-This web page was created as part of a project for Urban Geography USM Fall 2003

-Author: Andrew Land-University of Southern Maine-Geography/Anthropology Student

-A full version of the final paper may be available for viewing in pdf format soon, so

 check back soon!

Trash has been used throughout history to expand land masses via landfill.  This site is

dedicated to the use of landfills to expand coastal urban environments.  Other techniques

such as land reclamation via the drainage of water has also been used, each different in

application but essentially having the same purpose.  The use of these different techniques

to increase space and expand landscapes have been directly affected by the history of

planning thought.  During industrialization in the early 1900's the focus was on building

a strong economic base for the city.  During the mid twentieth century Urban Renewal

consumed many planners minds.  The concept of Urban Renewal historically has been a

bit unsettling.  The focus on planning for the city versus planning for sustainable living is

an idea that can be tough to wrestle with.  After all the people live in the city, but at the same

time the city has to be developed for the people.  Urban renewal has a dark past containing the

abuse of eminent domain and the intrusion on peoples lives and cultures and seemingly a

disregard for the landscape.  This disregard can be both cultural and environmental. 

Currently the idea of urban renewal is still going on in places but has since undergone

some changes.  In some cases people are more compensated for being imposed upon, but

realistically the underlying implications are still the same.  Perhaps the the single largest

effect on planning has been the advent of the Environmental Protection Agency and the

necessity of environmental impact statements.  This has helped push along the notion of

sustainable planning, but we are far from being able to plan completely from a visionary

mold.  Zoning laws have also been created to control the type of development and or

redevelopment of landscapes, the intentions are good, but have created severe limitations

in the planning process.

Some interesting ideas develop around the expansion of coastal landscapes period, regardless

of the techniques used.  The question I would ask you to ask yourself while exploring this site

is the notion of space.  Space in the context of having a defined border, in this case that border

is a coastline.  What does this say about the differentiation between land and ocean.  Granted it isn't

possible (in the United States) to expand a coast via landfill anymore, or frivolously dump municipal

trash along the coast.  There is however the ability to reclaim land along the coast via land

reclamation techniques.  So the question is where do landscapes stop?  Our perceptions of land

use have changed over time, but has our perception of space?  Hopefully this site contains useful

and ponderable information. Enjoy!