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April 1st, 2023

The city in which I currently reside recently unveiled plans for a new aviation-themed park, complete with areas for recreation, sports, play, and education. While I am an avid aviation enthusiast, it plays a significant role in my life, I also harbor concerns about the deteriorating state of our natural environment. In the current climate of heightened environmental awareness, the construction of an aviation-themed park seems somewhat out of place. Can the local government and the investors, truly anticipate viability through the establishment of hotels and recreational experiences?
Might as well consider building an oil industry-themed rollercoaster park…

Images generated by Dall-E, Press release co-created with GPT-4

(PRESS RELEASE)

New Oil Industry Themed Park named ‘Pump Paradise Adventureland’ set to open near Zeebrugge in April 2025, Featuring Unique Environmental Initiatives.

Zeebrugge, Belgium – April 1, 2023 – A groundbreaking new oil industry-themed park, designed to offer a unique and educational experience, is set to open near the city of Zeebrugge in April 2025.

Mr. van Geloof, the park’s spokesperson, expressed his excitement about the project, stating that they could not be left behind as Antwerp recently unveiled plans for its aviation-themed park near Antwerp Airport. The innovative park will feature a variety of attractions, including a swimming pool filled with a black liquid that closely resembles oil. Rest assured, this substance is not real oil but rather a sugary, unharmful solution that has been tested on rats for safety. This immersive experience will allow visitors to feel as if they are swimming in the lifeblood of the energy industry.

In a nod to environmental sustainability, the park will incorporate recycled oil pipes as slides, giving visitors a thrilling and authentic ride. Additionally, the park will feature a unique “Carbon Capture Forest,” where trees will be painted black to symbolize the absorption of carbon emissions. This bold initiative is intended to raise awareness about the importance of reducing the environmental impact of the oil industry.

Mr. van Geloof claimed, “Our park will be so eco-friendly that even the parking lot will sequester carbon dioxide, making driving to our park a net-zero emissions experience!”.

The park will also feature spaces for sports, play, and education, with a focus on showcasing the benefits of oil to the world. Despite protests from the general public, support from within the oil industry has been strong. Industry leaders have successfully lobbied the local government, ensuring that the project can proceed without any current obstacles.

The oil industry-themed park is expected to draw visitors from around the world with its unique blend of entertainment, education, and commitment to sustainability.

Save the date for the grand opening in April 2025 and prepare for an unforgettable experience!

#sustainability

It won’t be long before AI-generated Fake Satellite Images can’t be distinguished from real satellite imagery, even by trained experts. In this age of elevated disinformation, this poses a risk. Bad actors, for example, can effortlessly generate and publish such content in mere minutes. Accompanied by a press release this content can be immensely disruptive during political discourse.

People can easily be convinced, without further evidence to back up a claim. That’s why it is so important to always be skeptical about disruptive claims and be able to find other trustworthy sources of the same information.

Here’s a press release written by ChatGPT. The images were generated by Dall-E. I chose to exclude references to any existing geographical or political locations. None of it happened in the real world.

Undisclosed Military Rocket Launch Facility Found Disguised as Industrial Complex.

Satellite images of an undisclosed geographical location have revealed a shocking discovery: what appeared to be an industrial complex is actually a military rocket launch facility. The images, which show silos, barracks, offices, roads, undisclosed buildings, and tracks, were obtained by an anonymous source and analyzed by experts.

According to these experts, the facility has likely been disguised as an industrial complex to avoid detection by other countries or international organizations. The location of the facility has not been revealed for security reasons, but it is believed to be located in a region of political tension and military activity.

The silos seen on the satellite images are believed to be used for storing and launching missiles, while the barracks and offices suggest that the facility is staffed by military personnel. The tracks and roads likely facilitate transportation of missiles and other equipment to and from the facility.

The discovery of this undisclosed military rocket launch facility raises questions about the intentions of the country or organization responsible for it. Some experts speculate that it may be part of a larger effort to expand military capabilities and assert power in the region.

The fact that the facility was able to remain hidden for so long underscores the importance of satellite imaging and other technologies for monitoring potential threats to national and international security. It also serves as a reminder of the ongoing need for transparency and cooperation in the international community to ensure that military activities are conducted responsibly and within the bounds of international law.

While the existence of this facility may raise concerns, it also highlights the ongoing efforts of individuals and organizations to uncover potential threats to security and to promote greater transparency and accountability in military activities. The anonymous source who provided the satellite images is a testament to the important role that individuals can play in monitoring and reporting on potential security risks.

As more information about this undisclosed military rocket launch facility becomes available, it will be important for the international community to work together to address any potential security concerns and to promote greater transparency in military activities around the world.

Evolving Asteroid Starship is a multidisciplinary cocreated research project investigating the possibility of utilizing an interstellar asteroid for future human exploration and colonization led by Angelo Vermeulen.

This page represents my personal contribution only, the module address assignment algorithm, a tiny fraction of this extensive co-creating project of students, researchers, and artists. The C# script can be found in my GitHub repository.

Summary
A complex algorithm taking into account various flavors of lifeforms continuously produces a virtual array of required modules in order to grow, adapt and sustain a human colony living in the ‘shadow’ cone of an interstellar asteroid. 

A second algorithm is fed by this data and assigns a valid address in physical space to each newly produced module according to positioning rules. The starship’s self-replicating architecture is in continuous flux as growth and recycling happen within different levels of the ecosystem. All modules have the same exterior proportions of a truncated octahedron, however, each module will be assigned one of the nine different functionalities at its core to be part of a regenerative ecosystem. 

At the start of the assignment, I was searching for a platform to write the module assignment algorithm. Initially, Processing (Java) was chosen for quick prototyping and form exploration and this really helped me gain ideas about how to assign valid module addresses inside a virtual space. However, we opted to build the visualization model with Unity3d/C# for render and media purposes.

The following images offer a first impression of the Module Assignment application in Unity3d. Assuming a spherical form (which simplifies computational work), modules of different purposes are assigned an address built behind the asteroid.

Initial prototyping in Processing for form visualization:

Development in Unity3d:

Mineable addresses and mining module movement toward the asteroid core:

Module Address Algorithm schematic

Artist impression 3D media render.

More information about Evolving Asteroid Starship can be found on the SEADS website.

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