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How to Measure a Planet

How to Measure a Planet seeks to create imaginary topographies through the height difference of two places on the planet based on digital and analog data. In other words, the project is a method and a subsequent representation that metaphorically connects two points on the planet by means of topographic related data. Essentially, it is a device that converts the collected data into a 2D plane drawing. The machine consists of three servomotors that translate digital information from collected data into a mechanical force that moves a pencil. Each arm is controlled by one of the following data: temperature, height, and pressure, all of which are related to the elevation of a given place.

Inspired by the extreme contrast between the two places where I have lived (Santiago - Bremen), I wondered about the ways in which a possible connection between them could appear. In other words, how the geographical differences of two particular territories can generate a metaphorical bridge, which may express these differences in perception of the places we inhabit.

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How to make differences appear

Is it possible to connect two points on Earth based on their geographic characteristics? And more specifically, on their height differences? How can we create a conceptual crossover between technology, geography, and the way we perceive the places we inhabit? With this starting point, I began to think about a device that would help me to translate these landscape differences into a material state. I started by using a barometric sensor connected to an Arduino microcontroller. The sensor captures humidity, temperature, and pressure. However, with a simple formula, it also calculates the altitude of a given place, considering that atmospheric pressure decreases with increasing elevation.

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With the data collected, the next step was to create a device that embodied the idea of linking two places. I developed a simulation in Processing software, using the Box2D library, a physics microcontroller which, in turn, controls the movement of the servomotors. Every servomotor is connected by an elastic cord, with a drawing object in the middle. Their movement is controlled by one of the data stated above (temperature, pressure, altitude). Pivot forces pull the pencil in opposite and unpredictable directions, creating unique marks on the canvas.

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How to Measure a Planet

    • Collect data in situ, from a given place.
    • Write a software and let it process your collected data into a physics simulation.
    • Use the collected data and mix it with analogous data from elsewhere (wind, rain, geomagnetism, etc.) obtained with the help of a measuring-drawing machine.
    • As a result, an imaginary topography of two given locations is drawn.

Results

Video documentation

How to Measure a Planet video documentation

Research & inspiration

An early stage of the process and the research behind can be found on The Dynamic Archive

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