Corey Wowk - Sentient City - Final

UNDERGROUND AND THE CITY
CH.09 CH.08 CH.07 CH.06 CH.05 CH.04 CH.03 CH.02 CH.01
Underground and the City
The Water Underground
Cities are complex entities consisting of muliple

layers of infrastructure. Often the most attributed and
recognized infrastructure typologies are those that are
above the surface. While inhabitants are often living
above-grade, connections to the subterrainean levels
happens not only via transportation, but have a direct
correlation to the city’s utilities and public works. Con-
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versely, the association of the city to its waterways
and its link to water - both waste and potable has a
critical impact on the vitality and lively-hood of the city
and its in habitants. density of the city
New York City, while being surrounded and di-
rectly correlated to its waterways is often praised for
providing its residents with some of the highest quatl-
ity potable water of any city. However, this quality of
water, along with New York’s waterways are often
threatened by the unexpected discharge of waste wa-
ter, causing potential environmental and health issues
to not only the residents of New York City, but the sur-
rounding ecosystems.
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Adjacency of water + Cities
Play and Puddles
As the emergence of a revitalized waterfront be-

comes more populated, New Yorkers are once again
creating a connection to the city and its waterways.
This ‘re-discovered’ adjancency between the city and
the water’s edge is providing more awareness of this
natural beauty that surrounds the 5 boroughs.
While leisure and enjoyment near the water’s
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edge are often seen as the main interaction between
water and the city dwellers, the puddles that line city
sidewalks, and are meticulously traversed after a rain/
snow storm defines the direct interaction between wa- new yorkers and the water’s edge
ter and the urban fabric.
These puddles, while being a collection of storm
water and ground pollutants find their way through
drains, catch basins, and man holes to the sewer sys-
tem below the city streets.
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infiltration of water on streets

Water Overflow
Runoff from rain and melting snow, street and

sidewalk washing, and other outdoor activities flows
into catchbasins in the streets and from there into the
sewers. In some New York City neighborhoods, run-
off from the streets is carried by separate storm sew-
ers directly to local streams, rivers and bays. In most
areas of the City, sanitary and industrial wastewater,
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rainwater and street runoff are collected in the same
sewers and then conveyed together to the City’s treat-
ment plants. This is known as a combined sewer sys-
tem. During heavy rains or snow, combined sewers fill Ice damming on Broadway and 96th st
to capacity and are unable to carry the combined sani-
tary and storm sewage to the water filtration plants.
When this occurs the mix of excess storm water and
untreated sewage flows directly into the City’s water-
ways. This is called combined sewer overflow (CSO).
Approximately 70 percent of the City sewers are com-
bined.
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Overflowing drains in Chinatown
Development of sewers and Water
During the 19th Century, much of New York City

became threatened with Cholora due to the lack of
proper sanitation, and inadequate disposal of sewage.
Much of the sewage from the city was tossed into the
gutter, where it would sit, and stagnate until the water
was absorbed by the ground. However, this did not
mitigate the stench left over by these open sewers,
www.nyc.gov
nor did it prevent the spread of disease throughout the
city.
With the introduction of a much needed sew-
er system, many of the public health problems were Installation of sewer tunnel
significantly reduced, and the diplacement of sewage
from the street could now be directed down through
to the sewer system, where it is sent to waste water
treatment plants. Currently, 14 waste water treatment
facilities are located in New York City
www.nyc.gov
excavation of earth to create tunnel

water supply tunnels
www.undercity.org
Future Water supply tunnels
www.Undercity.org
Development of Water supply Tunnels
Canal Street
One of the earliest sewers that is still being used

today, is the Canal Street Sewer, which runs undern-
neath the road. While this this sewer was originally, a
waterway, both waste water and storm water are dis-
charged into the sewer, and its destination terminates
http://www.undercity.org
at the Hudson River.
Though this sewer may seem to be uncommon,
in that it connects directly into the river system, this
connection, as not as rare as it may initially sound.
Such is the case, as a sewer becomes overtaxed
during intense rain events when the sheer volume of Canal Street Sewer
stormwater and wastewater entering the system fills
them to capacity, leaving no space for excess water
to enter. In this condition, described as a sewer be-
ing surcharged, the excess stormwater remains above
ground. Unless absorbed by green spaces or chan-
neled to a body of water, this flooding can flow off the
street into below-grade areas such as driveways, pa-
tios and basements.
http://www.undercity.org
Canal street Sewer

