04.03.-
08.03.

week 5

took a closer look on the knowledgemile

reflected on forms of mapping data

researched for forms of displaying the lack of something

researched AR apps, which are simple to access

whats new?

what i have
done

made a concept for a two part map (seperate data with useful connection)

made a simplified 3D model based on the data collected of the knowledgemile

made a AR-Application to visualize part of the data in addition to th physical map

made a leporellomap from paper with two layers mainly using the lasercutter

I am very happy with how this sprint project turned out. I learned a little about making an AR App on the way, but the time we had was way too short to dive into it deeper. I would like to work with Kat again I think we could make some awesome stuff together.

note of the week

this weeks zine

datawalk

We chose the topic: places for public announcements (commercial, public, personal, illegal). We built a team of four people. Moritz, Neza, Kat and me started to do the first step, the datawalk directly on Monday after the we spoke about the assignment. It was windy but we managed to collect all the data we needed in 2,5 hours. We took over 280 photos to document

1. Existing announcements (commercial)
2. Existing announcements (steet art/illegal)
3. Potential places for announcements/empty spaces

During the walk it became clear to me that I wanted to focus on the empty and unused spaces during the assignment.

evaluating the data to visualize areas with a high density of empty space and reconnecting map with images

iterations

collecting & storytelling

testing & learning

assignment

We will do critical mappings of the Knowledge Mile (the area between Nieuwmarkt and Amstel Station). Each group will pick a topic from the list below, and go on a datawalk together. You will create a visual representation of your datawalk that tells a compelling visual story about the data you collected and the area you explored.

On the walk you will collect the “data” you will use to then create a visual representation of the area around a particular topic/angle/perspective. Record your data through a combination of: note taking, drawing, mapmaking, voice recording and photographing.

the idea

The idea was to make two maps which could work together. We decided to split the assignment in these two topics and maps:

1. mapping the existing announcements with the differenciation of commercial and not commercial communication

2. mapping opportunities for either a commercial or a non commercial announcement

Kat and I worked on the second one. We quickly decided to integrate AR in the map, which we considered very useful to map height of space in addition to width.

extract of some of the empty spaces found during the datawalk; over all there was a huge amout of unused space, which inspired me to map them

sketch of the idea giving it shape and visualizing the AR component

first cut in a small scale to test the AR App with the shape --> contrast was not high enough for being recognized as a marker

testing more colorful basis for recognition --> didn't do the trick, I still wanted to use the whole map as a marker and not divide it in parts

choosing a darker color for the final map and the maximum scale, which the App builder Onirix would be able to recognize --> 1m width

modelling the heights

After the papermap was final and printed I used it as a basis for modelling the hightmap which was to be the part you should see in the AR App, when scanning the map. For the worflow I used the map shape as a blueprint and modelled the shapes on it. Because it is a really simple model, I didn't encounter any problems. Because of the limits of the Onrix programme which we used for creating the app it was not possible to use any textures. But that was not a big deal actually because we were still in the process of designing the map itself simultaniously.

We came up with the idea to map the textures of the shown surfaces directly on the map through a second layer. The second layer should then give information about the surface structure in a analog visual way.

using Autodesk Maya for creating the model

export of the final model as one object and one fbx-file for importing and placing it quickly

working in the programme for creating the App, testing recognition threshold and the accuracy

basic height model

Onirix Studio working environment

wrapping cover of the map

we chose to make matching covers with the other group of two who are on the same topic. so we took the same color range and the same measurements to show the resemblence

As you can see, the mapping of the model onto the marker did not work out perfectly in the end.

I tried different things to make the display mor accurate.

1. Quality of the photo used as the marker --> is very important

2. Contrast needs to be high --> thats why we took photos on white background

3. Color usage makes it more differenciable

There are certainly more aspects in which we were not able to look into in that short amount of time.

Unfortunately the

the result

collaboration

We teamed up in the following constellation:

Moritz + Neza + Kat + Me

We decided on working on the topic "Places for public announcements", basically because Moritz fell in love with that topic. I wouldn't mind, because I found everything interesting to get a closer look on. I liked that all of us were eager to start right away, so we did the datawalk on the first day after class. Neza wanted to make the pictures, I documented the location, where they were taken. We didn't have a plan yet on what to do exactly and I wanted to get inspired on the go...which happend.

When doing the datawalk I realised there is much more empty and unused space then existing announcements on the knowledge mile. It somehow became clear to me I wanted to work with the empty spaces. Moritz had the idea of making an AR app with the photographs I thought this would be a fun way of showing the data we collected.

After the datawalk we sat down and mapped the results in photoshop. We also divided the photos in:
- commercial
- street art
- empty space

Then it got a bit difficult. I had a lot of stress this week considering I was going to go to Berlin on thursday night. Therefore I would miss a day on the assignment. I had a plan on my mind how this would still work out but my plan did not work out with the plans of the other group members.
At that point I got a little snappy and not fair to the others I was told by Moritz which is a tendency I have when I don't get my ways and I definitely need to work on that. But also: When something like this happens, I adjust very fast so it was all fine again one hour later.

So after we talked about the map-plans we split in the subgroups Moritz & Neza, wo would work on the commercial and street art existing announcements and Kat and I. We would work on the empty spaces map. I liked how we planned to make the maps somehow matching - so they would somehow be working as one again.
The plan was for the one map to show which places are already taken by what kind of public announcements. The other map shall show opportunities and thats also what Kat and I called it in the end.

Working with Kat was awesome. We both have the same working speed (Kat maybe even a bit faster, I tend to think some more about stuff before making it and Kat dived just in during the assignment). It was very cool to see how our map just became what it is during the process which is exactly what I wanted to explore during the minor and what was going really good working with Kat. Also we divided the work: Kat made the physical map, I made the digital part of it and the cover. Kat told me if we wouldn't be agreeing with each other it might not be so good working together, because we both have strong opinions. But fortunately that seemed to fit.

some more screenshots from the AR App running on a smarthone from different angles

model placement on the marker in Onirix environment

some notes on the wrapping

We teamed up in the following constellation:

Moritz + Neza + Kat + Me

We decided on working on the topic "Places for public announcements", basically because Moritz fell in love with that topic. I wouldn't mind, because I found everything interesting to get a closer look on. I liked that all of us were eager to start right away, so we did the datawalk on the first day after class. Neza wanted to make the pictures, I documented the location, where they were taken. We didn't have a plan yet on what to do exactly and I wanted to get inspired on the go...which happend.

When doing the datawalk I realised there is much more empty and unused space then existing announcements on the knowledge mile. It somehow became clear to me I wanted to work with the empty spaces. Moritz had the idea of making an AR app with the photographs I thought this would be a fun way of showing the data we collected.

I also talked about the idea with my boyfriend Max. This is basically what I always do when working on something. So this paraphrase is valid for each week's documentation, now that I come to think of it.

I "use" him as the not compromised part in my work. He looks at things from a distant point of view without knowing all details. He is a very critical person, who is never afraid to speak his mind.
His critique is honest, mostly constructive and very helpful most of the time, too. If you are reading this: Thank you for that, I apprechiate it :)