The evolution of human beings is marked
by adaptation. The ability to adapt to and
manipulate our environment is one definer of
intelligence, and ours is unique among life
on Earth. Since moving off of the African
Continent, humans have migrated to inhabit
every part of the Earth. Human existence
and perpetuity in the universe depends upon
the success of this adaptation, and inevitably,
migrating off of this planet. The technological
advances being developed today will change
our way of life, and enable people to travel to
and live permanently on the Moon and Mars.
This study involves the architectural design
and construction of a completely programmable
permanent Martian settlement in the year
2050.
Previous studies and proposals for
Martian architecture rely mostly on existing
technology. The first people are not expected
to reach Mars until 2030, and new and emerging
technologies will radically affect the designs
being considered today. Technical challenges
constrain designers of space architecture
today, and scientific developments will solve
many of these. This study seeks to explore
how new technology can positively affect the
architecture of the future, affording more
comfortable and livable space on Mars.
With a construction date of 2050, this
project differs from others by benefitting from
the next four decades of profound technological
advancement. Leading Futurist Raymond
Kurzweil predicts that the technological
singularity is within this time frame, and that
the 21st Century will, “Witness on the order
of 20,000 years of progress (at today’s rate
of progress) (Kurzweil, Law of Accelerating
Change).” This thesis theorizes that
nanotechnology will enable the deployment of a
completely self-constructing and programmable
permanent Martian settlement designed from
a series of spatial modules. The anticipated
results include a modular system of architectural
spaces, and an increased awareness of the
architectural benefits of emerging technologies
as they relate to future space architecture.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:USF/oai:scholarcommons.usf.edu:etd-5108 |
| Date | 22 September 2009 |
| Creators | Trover, Craig A. |
| Publisher | Scholar Commons |
| Source Sets | University of South Flordia |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | Graduate Theses and Dissertations |
| Rights | default |
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