The Affective Mesh: Air Components 3D Visualizations As A Research and Communication Tool

Calvillo, Nerea. 2012. The Affective Mesh: Air Components 3D Visualizations As A Research and Communication Tool. Parsons Journal for Information Mapping, 4(2), [Article]

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Abstract or Description

The analysis, management, and interaction with air pollution data has been generally relegated to experts based at scientific or government institutions. There is an increasing need to make such air-related data public; where air-related data has been obtained visualizations have emerged all over the world dealing with air quality representation. The aim of this paper is to make a historical review of air quality cartographies and then to analyze these visualizations from different perspectives. Our objective is to deploy this review and analysis to cover the following topics: To whom is the information addressed and toward what purpose? Which kind of graphic and physical interfaces are being used? What are their properties, opportunities, and shortcomings in terms of communication effectiveness?

We believe that the objective of these visualizations is to produce not only information, but behavioral change in citizens; thus, a shift in visualization strategy needs to be taken. Within this context our paper presents the project In the Air, developed by a multidisciplinary team through collaborative workshops. The aim is to test some of these new strategies, e.g., 3D maps as interactive interfaces. The digital application of In the Air captures Madrid City Council’s monitoring stations data, allowing not only the capability to see the density of pollutants (PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, O3) at a certain time and place, but also the analysis of historical data, to see their evolution in time, and to recognize the urban fabric. The goal of the project is to explore the 3D visualization as a tool for research that permits the intensifying of communication between scientists, institutions, and citizens, while opening up their capacity of interaction and decision making with the information exposed.

Item Type:

Article

Departments, Centres and Research Units:

Sociology > Research students

Dates:

DateEvent
April 2012Published

Item ID:

13859

Date Deposited:

05 Oct 2015 12:56

Last Modified:

06 Jun 2016 14:57

Peer Reviewed:

Yes, this version has been peer-reviewed.

URI:

https://research.gold.ac.uk/id/eprint/13859

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