The + Pool Light is a public river installation that can be seen in Manhattan's East River and it was created by PlayLab Inc, Family New York, Floating Point and Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. Together, the local studios came up with a color-changing design to visually represent the condition of the water, which makes it easy to see whether or not the river's current conditions are suitable for swimming. The river installation at the NYC harbor's Pier 17 tracks and reports conditions in real-time and even more data can be seen on an online dashboard for the project.
Some of the factors that are tracked include the oxygen, pH levels, clarity, pathogens, salinity and temperature of the water—which is currently is listed as "hypothermia."
Data-Collecting River Installations
+ Pool Light Uses Color to Represent Water Quality
Trend Themes
1. Color-changing River Installations - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop advanced color-changing technologies to visually represent different water quality parameters in real-time, providing a clear and intuitive way to monitor environmental conditions.
2. Real-time Water Quality Tracking - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create sophisticated tracking systems and online dashboards that collect and report data on various water quality factors in real-time, enabling better decision-making for individuals and organizations.
3. Interactive Environmental Awareness - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Design interactive river installations that engage the public and raise awareness about the importance of monitoring and improving water quality, fostering environmental stewardship.
Industry Implications
1. Smart City Technology - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop smart city solutions that integrate advanced sensor technologies and data analytics to monitor and manage environmental factors, enhancing the quality of urban life.
2. Environmental Monitoring and Testing - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create cutting-edge monitoring and testing technologies that provide accurate and real-time assessments of water quality, supporting efforts in environmental conservation and public health.
3. Public Infrastructure and Design - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Innovate public infrastructure and design by incorporating interactive elements that educate and engage the public about environmental issues, fostering a sense of responsibility and collaboration.