Smithfield - possible role for netmapping
+City Commons index
Drew Mackie
It has been suggested that we might use network mapping methods to explore the past present and future of the Smithfield Market. We might do this by:
- creating a time-tagged and animated map of the relationships between:
- people- the historic and current individuals who were / are key to the operation and change of the market and its surrounding communities and commercial infrastructure
- organisations- the firms, guilds/unions, and politics driving historical and current operation and change
- places- the market itself and the surrounding physical environment including gathering places, affected streets and so on.
- Using the map to explore historical, present and future development and change
- Incorporating some of the findings and graphic output of the map into the place mapping / route exploration work in the Smithfield area and the likely effects in Barking.
This ‘POP’ structure allows plenty of overlaps with the history, development and future planning of the area and of the possible effects of the market relocation, both on the Smithfield area and on Barking. We can use the network map to carry out a number of ‘what ifs’ of the future of the market.
History studies are starting to use netmapping to understand complex relationships and patterns of change. Niall Ferguson’s recent ‘The Square and the Tower’ is an example - although its had mixed reviews, the general network perspective that it introduces has been welcomed.