DATA WALKING

data gathering & data visualisation


ABOUT
Exploring the potential of walking to gather environmental data and through multiple walks and visualisations build a rich picture of that area.

The project examines technology and tools for creative data gathering and experimenting with data visualisation, to create tools, gain insight, and share knowledge.



AIMS
Connecting data gathering and data visualisation fields as one connected workflow, learning through a process of experimentation.

Allowing participants to bind together around a number of access points, be it a shared interest in an area, an issue, a technique, or a peer-to-peer exchange of skills and knowledge.



ORIGINS
The project began by joining Mnemonic City on artistic walks as a way to trigger memories, stories, and reflections. I took an interest in this method combined with a desire to explore technology and data, and the urban environment and started Data Walking.



TOOLS
Arduino
GPS Shield
Sensors
Smartphones
Laptops
Processing
Exiftool



PROCESS
Create data gathering device
Test device works!
Walk and gather data
Visualise data
Reflect and refine...



PHASES
Stratford
4 walks over 24 hours with production of data cylinders and exhibition at Barbican Centre

Amsterdam
Weekend walking and gathering data using smartphone photos

North Greenwich
12 walks over 12 months with students from Graphic Design, Design & Coding, and Post-Graduate program. Sharing of data online, collating techniques & responses into a functional report.



DATA
We have generated a lot of data measuring light, noise, temperature, air quality, people, and photographs all tied to a specific time and location.



CONTRIBUTIONS
Mixture of:


PRINTING
It happened!

WORKSHOPS &
PRESENTATIONS

London
Greece
Taiwan
Utrecht
Cambridge
Canada
Tbilisi
Remote!



FUTURE PATHS?
Printed maps
Exhibitions
Workshops
Residencies
Collaborations
FFT applied to noise pollution
More data sculptures
Device apps/web apps for GPS located video/audio
Web technologies/Unity
Photogrammetry
Explorable data cities/environments
AR/VR
Machine learning applied to visual pollution
Machine learning to extract detail and meaning