UTTHAYAN
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Khao Luang National Park - Routes of Activities
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To be able to insert a design into specific site we need to understand. starting of by studying about program that is happening in khao luang, which is trekking, and i found that there are three types of trekking happening in khao luang. Forestry's Ranger patrolling, Researcher come and find samples, and tourist come to trekk in khao luang. Ranger patrolling routes happens all over khao luang area but heavily focus on the forest margin because people are illegally cut down the forest to create space for agriculture, and hunting, sometimes also cut down to sell the woods, normally rangers patrol in a minimum group of 5 because illegal deforestation groups are armed and dangerous, and will fight back to the ranger. Ranger also escort the researcher to collect sample, and for tourist we just trek along the route with hunter leading us to a good sightseeing spot.
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Khao Luang National Park - Forest Types Location
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From our experience the route that we took it has a very diverse in the characteristic of each area, so I start to research about the forest types in khao luang, there are 6 major types of forest existing in khao luang area. Which are lowland evergreen forest, mid elevated forest, lower montane forest, upper montane forest and river - stream forest.
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Khao Luang National Park - Forest Structure
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Forest can be classified by high of their location. Lowland evergreen forest can be divide into two parts, the below 300 masl and above 300 up to 600 masl. The area below 300 masl is in a critical situation because it has been heavily disturbed by human cutting down trees for agriculture and leaving only a small area of forest margin on the foot of the mountain, and on the above 300 masl is a semi evergreen forest, which occupying most of the natural landscape. Next is a 600 masl up to 1000 masl, the mid elevated forest, it is the most beautiful forest of Thailand, it is consist of almost every families of tree species in Thailand, since the area has a lot of moisture fern and moss are covered all around the area such as tree trunk and rocks. The lower montane forest is between 1000 - 1400 masl, it is an expose site along the ridge of the mountain so the trees are not very high and can be as low as 3 meters. And for the upper montane forest it is above 1400 masl. Trees up here have a unique appearance because it has to face to strong wind making the tree often crooked with dense irregular crown. And the last one river and stream forest, it happens along the river, trees here have a deep roots anchor itself into the ground prevent itself from falling during flash flood.
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| Khao Luang National Park - Routes Obstacle |
Along the way each area we are facing different obstacle, in the beginning we are facing massive amount of leech and some mosquito, because the area are still rich with natural resources and wildlife. And as we go we facing some slippery surface in the stream area, but as we go up the route are become more and more extreme, the route track are hard to find, the slope are very steep with a lot of erosion, sometimes tree falls and block the main routes, and as we go to the ridge line the patch is very narrow and not stable because of erosion and strong wind are blowing, and as we reach the camp there are no water source up there.
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Types of Survival Shelters
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We carry approximately 10 kg backpack with only our things, but hunter carry food, stove, plates and more for all of us, their backpack is about 25kg. And for ranger they have guns and more gear, that will be even more heavy. So instead of carrying hammock and stuff, we can decrease the weight by making the shelter from natural resource, so here are types of shelter already existing, debris shelter, cover yourself using easily accessible natural materials, spider shelter, This shelter is similar to a debris shelter but has an extra dome-like structure at the front, provide you extra room for you to sit up, cook, or more space for your gear. Wickiup Shelter, start with a tripod to build your base then continue on with more poles as you deem best. The gaps will be filled with leaves and small twigs. It will keeping you warm, and can light a fire inside if necessary. Using existing natural structure, such as cave or tree shapes or hole.
Design Concept
To create a shelter for people to decrease the weight of backpack, to make patrolling or trekking more efficiency. and another important point is that to control the camping site to minimize the contamination area in the forest.
The idea is to create a usable space that co exist with the tree, The low-ground, the design is a simple space, a specific distance between two column that is perfect for hanging hammock and flysheet. The area is used by common tourist that come with ranger or hunter and only carry a limited amount of items. The middle-ground, a shelter that was design to remain in the forest and need very little modification when needed to use, to make hunter able to decrease the weight from carrying shelter along with them, since they have to carry dry food, stove, center camp, etc. the area is elevated from the ground to protect the space from animals and rain water, and make it easy to spot as a camping site. Last one is, The high-ground, same concept as the middle ground, but this area are designed mainly for military usage, it is hidden up above eye sight and blending in with nature,the space does not only function as shelter but as a bunker when fighting against the illegal deforestation group, and also can also function as an observation tower for tourist in another time.
