Day 7:
On the flight into Curitiba, I saw a lot of farm land. This means that there was a lot of forest that was cut down here. The dirt on these farms seemed to be all different colors, so I assumed that over time, different places received different nutrients, and that all of these open soils are easily eroded. On the way in, Ana hurt her eye as well. She got pink eye and had a serious reaction. Her eyes were swelled and she seemed to be in pain, though after a day and half, she seemed to feel no more pain. The first thing that the group did in Curitiba was get food. We walked down a few blocks until we were on the main street and got pizza. While we were waiting, a homeless person walked up to us and started flailing around as if to be in trouble. He wanted money for food, but he seemed very out of it, probably on drugs, and I was unable to give him money. He was being slightly aggressive in the way that he was moving toward us but not trying to get too close. It was weird to say the least and we just ignored him. The fact that the major roads are so densely populated in Curitiba, mainly the five roads where public transport is expedited, gives homeless people the ability live here. This is okay if these people are looking for work, but many of them do not seem to be interested in doing so, and continued to beg. I don’t know what could be done about this other than finding jobs for them. Many people have found jobs working as trash-men here, as the city is one of the most sustainable cities in the world and provides jobs for citizens as trash sifters. These people look through the trash and sort out recyclable materials. This seems like a cool city in that retrospect. There are new jobs and the city is designed around keeping those jobs in place. Jacalyn and I presented that night on Guanabara Bay water quality, and then Catalina and Kimmy presented on Urban Forestry.
Day 8:
On the eighth day, we went to a presentation on Curitibas Urban Planning. Danielle, an architect and employee of the IPPUC for six years, gave the presentation on urban mobility and institute and city structure. Curitiba, which is located in the state of Parana, has a large metropolitan region, housing 1.9 million people. The past growth rate has been 1% per year. Many policies implemented in this region have to do with sustaining quality water. Curitiba became a city in 1842 and the first city plan was the Taulois plan. Later, in the 1960s, a new plan was developed, which is still in effect today. The Master Plan, as it is called, provides efficient roads, with slower traffic in major city areas, allowing for a road to be implemented for use by public transport vehicles exclusively. The traffic in the 1960’s was a problem, and during this time, the population nearly tripled. The plan had three elements at this time, though there were more. Land use, road network, public transport, economic development, environment, and social development were a few. Of all the workers at the IPPUC, 90% of them are career workers and work no matter what the situation is in the government. The BRT (bus rapid transport system) is the plan that has made Curitiba the city that it is today. There are three major streets developed around where the transport system is needed. The 2004 plan added another cross section of public transport roads and also enabled building upwards for more people to live and work in the same area. Now, in Curitiba, the implemented facilities are bus transit, roadways, and they consolidate new growth. A 2014 review of the city stated that they wanted to make services better in the major sections of the city. Urban mobility is a goal for the city, with walkable communities and pedestrian streets. Street closure for city shops was also a part of the 1966 master plan. Six blocks initially were built, with 15 now in use. Side-walk plans increase accessibility, but are also used to decrease the flooding here. The sidewalks are made permeous, meaning that water can drain through them when it rains, so the water infiltration into the ground happens much faster than if there was only runoff drains. Street safety for pedestrians is a goal, which is why there are slow speed limits here. Bikes are being used to make less traffic as well, though bikers were using the bus lanes. Now there is a bike lane next to the car lane. Subway implementation is nearing in Curitiba, though funding is not quite there. After this presentation, we went to the sustainability center of Curitiba. Carlos, a longtime worker here, gave us a tour of the facility and told us some things about how it was built. Imbuia wood made much of the environmental center, and is found in the park. He told us of a recyclable exchange, where seasonal horticultural products are, and there are 102 places for this in the city. PDH is a water quality program decontaminating the water through sewer connections situation survey. Chromeate Copper Arsenate is the chemical used to treat the wood in this facility. It is poisonous, but the seal on the outside of the wood locks in these poisons. The wood was also reused from train tracks, which is why the place is so sustainable. Viva Bargui is the plan to take linear park actions and create the Baragui river basin revitalization. In Curitiba, you cannot cut down trees without a liscense, and for every tree you cut down, you must plant two more, though if you cut down a pine tree, you must plant four more. The idea is that you don’t require transport of materials to make the facility. A stustainable facility is one that requires the least amount of energy to make, not including physical human labor. After checking out the facility, we walked to the RPPNM conservation green area. The bricks used in the environmental center were made here. This facility where the bricks were made is located on a river. The rivers here are used as parks, because in times of flooding, nobodies house will be destroyed. The parks are very green and filled with life, as well.
