Artificial Tree Layer
Intro: Artificial Tree Layer
The Artificial Tree Layer is a speculative product that would be created sometime in the near future with the purpose of helping to solve some of the effects caused from the near extinction of trees. We as humans rely greatly on trees even if we may not realize it and likely would not be able to survive without them. Trees provide many necessary functions that ensure societies survival, such as removing CO2 and producing oxygen, so a lack of trees would cause many negative cultural effects. Ultimately, this product works by replicating the functions of real trees. The top filters will suck CO2 from the atmosphere through vents, the air will then travel through the branches and technology will convert the polluted air into clean air (oxygen) that will be returned to the environment. Multiple artificial trees will be placed near each other to create a canopy of trees with a solar layer that will help protect the society below and restore the Earth to its previous state.
STEP 1: Artificial Tree - Iteration 1
To begin, I started playing with different types of trees to see which design I liked the most. In this iteration I created a traditional pine tree by taking a cylinder and altering it to be the size of a tree trunk. Secondly, I took the roof shape and sized it down, then replicated it and slightly rotated it, continuing this process until it created the top of the tree. Lastly, I grouped the trunk with the top of the tree and replicated it twice to make a protective layer with the trees.
STEP 2: Artificial Tree - Iteration 2
I wanted to experiment with a different type of tree in this iteration. Firstly, I started with the cylinder shape and sized it to look like a long tree trunk. I then took the sphere shape and altered it slightly so it didn't look perfect and replicated it many times, grouping them together to create the actual leaves and main body of the tree. Lastly, I moved this group of spheres to the top of the trunk and grouped both shapes together to create another version of a tree.
STEP 3: Artificial Tree - Iteration 3
I changed my design from iteration 2 because I wanted to experiment using branches connected to the trunk and try a new tree top that would be more protective. Instead of using the cylinder shape, I tried using the polygon shape for the trunk. I then replicated the shape 3 times and changed the size and angle to look like branches were coming off of the tree trunk. Lastly, I took the half sphere and enlarged it to fit over the branches of the tree to act as the protective layer.
STEP 4: Artificial Tree - Iteration 4
In this iteration, I wanted to create a more realistic tree trunk with branches extending in different directions like a real tree would. To do this, I used the cylinder shape and replicated it many times but slightly changing the angle and size, making it look more natural. For the top branches, I still used the cylinder shape but made it increasingly smaller towards the top. Then I used the sphere shape and squished it to create a flatter circle for the tree layer and connected them to the branches. I though that having a flatter top surface would aid in protecting the ground level more and would look more natural compared to my past iterations.
STEP 5: Final Design - Base
I liked my fourth iteration the best, so I decided to use inspiration from that to complete my final design. I first began with the half sphere and shaped it so it would be a strong base and hold the weight of the artificial tree. I then used two cylinders and played with different angles and sizes until I got the shape of the "tree trunk" that I was looking for. Lastly, I grouped all of the shapes together so I could easily move the tree base around.
STEP 6: Final Design - Connective Branches
Next, I started working on the upper part of the tree that would connect to the layer that protects and removes polluted air. I used the tube shape to easily connect different branches, which were all made out of the cylinder shape, altered with different size and angles to create artificial branches. Once I found the placement of the branches that I wanted, I grouped them together so I could move the shape as one.
STEP 7: Final Design - Air Filter
Then, I started designing the air filter that is supposed to look like a futuristic version of the leaves or top of the tree. To do this I used the half sphere and rotated it where the flat part was facing upwards. I then sized it to the shape I liked. To make a replication of the filter that would suck CO2 from the atmosphere, I used the scribble shape to make a hole in the half sphere, creating lines that looked like vents on a filter.
STEP 8: Final Design - Join Elements
After replicating the air filters, I placed them on the connective branches to look like the top of the "tree." Together, the filters and the connective branches would help suck CO2 from the atmosphere though the vents, the air would then travel through the branches, where technology converts the polluted air into oxygen to go back into the environment.
STEP 9: Artificial Tree - Final Design
Lastly, I combined the tree base and the top of the tree by grouping them together and chose a solid color for the whole future artificial tree. This is just one artificial tree unit, but if used in the future, multiple units would be grouped together to create a canopy that would have two combined functions. There will be a thin solar layer placed over the top of the unit (which is not shown in this design), but would act as a protective layer to society below, while the artificial tree will be working to remove CO2 from the environment and produce oxygen like real trees used to do.
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randofo 3 years ago