Project #10 Translation Device

Description

In this project, I retrieve a dataset, which is about “Leaf Drop-Off Locations in NYC”, from NYC Open Data, and a world map from Mapbox through their APIs respectively. Then I pick out the data I needed and apply them to the part of the New York area on the map. In the final work, users can get the information needed from each leaf drop-off bin and visualize their own positions on map for further comparison.

Design Process

My first thought is to find a suitable dataset, which has an easily accessible API and multiple dimensions worth visualization. Our professor recommend the website NYC OpenData and I get this one from it, “Leaf Drop-Off Locations in NYC”.

I have always wanted to do something related to environmental protection, but this topic is too broad to find a starting point. Finding out the nearest leaf drop-off bin seems meaningless at the first glance, but can help encourage residents to adapt to garbage classification and collection. So I decide to make a practical tool to in this area.





The dataset offers the longitude and latitude number of each location, so my next thought is to make an interactive map. Then I retrieve a world map from Mapbox and only demonstrate the district I need on my canvas. To better explain its usage, I design a small animation of fallen leaves.


I use this small icon to mark out the locations so that I can add other important information on it, including exact address and operation time. But still not that easy to find the easiest point instantly. Then I think comparison can make a clearer visualization, so I add an input box for users to upload their location.

Reflection

API is really a useful tool. It seems like that a brand new door open to me, and I can better utilize more data without downloading them. But some problems are so disturbing for me. At the beginning, I wanted to use weather data API but I just could not load in the data even when the url could be opened in single. I have tried many different websites and found out that all those weather data were not able to be upload to my p5 sketch. I did not find out solution until the end.