This project offers an interactive data visualization of fine particulate matter concentrations, specifically $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2 5}$, in ambient air. Fine particulate matter, or air pollution, presents a clear threat to the health and quality of life for breathing organisms, though this danger is often underestimated or overlooked.

Project Aim

The installation aims to raise awareness by making this invisible threat to human health visible, even turning it into something visually appealing. When a user inputs a city, the code queries the airqn.org API for current air pollution levels. The central concept of this project is to transform a critical global health issue into an aesthetically engaging experience to foster greater public awareness.

Web-based Prototype

Enter a city name to see a visual representation of its particulate matter ($PM_{2.5}$ and $PM_{10}$).

The source code for this project can be found in this Github repository.

Physical Prototype

Through a physical interface, the user can actively compare different air quality conditions by navigating through different measurement stations in the world and travelling forth and back in time, while having the simulated particle system respond to the data accessed accordingly. In addition to projecting the particle simulation on the layers of the semitranslucent 3D-screen, the corresponding raw data is shown on a small LED screen.

Project Development

The code for the particle simulation was written in Java Script (P5js) and the interface for the analogue interface, developed in the Arduino IDE. The physical interface was implemented using two potentiometers (for navigation through an array of locations) and a small LED screen (for visualizing the raw data) connected to an Arduino microcontroller. The script communicates with the aqicn.org API.

DIY 3D Screen

The frame for the screen was constructed using battens from the hardware store. Off-the-shelf mosquito nets were clamped along the edges. Using an airbrush, high-reflective paint was evenly applied to the mesh’s surface to ensure optimized visibility of the projected particles. —

Result

View of the interactive visualization of live air pollution levels read from the aqicn API.

This art installation was shown at Aachen 2025 and and the see conference 2016