Sumit Singhani

Ian McHargs value system encompasses many categories. It mentions ranking wetlands,
especially on page 33 and 34, which relates to a proto-GIS system. On page 32, the public and private
benefits of Interstate Highways is mentioned and explained, which reflects his knowledge about them
and amount of thought he put into infrastructure and how that affects the environment in general,
positively and negatively. To some degree, I think of Star Trek in the sense that Ian McHarg indirectly
predicts, in my mind at least, what GIS is used for today in 1992 when I think he wrote the book, the
second edition anyway if I noticed correctly. He explains additionally how there is too much high social
value to the rich and not enough to the poor. What was interesting was Ian McHargs mention of the
least-social cost and maximum social benefit solution. Some of the nonprice benefits such as the scenic
experience of a highway are encompassed within his value system.

A specific quote from the book was when he mentioned Dominate and Destroy. His ideas
about mapping could have led to more data and using that data could have helped prevent at least in
theory, not accounting for the chaos factor, catastrophic or similar climate change events such as
Hurricane Sandy. Especially since the Jersey Shore is a sea shore environment, the variations climate-
wise have serious consequences on plant growth which can lead to the bay shore being affected.