FLOATING POINT

WHY WATER? The future of the world population depends on the availability of a safe drinking water supply. In some countries, drinking water is a scarce resource, while in others vast reserves exist. Freshwater resources are susceptible to a variety of chemical contaminants. Common pollutants include pesticides, fertilizers, petroleum products, and industrial solvents. As global citizens we must become more concerned about potential health risks associated with our drinking water.

Water quality tests are conducted by scientists who graph data over time to monitor shifts in concentrations of dissolved solids and chemical pollutants. Such specialists identify changes in our freshwater resources by building visual models that process enormous amounts of data. Familiar techniques include bar graphs and x-y scatter plots. Holmes uses the same water quality data to create conceptual forms of data visualization to communicate vital environmental information to a non-scientific audience. The broader goal of the proposed research is to promote sustainable and ecologically responsible modes of living, and a general awareness of both local and global water quality issues.

CLICK TO SEE ANIMATION STUDIES CREATED AT COLAB.

WHY PIXELS? Each animation begins with a 32-bit one-pixel square. Water is an essential resource for life; the pixel is the basic unit of the screen. Data gathered over time can create complexity out of this very simple form. At the beginning of the animation, a small square roves the white canvas leaving a trail of marks. The concentration of dissolved oxygen determines how much of the white canvas the square can occupy. Increased amounts of dissolved oxygen will show an all-over coverage pattern (image at right). The circles drawn in the image shows points where the dissolved oxygen level increased by more than 1 mg/L.