Data-driven Ecologies

Data-driven Ecologies Image

Project: “Pulse” Data-driven Ecologies

The “Pulse” project is a series of site-specific art installations that seek to make the invisible forces of nature visible and tangible. By harnessing real-time environmental data and translating it into dynamic displays of light and sound, Pulse creates a powerful, intuitive connection between the observer and the hidden rhythms of the surrounding ecosystem. The goal is to foster a deeper sense of ecological awareness and wonder.

1. Concept: Giving Nature a Voice

We are constantly surrounded by complex, dynamic ecological processes—the ebb and flow of tides, the subtle shifts in air quality, the photosynthetic activity of plants. Yet, these processes are often too slow, too small, or too abstract for us to perceive directly. The “Pulse” project acts as a sensory prosthesis, an amplifier that translates the silent data of the environment into a language that we can see and hear.

From Abstract Data to Embodied Experience

Environmental data is often presented in charts and graphs, which can feel abstract and emotionally distant. Pulse transforms this data into an “embodied” experience. Instead of reading a number on a screen, you can see the wind as a wave of light flowing across a field, or hear the rising tide as a slowly ascending musical tone. This creates a more immediate and visceral understanding of the natural world.

2. The Technical Ecosystem

Each “Pulse” installation is a custom-designed system that consists of three main components: a sensor network, a data processing unit, and an output display.

The Sensor Network

We deploy a network of wireless, low-power sensors tailored to the specific site. These sensors might measure:

  • Air Quality: Particulate matter (PM2.5), CO2 levels, volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
  • Water Quality: pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen levels in a nearby river or lake.
  • Soil Conditions: Moisture levels, temperature.
  • Biometric Data: The subtle electrical signals in plants (galvanic response), indicating photosynthetic activity.
  • Atmospheric Data: Wind speed and direction, barometric pressure.

The “Brain”: Data Processing and Sonification/Visualization

A central computer (often a Raspberry Pi or similar single-board computer) collects the data from the sensor network. Custom software written in a creative coding environment (like Processing or TouchDesigner) then processes this stream of data in real-time.

The core of the artistic work lies in the algorithms that translate the data into aesthetic output. This is not a direct one-to-one mapping. We design systems of “sonification” (turning data into sound) and “visualization” (turning data into light) that are both scientifically meaningful and artistically expressive. For example, rising CO2 levels might not just make a light brighter, but might cause its color to shift from a cool blue to a warm red, and its rate of pulsing to increase.

The Output: Light and Sound

The output systems are also custom-designed for each site. We have used:

  • LED Networks: Large arrays of individually addressable LEDs that can create flowing patterns of light.
  • Projectors: For mapping dynamic visuals onto natural surfaces like trees or rock faces.
  • Multi-channel Sound Systems: To create immersive, spatialized soundscapes where different sounds move through the space, reflecting the location and intensity of the data source.

3. Case Study: “Pulse of the Park”

One of our most successful installations was “Pulse of the Park,” located in a city park. A series of tall, translucent light columns were scattered throughout a grove of trees.

  • The speed of the wind was translated into the speed at which waves of light traveled up and down the columns.
  • The ambient CO2 level, measured in the center of the park, controlled the color of the light, shifting from green (low CO2) to yellow/orange (higher CO2) as crowds gathered in the evening.
  • The moisture level in the soil was translated into a low, ambient hum, which would become more prominent after a rainfall.

The installation became a focal point for the community. People began to develop an intuitive understanding of the park’s “breathing.” They could see the impact of their own presence (in the CO2 levels) and became more attuned to the subtle changes in their environment. By giving the park a “pulse,” we helped foster a stronger, more empathetic connection between the city’s inhabitants and their shared green space.