{"id":12551,"date":"2019-02-07T10:51:27","date_gmt":"2019-02-07T15:51:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/studentwork.prattsi.org\/infovis\/?p=12551"},"modified":"2019-02-07T11:29:36","modified_gmt":"2019-02-07T16:29:36","slug":"the-greatest-grid-history-of-the-master-plan-of-manhattan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/studentwork.prattsi.org\/infovis\/labs\/the-greatest-grid-history-of-the-master-plan-of-manhattan\/","title":{"rendered":"The Greatest Grid: History of The Master Plan of Manhattan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Introduction<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Every city has its unique history of city planning which leads to different street systems. Manhattan is laid out on a uniform grid of streets and avenues, making it easy to navigate. The street grid is a defining element of Manhattan. But it was not always like that.
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Before the grid, New York City grew organically, with no overarching order. The Commissioners’ Plan of 1811 was the original design for the streets of Manhattan above Houston Street and below 155th Street, which put in place the rectangular grid plan of streets and lots that has defined Manhattan to this day. (Augustyn & Cohen, pp. 100\u201306)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With an urban design background, I was always sensitive about how the cities are formed. After exploring the structure of Manhattan\u2019s urban fabric using an interactive map created by Morphocode called Urban Layers<\/a>, I got inspired and decided to dive deep into the history of the master plan of Manhattan using TimelineJS to visualize the evolution of the greatest grid of Manhattan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Screen capture of Urban Layers, showing interaction with the map.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Materials and Datasets<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

TimelineJS <\/a>: An open-source tool to build visually rich, interactive timelines easily <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google Sheets <\/a>: A web-based software used to organize the content of the timeline <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Museum Of The City Of New York<\/a> : A informational website used to collect data
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Design Process<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Prepare<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

After choosing the topic on the history of city planning of Manhattan, I did plenty of research and narrowed down the subject to the grid street system of Manhattan which can provide a more detailed, appealing and meaningful visual outcome.
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Collect Data <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Collecting data from multiple sources provides a thorough understanding of the evaluation of the griding street system of Manhattan. Enough literal and media data were collected in order to proceed the next step.
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Analyze Data <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Review and identify the important data to make the timeline useful, usable and desirable. 7 important events were picked out to complete the timeline of the greatest grid. 2 related pictures were picked out for each event to support the timeline.
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Visualize Data <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Input the analyzed data in google sheets. Adjust the format of the content using HTML and the basic settings in TimelineJS. Constantly refresh the preview link to get the satisfied result.
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Results and Interpretation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Greatest Grid – History of The Master Plan of Manhattan <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Screenshot of Timeline <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n