System Exploitation_Research Final

System Exploitation Ashkahn Bazl

The trade of illicit consumables along different paths and points across the globe reveals an intricate system of overlapping networks through which these goods are stored, transported and distributed. Some networks are in place and revolve exclusively around the trade of one specific and many times disproportionately lucrative product, and others tend to facilitate movement of many goods falling under a general category. There are certain protocols that are observed within each of the networks by both operators, licit and illicit. The level of specificity pertaining to the particular consumable or set of consumablesdictates to a certain degree the types of protocol or counter protocol utilized in the construction of the illicit network.Points of transportation, exchange, storage and distributionof the consumables are all opportunities for the illicit networks to exploit the existing licit ones to continue their operations. The illicit networks often locate themselves within the context of a hyper dense, high traffic urban landscape. This type of urban context allows for areas of local camouflage that overwhelm the senses and as a result one does not notice the particulars when movingthrough these areas. It is within these hyper dense and high traffic zones of conditions that legitimate market conditions acquire a scale of ambiguity in terms of authenticity,legality and legitimacy that create spatial and infrastructural pockets for infiltration by the illicit trade networks.This allows for the simultaneous existence of both legitimate market and trade of illicit consumables. These areas of simultaneous existence present a zone within which to intervene. Since these types of conditions operatewithin the cityscape, it has an affect on the operations of the city, meaning that the illicit network does not have to abide to the regulations that the licit networks have to. However, there is an intelligence within the zones that both operate that allows them to indeed work simultaneously, and it is within these zones that an intervention proposalcan be made.The illicit networks use and exploit certain sets of protocolsto allow for their continual operation within the licit networks. In order to locate these areas of duality withinthe hyper dense urban context certain protocols and qualities have to be identified to make the connection that there is a zone of duality that exists. However, the continualexploitation of and operation within licit networks by illicit ones relies on several factors that also become transparent within the cityscape in regard to municipal and law enforcement practices. One instance would be that there is insufficient and/or incomplete evidence that is preventing law enforcement agencies from shutting down operations. In other instances the illicit networks are alreadyso far embedded into the legal or legitimate urban fabrics and practices that they are unable to be separated from each other. One context created when the networks become so far embedded within each other and there is an open disregard for the operation of illicit network practicesis that the illicit practices have an understood value to the licit ones. Meaning there is a creation of touristic, economic or cultural values that is undeniable to the identityof the city.The infrastructural proposal is to intervene in these existingzones to create a foreseeable continual existence betweenthe licit and the illicit networks. More specifically, intervene within the zones that seem to be far too embeddedwithin each other to take apart. The proposal is not to rip apart and shut down such operations, but make them more transparent to the public and have it become a fully legitimate system that the city can still embrace as an identity.