Google Warming is a critical design and research project that investigates how climate change is represented in digital platforms, particularly through Google Earth. Led by Primary Researcher Leon Gurevitch, the project explores the aesthetics and biases embedded in satellite imagery, and how these influence public perception of ecological destruction and resource extraction.
We are currently developing an interactive Unreal Engine tool that visualises geolocated environmental data in real time. This system enables viewers to explore layered satellite images and connect them to extractive processes and climate impacts globally.
Initial research phase collecting and categorizing satellite imagery of environmental damage sites globally.
Development of a taxonomy for categorizing different types of extractive and industrial impacts.
Design of interactive visualization systems to make these patterns legible and navigable.
Integration of real-time data feeds to create dynamic representations of environmental change.
At the core of Google Warming is a custom-built visualization engine that combines multiple data sources and imagery layers. The technical architecture includes:
Google Warming employs innovative visualization techniques to make visible the often unseen aspects of environmental change. Our approach includes:
Google Warming aims to transform how we perceive and interpret environmental change in digital media. By making visible the often-hidden patterns of resource extraction and ecological damage, the project contributes to critical environmental literacy in the digital age.