The main data-source is the dataset provided by Fanning et al. in their paper “The social shortfall and ecological overshoot of nations”, which contains consumption-based data for eleven social and six biophysical parameters of more than 150 countries from 1992 to 2015 with a forecast until 2050. In this project their downscaled planetary boundaries for climate change, land-system change and biochemical flows are used, as well as the additional category of the environmental footprint. For aerosol loading, biosphere integrity, novel entities and freshwater use there is no sufficient data available, while ocean acidification is excluded due to its close connection to the climate change boundary.
Thus, ocean acidification, is included in the project with the parameter of global oceanic pH value, freshwater use with the global freshwater consumption and ozone depletion with a normalized stratospheric global average ozone concentration. It has to be noted that these parameters differ from the control variables proposed in the planetary boundary network and that the forecasts are simplified linear projections. However, for the abstract approach of this project to convey meaning, these approximations are sufficient.
Finally, economic strength and population data are added as parameters on a nation level, to illustrate the relation of wealth and environmental overshoot.
After the various datasets are cleaned up and put together, the data is fed into a procedural 3D software, where the values can be interpreted as input variables. These parameters are then programmed to affect the shape of the final objects by controlling width and height, certain simulations, displacements, patterns and other properties.
The generative processes are thereby designed to decrease the functionality of the objects that have unsustainable values as inputs.
Within the software there is a user interface, where one can select a country, the type of boundary and a year and the program generates the specific digital representation of the artifact in real-time.
3D PRINTING
Due to the availability and the ease of use for prototyping, 3D printing could not be substituted in the process; however, only ecoPLA was used in the project. Also, there are two objects that use plastic in their final form, which is attributed to the scope of the project. For the future, the idea is to also use materials such as glass or cork for a better haptic experience.
As the haptic feel of these physicalizations should be fitting to the topic they address, materials which are associated as natural or at least not as environmentally harmful are used instead of plastic. That means that the process of physicalizing the digital artifacts through 3D printing is extended by the transformation into less artificial materials. This step is important, to avoid cognitive dissonance by inspecting seemingly unsustainably produced plastic objects that are supposed to be warning about environmental catastrophies.
For most of the objects a negative mold out of silicone or plaster was made, which was then filled with the final materials of wax, soap or clay.