Sub-terrainean Urban Fabric
This image displays the varying sub-surface

layers, and the complexity of the urban fabric below
grade.
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/nyunderground/
axonometric section cut below grade
Sewer Types
Separate Sewer Areas
In some New York City neighborhoods, sani-

tary waste and stormwater runoff are channeled in
separate sewer systems: sanitary waste is carried
to wastewater treatment plants while stormwater is
channeled directly to local streams, rivers, and bays.
www.reno.gov
Combined Sewer Areas
In most areas of the City, sanitary and industrial Seperate Sewer Areas
wastewater, rainwater and street runoff are collected
in the same sewers and then conveyed together to the
City’s treatment plants. This is known as a combined
sewer system. Approximately 70 percent of the City
sewers are combined.
www.reno.gov
Combined Sewer Area

single system diagrams
During heavy rain and snow storms, combined

sewers receive higher than normal flows. Treatment
plants are unable to handle flows that are more than
twice the design capacity. When this occurs, a mix
of excess stormwater and untreated wastewater dis-
charges directly into the City’s waterways at certain
outfalls. This is called a combined sewer overflow
www.nyc.gov
(CSO).CSOs are a concern because of their effect on
water quality and recreational uses.
single system - street level to sewer
www.nyc.gov
catch basin
underground and the City
sewer maintenance
When problems occur within the sewer system,

public work crews are dispatched to alleviate the prob-
lems within the targeted area. However, overflow pe-
riods and dispatched responses may not overlap, as
overflowing basins and sewers may recede and the
discharge of raw sewage already taken place once
public work crews arrive.
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steam release from Sewer
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maintenance crews work on sewer

Analysis
Currently, NYC analyzes the quality of drinking

water at a number of monitoring stations throughout
the city. However, no device is utilized to keep tabs
on the overflowing sewers being discharged at street
level. Due to the high potential health hazards asso-
ciated with exposure to raw sewage, it is imperative
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to monitor the city’s catch basins and man-holes to
ensure the health of city is maintained at reasonable
levels.
There are a number of monitoring devices
available to detect water and moisture levels on the a device to monitor moisture and water
market today. These sensors come with a price tag
of approximately $10-$18, which would directly impact
the deployment and installation of such a monitoring
device. By utilizing a simple wire gauged probe, cost-
ing only a few cents each, monitoring devices can be
deployed through out the city with minimal budget im-
plications.
www.nyc.gov
NYC water testing station
underground and the city
Monitoring system
As storm drains fill, and the sewers reach their

capacity, a simple monitoriing device placed near the Sewer at normal level
top of the of catch basin and man holes can alert those
in the nearby location of a potential overflow.
With this information, residents will be able to
react accordingly to environmental and health safety
warnings within their neighborhood. This information
can either be placed online and monitored in a real-
time analysis for both the public as well as the NYC
Department of Public Works.
Shop keepers, pedestrians and planned street sewer near capacity
events could be informed to know whether the streets
and sidewalks are considered safe, and free of sew-
age discharge. With over 70% of NYC’s sewers com-
bining both storm water and waste water, the majority
of the city can benefif from this analysis system, and
inform those who utilize the street as both a thorough
fare, as well as a temporary backyard, and place of
respite.
Sewer Beyond Capacity
Sewer overflowing at catch basins

proof of concept models
The following pages depict three proof of con-

cept models.
1. Single sensor model

2. Multi-sensor model with Processing
Visualization
3. Multi-sensor model with Google Map
Visualization
3d Printed model with build support

material
underground and the city:
Single sensor code
single sensor code - arduino

Underground and the city:
proof of concept
Integrating an Arduino board with a simple mois-

ture sensor allows for the detection of water within a
particular basin to be monitored. In the above picture,
an Arduino is attached via USB to a computer, and
situated with an LED. Coming off the Arduino is both
the ground and power supply. When these two enti-
ties (ground and power) are disconnected from each
other, the LED is powered off. The moment that these
two connect, the LED is powered on. By utilizing the
water as a bridge between the power and the ground
wires, the Arduino is able to monitor when moisture is
detected within the holding basin. arduino and sensor connection
This simple monitoring device enables the uti-
lization of such a system to be integrated at multiple
locations for a nominal cost.
Below is a wiring diagram denoting the method
utilized to create this simple sensor device.
circuit diagram
Underground and the city
Arduino + Procecssing Code
Arduino code enables the sensor to translate

