Air
Preemptive Media and Beatriz da Costa
AIR is a participatory project in which people can monitor and share data on air pollution in urban environments using custom-made DIY devices created by Preemptive Media.
Creative Contribution
What was the significant innovation in approach or thinking behind the project/artwork? How can this be recognisably attributed to the involvement of creative practice?
AIR is a public, social experiment in which people are invited to use Preemptive Media's portable air monitoring devices to explore their neighbourhoods and urban environments for pollution and fossil fuel burning hotspots. Members of the public are supplied with a device and then asked to monitor the air around them. Simultaneously they are able to view the data being recorded from the other devices in their network. An on-board GPS unit and digital compass, combined with a database of known pollution sources such as power plants and heavy industries, allow carriers to see their distance from polluters as well. The AIR devices regularly transmit data to a central database allowing for real time data visualization on the website: http://www.pm-air.net/.
The project is framed as an artwork, but does not have the appearance or character of a conventional piece of art. Instead it takes a workshop format and has the appearance of a grass-roots social and environmental design project.
Collaboration
What were the disciplinary contributors to the project? What model of research / development was followed? What were factors leading to success / problems?
Beatriz da Costa has worked at the intersection between art, politic, engineering and the life sciences for a number of years and her previous projects include work with the critical art ensemble.
AIR was developed in conjunction with the PigeonBlog, a project by Beatriz da Costa with Cina Hazegh and Kevin Ponto three artists who work collaboratively.
AIR's data visualization was developed with Theodore Watson and the device case with Evan Harper of Eyebeam's Production Studios as part of the 2005 Social Sculpture Commission program.
Creation of beta tests, trial runs and impact assessments based on artist-led research, providing alterative uses for the technology outside of mainstream manufacturing.
Values
What were the outcomes of the project? How were these disseminated to outside stakeholders? What models of value are implied by this project? What was the Impact of the work?
The project was launched in 2006 in New Your City and has since been used in various locations across central USA. A data visualization is permanently accessible on the website.
A website and an exhibition at Eyebeam as well as projects as far a field as Brazil. An extensive list of associated resources and links is available on the project website.
The project has both utility, in so far as it creates information on pollution in the city, and also serves as a provocation above and beyond this utility.
Links and Resources
http://www.beatrizdacosta.net/
http://www.pm-air.net/dataVis/index.php
http://www.preemptivemedia.net/
