Drawing Water: Collaborative Tools to Represent Hydrological Systems
Team: Jessica Rossi-Mastracci (co-PI), Molly Reichert (co-PI)
Program: ALI + GARP + CSBR
This research aims to develop speculative hybrid representations to convey fluid water systems across multiple spatial and temporal scales, moving beyond conventional static single-line delineations of water bodies. First, the interdisciplinary research team made up of faculty members and Graduate Research Assistants in Landscape Architecture, Architecture, Graphic Design, and Computer Science conducted a broad survey of visualization techniques including chord diagrams, choropleth maps, technical sections, Sankey diagrams, sequential sections, geospatial data, and system diagrams.
Then, these were analyzed to understand types of data that could be displayed, potential spatial scales of use, and relevant time scales, then organized into a graphic matrix. Simultaneously, the team collected a list of existing data sources that describe water in the built environment, including ArcGIS layers, census data, and long-term climate projections. Finally, team members worked collaboratively to hybridize representation strategies to describe water at multiple spatial (watershed to detail) and temporal (daily use patterns to long-term climate change projections) scales.
Outcomes from this work resulted in a dashboard prototype that begins to spatially and conceptually represent flows, inputs, uses, and sinks at multiple water scenarios. Future work aims to incorporate impacts of design interventions, policy proposals, and climate change predictions.
Keywords: representation, digital technology, design process, interdisciplinary research
Funders: 2024 CDes Collaborative Grant