the analog signal to a digital inference. This inturn is
connected to Processing (both Javascript based cod-
ing platforms), which allows for a visual to connect to
the reaction and sensing capabilities from the arduino
sensor.
To the right are both Arduino code (above) and
processing code (below) working simultaneously with
each other to exhibit the reaction of the sensors via a
visual display.
Arduino code
Processing Code
Visualization and Proof of concept
When Processing is connected to the code

from the Arduino platform, a visual replicadtion of the
actuated sensor is able to be displayed. The image
to the right depicts four locations on the multi sensor
system below that is recognizing an increase in water
within its resivoir.
Below is an image showing the proof of con-
cept of a multi-sensor system connected to the ardui-
no board, and detecting water/moisture within its own
quadrant.
Display of interacting sensors
Arduino connected to sensors

multi sensor proof of concept
When first wiring the sensors to the arduino

board, each sensor was connect from a digital pin
and sent through a 10k Ohm resistor. Though this did
work, the capacitance of the sensor was prematurely
setting off a signal. This gave a false reading on some
of the itterative tests.
multi sensor wiring diagram
multiple sensors - proof of concept

Wire diagram and model
The image to the right depicts the connection of

nine sensors from the Arduino board through a proto-
board. By establishing a voltage divider with a resistor
between the ground and the sensing probe, the cur-
rent was able to be pulled down enough, and estab-
lish a true reading between the sensor and the water.
These nine sensors connect to a different catch
basin depicted on the exploded axon diagram below.
The exploded axon is a 3D model that was uti-
lized for the production of a physical model via a 3D
printing prototype machine.
Multi sensor diagram
Exploded axon of model


Arduino + processing Code
The map, depicted below, of New York City’s Manhattan shows the location of
monitoring devices of the city’s storm drain catch basins. When these drains reach their
capacity, the points noted below change colors, and transform from black to red. This
screen capture demonstrates how the sensor technology can be connected to a monitor-
ing device, which displays in real time the problematic areas of potentially overflowing
catchbasins and sewers within the City.
map of NYC with locations of monitored storm drains


Processing map and data
collection points
Prior to establishing the Google map in Pro-

cessing, locations denoting the sensor placement
were assigned utilizing a similiar, but parallel process-
ing code. Once the points were chosen, the Google
map of NYC is able to connect those defined points to
the series of sensors connected to Arduino.
processing code establishing sensor

locations
processing code for google map

Model Assembly
Top View of Model
Integrated sensors within model

Model Assembly
Electronic Housing
Connection of wires to model

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UNDERGROUND AND THE CITY

CH.09 CH.08 CH.07 CH.06 CH.05 CH.04 CH.03 CH.02 CH.01

Underground and the City

The Water Underground

Cities are complex entities consisting of muliple

Underground and the City

Play and Puddles

As the emergence of a revitalized waterfront be-

infiltration of water on streets

Underground and the City

Runoff from rain and melting snow, street and

Underground and the City

Development of sewers and Water

During the 19th Century, much of New York City

excavation of earth to create tunnel

Underground and the City

water supply tunnels

Underground and the City

One of the earliest sewers that is still being used

Canal street Sewer

Underground and the City

Sub-terrainean Urban Fabric

This image displays the varying sub-surface

Underground and the City

Separate Sewer Areas

In some New York City neighborhoods, sani-

Combined Sewer Area

Underground and the City

single system diagrams

During heavy rain and snow storms, combined

single system - street level to sewer

underground and the City

When problems occur within the sewer system,

maintenance crews work on sewer

Underground and the City

Currently, NYC analyzes the quality of drinking

underground and the city

As storm drains fill, and the sewers reach their

Sewer overflowing at catch basins

underground and the city

proof of concept models

The following pages depict three proof of con-

1. Single sensor model

3d Printed model with build support

underground and the city:

Single sensor code

single sensor code - arduino

Underground and the city:

Integrating an Arduino board with a simple mois-

Underground and the city

Arduino + Procecssing Code

Arduino code enables the sensor to translate

underground and the city

Visualization and Proof of concept

When Processing is connected to the code

Display of interacting sensors

Arduino connected to sensors

underground and the City

multi sensor proof of concept

When first wiring the sensors to the arduino

multi sensor wiring diagram

multiple sensors - proof of concept

Underground and the city