Day 9:
On the ninth day, we went to URBS, where they talked about Curitiba’s integrated public transport network. The BRT system that they are working on is based upon planning and management. There are three things that must be integrated for this to be successful. Land use, public transport, and the street network must all be working together to help the economic and social development, as well as the environment. The south corridor has the most passengers per day, as the mobile fleet in Curitiba is 1.4 million, and the population is 1.8 million. 82% of the fleet is cars, and 1% of the fleet is buses, though 45% of the population uses the buses to travel. The transport services provided by the city are buses, commercial transport, moto-frete (motorcycle), school bus, and taxi. Most fares are 3 dollars 70 cents, but on Sundays the fare is 2 dollars and 50 cents. It is important to have easy transport for leisure on Sundays, as a society that is happy with the transport system will continue to keep using it. The lines run 85.6 km on dedicated lines. Colors dedicate buses to specific stops. Blue is the Ligeirao express, which can hold 250 people. Green is the inter-district line, and yellow is the feeder line, which brings people from the terminal into the neighborhood. Management systems in Curitiba are control and monitoring of the bus services. Eleven companies run buses, which are not controlled by the government and allow for competition between bus company prices. Complaints about a specific bus company allows punishment for that bus company. The total operating fleet of buses in the city is 1,320, with a reserve fleet of about 1,500. There are 6,500 bus stops, 250 lines, 21 terminals, and a 7 year average fleet life. The buses work in that you can pay once and use two or three bus lines without ever having to pay again or get out of the transit system. Citizens who do not pay to use the bus are elderly people, people with disabilities, retired people with disabilities, accompanists, justice agents, staff inspectionists, system operators, post men, and police men. People who get a 50% discount on bus fees are students with a family income less than 5% of minimum. Special education transport system is offered as well. It is very good, paid for by the municipality, and parents get a break as they don’t need to worry about getting their child with needs to school. There is also an internet app that allows you to see the bus schedule and whether it is running on time. The green line is the new line being implemented in Curitiba. It used to be a highway to Sao Paolo, but new stations on this green line are connecting all stations to each other. The green line is being called that because it is using a soy bean energy source, which is renewable. 100% soybean biofuel is used in 6 articulated buses as of august, 2009. The current fleet is 34 buses with a 46% less carbon output. The reason sugarcane is not used is because sources for getting soy are much closer.
Before the Master Plan of 1966, two lane systems clogged the buses at every stop. A third lane was added to stop this. Now the blue articulated bus can go its full route in just 20 mminutes while the red bus stops more frequently and takes about 35 minutes. The hybrid buses have two engines and get 35% fuel economy. The fares also cost less because of electric buses, specifically the 100% electric buses. There is only one of them, it gives off zero emissions, gets 250 km autonomy, consumes just 1.2 kilowats per hour, is 75% more efficient, and has wifi. Articulated buses are the bigger hybrid buses. They have two engines, a low floor, ac, wifi, and electric and biofuel. 92% of buses are also adapted to people with disabilities, as there is an elevator system at all holding pods. The operational control center has 89 traffic cameras and 622 transportation cameras, as well as 44 traffic TV panels for viewing, and 649 transport panels. This bus system is very energy efficient. The Botanical Gardens is a greenhouse that preserves trees found in the Atlantic Forest. The trees were very nice, and the idea behind this greenhouse is very cool. I liked the layout of the park, and how it was somewhat on a plateau.
Before the Master Plan of 1966, two lane systems clogged the buses at every stop. A third lane was added to stop this. Now the blue articulated bus can go its full route in just 20 mminutes while the red bus stops more frequently and takes about 35 minutes. The hybrid buses have two engines and get 35% fuel economy. The fares also cost less because of electric buses, specifically the 100% electric buses. There is only one of them, it gives off zero emissions, gets 250 km autonomy, consumes just 1.2 kilowats per hour, is 75% more efficient, and has wifi. Articulated buses are the bigger hybrid buses. They have two engines, a low floor, ac, wifi, and electric and biofuel. 92% of buses are also adapted to people with disabilities, as there is an elevator system at all holding pods. The operational control center has 89 traffic cameras and 622 transportation cameras, as well as 44 traffic TV panels for viewing, and 649 transport panels. This bus system is very energy efficient. The Botanical Gardens is a greenhouse that preserves trees found in the Atlantic Forest. The trees were very nice, and the idea behind this greenhouse is very cool. I liked the layout of the park, and how it was somewhat on a plateau.
Day 10
We went to a presentation on the operation center of Curitibas urban planning. There was a new mayor elected recently, and he was supposed to appear and talk to the group, but he could not make it. The four major topics of this presentation were CCO URBS, CICC-PR, the situation room-ICI, and the ambulance center. The goal of this operation center is to work together with city hall on traffic and public transport. The Pinhao valley, or pine tree valley, is the name given to the inventive Curitiba. The start in change is defined as a derivative from cultural change. They are bench-marking economic development over the next 20 years and looking to the outside world for influences on what works and what does not. Economic development at the beginning of the 21st century included sustainability, innovation, industry, motivation, creativity, knowledge era, collaboration, design thinking, and integration. 150,000 students go to university in Curitiba. There are 40 co-working spaces, Research and development centers. They have more funds for increasing education opportunities here, but are still deciding where to implement them. The ecosystem of innovation occurring in Curitiba include geeks and creatives, academics, inventors, public agents, entrepreneurs, change agents, tech companies, and investors. Culture is the most important thing in Curitiba, and the ideal battle between culture and innovation is recognized. For this reason, the Oscar Neimeyer museum was built in the center of the city, reflecting on the art that created the Brazilian culture that we see today. The Green Line is set to be in use starting by the end of the year. The goal has always been to have a platform to take new action based on. Thinking big, taking small steps, and acting fast has been the motto of Curitiba. The first goal is to learn, create ideas, and eventually design a product. Then measure the influence of this product through data interpretation, and eventually learn more about what works and what does not.
