**Pre-departure Assignments and Logistical information

June 15, 2018 · by · in ,

UO International Studios Barcelona Urban Design Website Link

LOGISTICAL TIPS

Program Address: We will stay at Residencia Mestral. Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 701, 08013 Barcelona, Spain, 

Options:

1) Taxi +/- 40€; or

2) Aerobus to Plaza Catalunya (6€) + Taxi (4€)

3) Google it before departing

Flights: Google Drive, Fill out the roster email with flight arrival information for the day of arrival in case there is a delay.  Upon arrival be extra careful about pick-pocketers and thieves with your bags. Watch your bags and belongings AT ALL TIMES.

Cash Money: You will need +150 euros for ground transportation for day trips, bike rentals (yes) and metro pass for the last week. You will have to get one 30 day metro pass for 50 trips to start the program. You can get money at the airport ATM but I also suggest bringing some euros if possible.

Plastic Money: Call your credit / debit card company’s fraud hotline to notify them of date and countries you will visit. You will need a PIN to use credit cards at machines.

Hardware: Backup computer data. Consider insurance for phones and computers.

Software: Have working software that preferably does not require internet connection for Windows (Rhino Grasshopper is Windows only), Photoshop, Illustrator, Excel and Rhino 5.0 for Windows.

Personal Items: You will be provided towels and sheets. Grocery stories for bath goods are easily accessible. Each apartment will have a washing machine. We will purchase prong adaptors (US to EU). Try to avoid bringing a power converter (110-220). I would suggest NOT bringing a 110 hairdryer, shaver, etc. Check your electronic devices for use with 220v.

Mobile Computing / Phones: Open your smart phones. US companies are better at this now since a new law has passed. I will propose 25 euro monthly plans for data, calls and txt messages when we arrive (Orange, Vodafone). I also suspend my line with Verizon to save money. I would try to have insurance.

Special Accommodations: Please let me know of any other specific accommodations. While this is voluntary of course by law, I will try to accommodate special needs. Pharmacies for example are commonly found in our neighborhood.

Personal Comfort: It will be hot. I suggest you pack a light wind breaker but otherwise light clothing. GOOD SHOES are a must. We will walk a lot. Sun screen is a must.

Luggage: Be reminded that liquids are still not allowed as carry-on luggage. Please see your airline ticketing information for luggage limits.

Passports: DO NOT FORGET YOUR PASSPORT on the way to the airport.

Patience: Bring your patience with me.  Spain has a very easy sense of life and that means that things are not always managed as you expect them from the USA. The sublime requires faith.

URBAN COMPUTING THEORY: READINGS

  • Reviewing last year’s blog to understand the final projects, schedule and structure of the course.  https://lcabcn2015uo.wordpress.com/ I will also revise the detailed schedules but the overall flow of neighborhood visits, day trips and workshops will remain similar.

URBAN COMPUTING SKILLS/METHODOLOGY: RHINO GRASSHOPPER

Software and Hardware:

Tutorials and Exercises

Grasshopper takes time to learn. Some tutorials before arriving will help this process immensely. It will allow greater learning retention when we teach it a second time. It will also provide more communication between team members.

Blog posts on Grasshopper and Grasshopper Lab Notes here.

Grasshopper 02: Introduction and Image Sampler

Grasshopper 03: Simple Point Attractor

…Other University of Oregon media tutorials (Illustrator, Rhino, Photoshop)

Templates: We will provide Grasshopper definitions (files) on a server location when we arrive. We used a Google Drive last year.

Thank you kindly

Philip

AMAZING LIFE EXPERIENCE TO FOLLOW!