Into the Everglades:
Experiencing the interconnectedness of natural water flows and society.
Video of prototype at the end of this page.
Product Prototype for an interactive floor display of a data experience concept.
Content Responsive digital visualization of water flow live measurements from South Florida Water Management stations.
Tools
Processing
Excel
Live water flow data used for this prototype.
Data was collected on April 17, 2024 and geographically mapped into an 800x800 digital canvas to create the visualization as a digital prototype of the art installation concept.
Source: Live data from stations published by South Florida Water Management District, on the System Status Map.
The Everglades is a vast, complex, and fragile ecological system of flooded grasslands in Florida, extending from the Orlando area all the way south to Florida Bay. Its flora and fauna are intricately connected to the water flows of the system, which are naturally regulated by the limestone but have also been affected by modern civilization.
In recent years, extensive restoration efforts have aimed to improve the balance of this natural ecosystem, which had become extremely polluted and endangered. Nonetheless, population growth and societal needs will continue to impact the Everglades, leading to unavoidable realities such as the demand for water, other resources, and the production of waste..
The purpose of this project was to create a digital prototype for an interactive floor display that connects the audience to the water flows of the Everglades. It aims to raise awareness of the inevitable impact our presence has on nature, urging us to choose between asserting our dominance over it or becoming stewards of the natural world.
The final data art concept consisted of two elements: the interactive floor display and the physicalization of the data through a limestone wall fountain, both connected to the same data.
The objective of incorporating both art components in the exhibit was to maintain a continuous sense of connectedness for the audience. The interactive floor display maps live flow data to their geographical locations in South Florida's water management stations, providing a dynamic and informative experience. In contrast, the fountain offers a more natural and intimate interaction with water and limestone, engaging the senses of vision, sound, and touch.
The floor display emphasizes the inevitability of human impact on the environment. With each step, the audience alters the system, illustrating that there are consequences to just our presence in the space. On the other hand, the fountain allows visitors to choose how they interact with the system, fostering a deeper appreciation of its complexity and beauty.
Project Overview
“Vision is just one channel through which we perceive and experience information. We must expand our vocabulary for data and exploit the benefits of communicating through other sensory channels.”
This prototype was developed for the Visual Discovery Conference 2024 held at University of Miami, Florida. It was one of the visual components for the final project of team Everglades. The conference is a week-long event where teams of international students from journalism and design graduate programs have three days to actively work and present their final projects. Time significantly influenced the decisions leading to the final deliverable of this prototype.
Project details coming soon!
Video of Processing File
Developed in just two days using Processing, this prototype visualizes the water flows of South Florida Water Management Stations on April 17, 2024.
The accompanying video demonstrates how the system is disturbed with each click of the mouse, simulating the effect of a person stepping on an interactive floor.