Research practice
Colin’s research practice includes drawings, animations, photography and small prototypes of communication pieces, some graphical analysis, all of which are considered experimental and focussed on provoking discussions in the symposia. Critical analysis of the concepts behind these practices and how they assist the research dissemination is part of the data that is obtained for the research. The research methodology was discussed, it was agreed that further development of the methods and methodology would be required.
Drawings
Drawings form part of the exploration of autonomous vehicles (AV) in the city and related semiotics. In my practice, drawings are an extension of thinking. The initial drawings include taxonomy of the vehicle and the city as an evolutionary process. The drawings are composed with categorization and chronology for each period and utilise historic maps, drawings and photography in their composition. The clear line drawing on white paper provides consistency to reveal the subject of the drawing, the taxonomy of the evolution of the city and the vehicle. Taxonomy (a chronology) of the vehicle, the city and signage systems for Paris, London, Sydney, Hong Kong and New York.
Drawings of the visual taxonomy of the city and vehicles
The six drawings which form the taxonomy extend over the period of fossil fuelled vehicles c. 1860–2015 in approximate 30-year intervals. This selective taxonomy of vehicles, the city and semiotics reveals an evolutionary process of interaction between vehicles, the city and semiotics from c1860 to 2020. It is a partial history developed to assist the understanding of disruptions and slow evolution in relation to AV. Early vehicles featured engines bolted onto carts, this evolved from the 1860s to 1900s into early vehicles, Figure 2.
Early documentary films from cities such as San Francisco and London in c1900s evidence cities with horse carriage with mixed traffic. The mixed traffic environment was notable for its comparative chaos. By the 1900s the advent mass vehicle manufacturing increased road congestion. By the 1930s indicator lights were ubiquitous on most newly manufactured vehicles, Figure 2. Multifarious attempts to reduce congestion is a feature of both the 19th and 20th century cities.
Accelerated by the war effort of WWII, vehicle manufacturing became a global industry. Cities across the world suffered air pollution because of both manufacturing industry and vehicle pollution. By the 1940s traffic lights and their management of traffic along with legislation to manage pedestrian activity on footpaths was evident in cities such as Paris, London, Hong Kong, Sydney New York and Sao Paulo. Figure 4.
In the 1940s the marketing of the motor vehicle by adding new styling and novel technology on an annualised basis became established practice by Earl Harley. This era saw the development of the Vienna Convention on Signage and Convention on technical prescriptions for vehicles. The annual evolution of the vehicle differed considerably with the slower pace evolution of the city infrastructure. In 1950 driver’s licences and road signage was seen in most cities around the world , Figure 5.
In response to increasing accidents, in the 1960s safety systems such as the safety belt and drivers’ licences were required. Electronics in vehicles became more advanced also to assist with safety. Electronics and computer technologies became synonymous with marketing and consumer. By the 1970s scientists were advising governments around the world of environmental and health impacts of fossil fuels.
The major vehicle features of the 1970-80 era are associated with vehicle computerisation, cruise control, aerodynamic designs, updated gearbox systems and automatic braking systems. City infrastructure changes included the use of tunnels to avoid established city precincts. In Sydney and London computerised traffic management systems SCAT for example. The 1980s also use of signs for both the road and vehicles as traffic management systems became essential for safety and management, Figure 7
The 2000s heralded new technologies being used to manage traffic such a smart motorway with electronic traffic management systems, Figure 7. The use of mobile phone technologies transformed mapping and navigation systems, which could be regarded as part of the ‘technology’.