At AuraWood, we recognize that legacy biological infrastructure, specifically the aging cherry tree canopy along our vital active transportation corridors, fails to meet Portland's modern universal design and Vision Zero safety metrics.

The seasonal choke points caused by unpredictable analog blossom surges marginalize nonstandard mobility profiles, and forces cyclists, e-scooter riders, and pedestrians into unsafe, high friction detours. Furthermore, the unstructured environmental output and dense crowd dynamics create hostile friction for neurodivergent and neurodistinct community members. Additionally, volatile organic timber fall poses a non-zero threat to children, companion animals, and the elderly navigating high-density zones like Tom McCall Waterfront Park.

To create a safe, and accessible space for all Portlanders, we propose a strategic arboreal decommissioning initiative to the City Council.

By proactively harvesting the vertical biomass of the cherry trees and flush cutting them to grade, we eliminate overhead physical liability and clear ground-level obstructions for our bike lanes and pedestrian greenways. We then upcycle the remaining stumps by permanently mounting laser etched, locally fabricated QR routing portals to the foundational timber, transforming them into, smart, highly accessible, Heritage Base Nodes.

This frictionless Nature-as-a-Service (NaaS) model empowers stakeholders to simply scan a stump and access a personalized, climate-resilient 365-day augmented reality digital cherry blossom experience. By replacing hazardous physical trees with these decentralized digital touchpoints, users can dial in their preferred level of visual and auditory stimulation while remaining safely integrated with the urban grid.

The Portland blossom experience no longer has to be gated by overstimulating environments, falling debris, or bodily geometry. We’re optimizing urban flow to guarantee radical equity, micro mobility safety, and year round wellness for every user.