The presentation that night was given by Erika and Ana. Curitiba was named for the pine trees in the area, and there are people from all different backgrounds here. Curitiba has the 8th largest population in Brazil, and there are 27 municipalities that make up the metropolitan area. There has also been a drop in the birth rate here recently. If the economy, ecology, and equity of the city are in balance, then the city is deemed sustainable. Almost 30 parks here make up a large portion of the flood plains of the area. The Botanical Gardens here opened in 1991, and the Cambui park and Barrerinha park are two famous parks in the area. The Barrerinha park is famous for cinnamon and yerba matte, which is a tea that if very famous in Brazil and tastes very good (I brought some home). The social factors that the park influences are a good healthy atmosphere with a large area for fun public activities, as well as decreasing the effects of flooding in the city. Anna and Tyler presented next on the city of Curitiba as a whole. Jaime Lerner has been the mayor three times now and people love him. Nikolau Kluppel is in charge of parks and recycling and has been for many years. Urban acupuncture is the idea that projects in the city are implemented in a very short amount of time. Cleaning the city constantly and thinking of new ways to keep it clean, all while keeping a booming network of businesses is the main goal for keeping the city profitable and sustainable. I learned that the Botanical Gardens were a garbage dump before they were turned into the park we see today. The rivers in Curitiba are made up of 6 river basins, with 20,000 species of plant, trees, ferns, mosses, and epiphytes. Also 8% of the plants in the world can be found in Curitiba. Some problems Curitiba face today, are that there is sewage in the rivers, bus systems are losing passengers due to speeding accidents, and there are more cars per capita than any other city in Brazil. These are all obstacles that the Operation Center are trying to work out, as they implement this new Green Line.
The presentation that night was given by Erika and Ana. Curitiba was named for the pine trees in the area, and there are people from all different backgrounds here. Curitiba has the 8th largest population in Brazil, and there are 27 municipalities that make up the metropolitan area. There has also been a drop in the birth rate here recently. If the economy, ecology, and equity of the city are in balance, then the city is deemed sustainable. Almost 30 parks here make up a large portion of the flood plains of the area. The Botanical Gardens here opened in 1991, and the Cambui park and Barrerinha park are two famous parks in the area. The Barrerinha park is famous for cinnamon and yerba matte, which is a tea that if very famous in Brazil and tastes very good (I brought some home). The social factors that the park influences are a good healthy atmosphere with a large area for fun public activities, as well as decreasing the effects of flooding in the city. Anna and Tyler presented next on the city of Curitiba as a whole. Jaime Lerner has been the mayor three times now and people love him. Nikolau Kluppel is in charge of parks and recycling and has been for many years. Urban acupuncture is the idea that projects in the city are implemented in a very short amount of time. Cleaning the city constantly and thinking of new ways to keep it clean, all while keeping a booming network of businesses is the main goal for keeping the city profitable and sustainable. I learned that the Botanical Gardens were a garbage dump before they were turned into the park we see today. The rivers in Curitiba are made up of 6 river basins, with 20,000 species of plant, trees, ferns, mosses, and epiphytes. Also 8% of the plants in the world can be found in Curitiba. Some problems Curitiba face today, are that there is sewage in the rivers, bus systems are losing passengers due to speeding accidents, and there are more cars per capita than any other city in Brazil. These are all obstacles that the Operation Center are trying to work out, as they implement this new Green Line.
Day 11:
We woke up and took taxi’s to the train station where we took a train from Curitiba, through the Atlantic Forest, and up to Morretes. The train took us high up into the mountains of the Atlantic Forest, and provided some of the most spectacular views. We ate at a nice restaurant when we arrived in town. There was a full course meal provided and when we payed we were guaranteed an all you can eat style service where they brought out entrees until we were full. I thoroughly enjoyed this. The town was great as well. When we arrived, it seemed as though we were stepping off in some distant land that only saw new faces everytime and train arrived in the station. The streets were small and lined with only a few houses, and a large river ran through the center of the town. Along this river was where the restaurant was located, as well as a few shops and an ice cream parlor. Me and a few of the group members got some ice cream and stopped in a gift shop, though I did not feel the need to buy anything new. The buildings had a lot of different colors to them, which is a Portuguese style. The bus ride back was very interesting as well. We stopped at a market on the side of the highway and I bought a plantain thinking it was a banana. Im pretty sure you have to cook this food so I left it in the hotel lobby when we got back to Curitiba. On the way back we also stopped at a church that overlooked the bay. This was a very beautiful church and was located in a great place. Inside, the church was very nice and basic with two long columns of pews. The view provided the group with a great picture, and afterward we headed back to downtown Curitiba by bus, but not before heather was able to take pictures of me as I involuntarily slept on her shoulder.