Eco maps

Last week I went to PICNIC, a cross-discipline platform for creative conversation and collaboration. They offered a workshop and seminar on visualizing eco data, Ecomap Lab.
The seminar was inspiring. All speakers were interested in citizen participation, which isn’t really my starting point but maybe my finish. I always start from what effects me personally and what I want to know and make. But these maybe things a lot of people want to know.
Most interesting for me were:
1) The Green Watch A watch that shows time, ozone and noise level. They wanted to involve a lot of people so they could measure many different locations. That’s why the watches needed to be low engagement. People can just wear them and don’t have to be bothered by them. The maps displays individual watches in real time and collective results. They want to aid an ‘ecosystem of initiatives.’ So that everybody who’s doing similar things can also display their collected data. The watch interface was numbers, the separate mobile phone had a graphic display of noise and ozone.
2) Pachube  a web service for sharing and reusing (sensor) data. This could be interesting for comparing data with others and having others use my data. For me it’s still not quite clear how to connect but it shouldn’t be too difficult. Third parties are developing apps which holds a promise for future uses.
3) Urban Ecomap, San Francisco a global project by Connected Urban Development showing eco data per city and neighbourhoods. They also offer ways to take action as an individual and share your efforts on Facebook. The whole website is made with Flash and has a nice integrated feel. They’re working on an Amsterdam version.
4) In the Air is a visualization project which aims to make visible the microscopic and invisible agents of Madrid´s air. I love this project. It has a smart looking, animated 3D visualisation of different gasses and particles (Sulfur dioxide / Carbon monoxide / Nitrogen dioxide / Particulate / Ozone.) Apart from the website they have also experimented with a physical prototype using water vapour. I especially liked the domestic versions that people can place on their balcony or window, and the kids version with coloured balloons.

Screen dump of In the air visualisation tool
Screen dump of In the air visualization tool

In the afternoon we discussed issues and possible success scenario’s. I found it inspiring to thing about ‘natural’ ways of displaying data (embedded in the environment) and low-tech ways of collecting data using your body as a sensor.

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