Imagine our Connected Earth

Our Earth systems are intricately connected on a global scale. For example, climate change can increase the length and severity of droughts, which can make wildfires more prevalent, which can not only lead to poor air quality from smoke, but can also influence ecological succession and forest regeneration. The Earth Information Center works to communicate examples of these interconnections to the public via physical exhibits and an online platform, but new ideas on how to communicate this important message to the public are always welcome! Your challenge is to devise an audio-visual interactive product (e.g., an animation, video, web-based immersive experience, musical application, etc.) that incorporates imagery and data from NASA’s fleet of Earth observing satellites to highlight and explore the interconnections between Earth’s systems, and demonstrate how changes in one system can alter another system.

Background

We humans are part of the broad, interconnected system that contains the planet’s atmosphere, oceans, freshwater, land, and all life on Earth. For more than 50 years, NASA’s fleet of Earth observing missions has allowed us to study our interconnected planet as one system of systems. Satellites and sensors provide information on Earth’s air, land, and water, and importantly, allow us to understand how changes in our planet manifest and create feedback loops amongst different Earth systems. Understanding the connections among these systems, and the role of human activities and decision-making, can help to mitigate the impacts we face as our planet changes.

Resources such as the Earth Information Center (EIC) serve as a gateway to Earth observation and highlight how Earth data is used to improve lives and livelihoods. For example, EIC’s physical exhibits and online platform (earth.gov) feature awe-inspiring data visualizations, near real-time information, and curated stories that highlight the applications of Earth observations within nine thematic areas: agriculture, biodiversity, disasters, greenhouse gases, health and air quality, sea level rise, sustainable energy, water resources, and wildfires. Interactive exhibits and immersive storytelling blend science and art to communicate information about environmental challenges stemming from unprecedented planetary change, further reinforcing the need to understand Earth as a connected system.

The EIC effectively communicates information about our interconnected Earth systems to the public via physical exhibits and an online platform, but new ideas on how to communicate this important message are always welcome!

Objectives

Your challenge is to devise an audio-visual interactive product that incorporates imagery and data from NASA’s fleet of Earth observing satellites to highlight and explore the interconnections between Earth’s systems, and demonstrate how changes in one system can alter another system.

Calling all visionaries, tech wizards, and storytellers to imagine our connected Earth! Can you merge education with technology and storytelling to create a compelling experience that enables the public to explore how different Earth systems interact? Think about the many ways to educate the public on the dynamic, interconnected nature of Earth systems. Can you develop an interactive tool, experience, or media product that is not only educational, but also deeply engaging and visually captivating? There are so many formats to consider that could encourage proactive engagement with environmental issues through immersive learning! Will your product include interactive web applications, animations, static graphics, fully produced videos, a web-based immersive experience, or even musical applications?

Don’t forget to depict how some (or all) of the following focus areas interact under the influence of climate change: air quality, biodiversity, natural disasters, agriculture, water resources, sea levels, renewable energy, wildfires, and greenhouse gasses. Changes in Earth’s climate can ripple through several of these areas (e.g., the relationship among drought, wildfires, and air pollution from smoke). Think about how your tool could provide clear, interactive pathways to visualize how changes in one system affect others.

Through innovative use of NASA's satellite data, your tool could help foster a deeper public connection with Earth's systems. It could even provide actionable insights on climate change mitigation that could enable informed decisions for a sustainable future!

Potential Considerations

You may (but are not required to) consider the following:

To consider your audience, you may want to:

Tailor content complexity for elementary to high school levels.

Simplify scientific content and make it accessible to everyone without compromising scientific accuracy.

Use age-appropriate interactive elements and terminology; avoid use of technical jargon without context.

To enhance Storytelling & Visualization, your tool could:

Include compelling narratives using data to illustrate climate change impacts.

Use historical and real-time data (where possible) from NASA missions to create dynamic depictions of Earth’s systems. In addition to NASA data, the solution could involve data from the various other U.S. agencies that contribute to the EIC.

Incorporate visualizations of human influences on ecosystems, like agriculture’s effect on water resources.

To promote Interactivity & Immersion, you could consider:

Developing touch-responsive features for kiosks.

Utilizing immersive projection to surround users with data visualizations.

Using assets with the appropriate dimensions and pixel resolution.

Other Engagement Techniques could include:

Integrating real-time data to keep content current and engaging.

Implementing interactive tools to allow users to explore cause-and-effect scenarios.

Sound & Annotation considerations:

Think about how you can use audio to enhance the understanding of data changes.

Don’t forget to provide clear annotations for complex scientific data and equations.

To help ensure Focus & Clarity, consider the following:

Emphasizing overarching stories rather than overwhelming with details.

Avoiding data clutter, and opting for clean, intuitive interfaces.

Below are some considerations about technologies your solution could employ.

Will your tool involve Web Visualizations? Don’t forget to:

Ensure web visualizations from your tool are responsive and accessible on various devices.

Optimize for interactivity and informative feedback loops.

If your solution employs a Touchscreen Kiosk, don’t forget to:

Design for multi-touch input, catering to collaborative use.

Incorporate gestures like swipe and pinch, allowing users to navigate and scale data visually.

Consider capacitive touch technology to support 80 simultaneous touchpoints.

If your solution employs an Immersive Room, consider the following:

Using depth cameras to promote user interaction without physical touch.

Creating floor projections that react to user movements to enhance engagement.

Utilizing multi-directional audio to simulate environmental changes or data shifts.

Designing soundscapes that correspond with visual data to aid in data interpretation.

Planning to design a Hyperwall System? Don’t forget to:

Prepare content for ultra-wide resolutions, ensuring clarity and detail at 7680 x 2160 pixels.

Use high-definition rendering to display complex datasets in an approachable manner.

For data and resources related to this challenge, refer to the Resources tab at the top of the page. More resources may be added before the hackathon begins.