuesta de tesis se llama: 'Ecoturismo urbano hacia la revitalización de los espacios públicos mediante su uso, valoración y conservación. Estudio de caso: Barrio Chino de la ciudad de Nueva York'.
El área de estudio de esta investigación fue definida por la concentración de residentes asiáticos mayor al 50% (basado en el US Census 2000) y por el establecimiento de industrias de confección textil. A pesar que el área circundante a estas industrias no posee una población considerable de residentes asiáticos, esta zona es considerada como punto de encuentro económico y sociocultural de Chinatown -Barrio Chino-. Luego que los límites fueron establecidos por el autor en su papel de de observador o agente externo, adopta el método de diagnóstico y análisis del enfoque histórico-hermenéutico en su versión etnográfica.
De manera especial esta investigación materializa un video-documental y este Mapa Verde, herramientas creativas y participativas de educación y empoderamiento ambiental. Otros Mapas Verdes fueron creados para esta investigación como material de apoyo. Usted los podrá encontrar en el documento escrito (disponible bajo solicitud).
Algunos de los aspectos tratados en este proyecto de Mapa Verde fueron: movilidad (sendas para bicicletas, zonas peatonales, sitios para estacionar bicicletas, puentes, plazas, estaciones de transporte masivo), información turística (quiscos, museos, etc.), lugares especiales (parques, jardines comunitarios, arte público, iglesias) y muchos más con una consideración especial sobre los espacios públicos.
