Appropriate - Technology Access to Stimulate Research in Tropical Rain Forest Biology

热带研究组织的La Selva生物站位于哥斯达黎加的热带潮湿森林，已成为世界上研究原始和变化的热带生态系统生态学最活跃的地点之一。空间站最近的发展推动了研究用途的快速和持续增长。先进的实验室设施，壮观的生物多样性资源，新的地理信息/数据库管理系统，多样化的观测和操纵栖息地，优良的基础设施，友好的社会政治环境都促进了La Selva的持续增长。然而，对发挥空间站的研究和教育潜力有很大影响的是，很难进入保护区大约一半的区域。OTS将为行人、自行车和小型电动汽车创造一个合适的技术、环境友好的接入系统。西区快速交通系统(WART)是一条6公里长、1.7米宽的铺设小路，将实验室/生活区与拉塞尔瓦最遥远的部分连接起来。沃尔特概念的发展以及在其设计中采用的环境和工程标准是经过深思熟虑的。该项目将为研究人员带来直接和实质性的好处，他们的项目范围从分子到生态系统，以及从原始低地雨林到废弃牧场的栖息地。更好的准入对于实现拉塞尔瓦推动热带科学发展的巨大潜力至关重要。西部附设快速交通系统将提供这一通道，该系统使用的技术与交通问题的规模相适应，并采用了环境敏感的设计。

The La Selva Biological Station of the Organization for Tropical Studies, located in tropical wet forests of the Republic of Costa Rica, has become one of the world's most active sites for research on the ecology of pristine and altered tropical ecosystems. Recent developments at the Station have fueled a rapid and sustained increase in research usage. Advanced laboratory facilities, spectacular biodiversity resources, a new Geographic Information/Database Management System, diverse habitats for observation and manipulation, excellent infrastructure, and a welcoming socio-political environment have all contributed to La Selva's continuing growth. A substantial to fulfilling the research and education potential of the station, however, has been the difficulty of access to approximately half of the reserve's area. OTS will create an appropriate-technology, environmentally benign access system for pedestrians, bicycles, and small electric vehicles. The Western Annex Rapid Transit system (WART) is a 6-km long, 1.7 m wide paved path that will link laboratory/living areas to the most distant sections of La Selva. Development of the WART concept and the environmental and engineering criteria employed in its design are well thought out. The project will bring immediate and substantial benefits to researchers whose projects range from molecules to ecosystems, and in habitats from primary lowland rain forest to abandoned pastures. Improved access is critical to realizing La Selva's outstanding potential to advance tropical science. The Western Annex Rapid Transit system, using technology appropriate tot he scale of the transportation problem and applied in an environmentally-sensitive design, will provide this access.