The subject matter and conceptualization of the project “ClimateScope” by Erich Berger (AT/FI), Laura Beloff (FI) and Anu Osva (FI) illustrates an innovative and sustainable type of community building. With the long term in mind, real locations are linked to an online map and this generates a multi-dimensional representation of georeferential, environmentally relevant data, as well as stories, and building blocks of knowledge. The members of the community—potentially each and every inhabitant, as well as diverse sensor technologies— form the interface between real and virtual space.
Everyone interested participates in scientific field research on the topic of climate change and global warming by collecting, evaluating and sharing data in an active network. This input data is collected and depicted on three different levels. The first level is “Citizen Stories” and consists of personal stories, thoughts, questions, and observations by individuals on events related to climate change. The object is to achieve a level of person exchange between citizens, scientists, and politicians.
“Citizen Science” is the second level and it is being developed in collaboration with scientists. The public is requested to observe specific phenomenon in nature, like the distribution of certain plants, animals, or insects that are significant for the work of a scientist on climate change. Based on an already existing beta platform called meipi, different channels are being set up for observations at specific locations or on specific topics. Moreover, anyone can suggest new themes for channels. Hence a new kind of tool is being developed for scientists and hobby researchers, one with which the otherwise extremely timeconsuming activity of collecting field data can be distributed across a large network of participants. Crowdsourcing for the environment!
The third level—“Citizen Sensors”—is based on real-time data streams generated by networked sensors. These sensors can either be sponsored by interested companies or developed, according to building instructions that can be found on the platform for community members, as do-ityourself technology. Closely linked networks of sensors are to observe climate data in order to generate a high-resolution picture of the specific data sets for, e.g., a city. To achieve this goal, two kinds of sensors are planned: permanently installed sensors that provide a constant stream of data via WiFi, and mobile sensors for people with GPS-enabled cell phones. It will thus be possible for data to be recorded and visualized over the course of time, on the one hand; and as a spatial path through an environment, on the other.
The extreme interconnectedness of virtual and real communities in this project also raises environmental awareness and, in the form of selforganized activities and measures, makes it possible to directly push for the necessary change in human behavior.