Planning Department
As part of the DPW
(Department of Public Works), the Planning Department works
directly with other Burning Man departments to address a multitude
of interlinked responsibilities
each year. Our small staff is largely composed of volunteers from
a wide geographic area, requiring that we communicate and share
work primarily via the Internet.
Beginning in early fall 2001, we began working on a series of
graphic design projects including various two- and three-dimensional
architectural
renderings, and a first for us—designing a coin. Representing
our forthcoming event, these graphics were later featured
on our website, as well as
in our color newsletter.
The annual meeting of the Planning Committee occurs in early
January. This group reviews the general plans and ideas related
to the Nevada
property, the event’s theme, anticipated changes in building
the city, and any possible new BLM permit modifications that have
come out of the post-event Cooperators Meeting. This committee
doesn’t usually need to convene throughout the year, as members
work one on one with the various responsible departments to realize
the goals agreed upon at the annual meeting.
For 2002, the Planning Department worked in collaboration with
Larry Harvey to create a design for the forty-foot high Light House.
Like the tower structure of 2001, this construction “served
as a lofty pedestal for the Man, and as its pyre during the event's
finale.”
The Light House stood as a tiered monument, its twelve facets
each marking 30 degrees of the compass. At each median, an angled
bench
pointed out radial streets at 15 degree intervals. The Light House
also incorporated powerful laser beams that marked the cardinal
directions in the night sky. Ladders wound through the interior
connecting to an observation deck at the top. With Burning Man
astride it, this landmark became the locus of our city.
In
addition to the annual routine of refining and enhancement of the
city plan, we also developed and produced the extensive maps, plans,
and operating data that provide vital guidance to other departments.
We also provided all the required maps and data for our annual
permit application to the Bureau of Land Management.
These documents spanned a broad range from describing the city’s
longitude and latitude declinations in the Black Rock Desert to
working drawings for construction of the structures, even down
to plans for some individual campsites. These drawings were produced
in AutoCAD for PC and in Apple/Mac compatible CAD format, and some
were rendered in formats suitable for incorporation into publications.
After completing the planning stage, we set up field operations
early at the empty desert site to help supervise the survey work
and construction and to offer continuing on-site development work
as needed during Black Rock City’s re-emergence. Again, we
refined the plans and supervised the re-construction of the 38,000-square-foot
café (an innovative structure we designed for the 2000 event)
and the Camp Arctica dome. We helped oversee the erection of the
Light House and other event structures planned by us.
Over
the year, we did a good deal of work for other DPW projects.
This ranged
from
small
building
design
projects
and
supervision
to further planning of the
Black Rock Station work ranch and development of Frog Pond water resources.
Planning
sometimes benefits from introduction of new technological tools. We continued
working with the grid system we conceived and
initiated for the 2001 event to aid the allocation and placement
of theme camps. We also helped in the development of a computer
program using the grid system to map these sites. We have continued
assisting in further refinements of this program to improve the
indicators of space allocated to a theme camp. Although the program
fell short of assisting in physical placement, it is able to keep
a permanent and printable record in its updatable database.
Additionally, we worked with staff to produce an electronic map
of art installation sites on the open playa. This data was then
translated into a small program we initially proposed and then
helped to develop. The data could then be uploaded to a handheld
Global Positioning System unit, enabling the site locators to “virtually” walk
artists to their sites using GPS. In addition to speeding the art
placement process, this technology provides the potential for greater
accuracy than before. It also provided a permanent record of the
location, encouraging participants to be responsible for leaving
their sites in good order.
We believe this computerized mapping approach has many future applications
in Black Rock City. Early in the year, we worked with a group
of programmers who are now developing a relational database and supporting
software that will eventually make this technology available
to all participants. We envision an on-site Wi-Fi network and interactive
electronic information kiosks where location data, messages,
photos, etc., may be uploaded and viewed.
As with other parts of the Burning Man experience, we never know
what to expect next, but we eagerly look forward to our new
challenges.
Submitted by,
Rod Garrett,
City Designer
Click here to read the 2001 planning report. 