Display of Bleaching in Coral Reefs

This project uses live data from the internet to display bleaching in coral reefs near the Great Barrier Reef region. The project pulls data from the internet three times a day, then reflects the results of that data by shifting the hues of centerpiece corals and changing the state of the rotating background.

The computational part of the project consists of 48 neo-pixel lights (31 constant color, 17 dynamic coral colors), a stepper motor, and four servo motors (left turned-off for final design). The rest of the project is constructed from cardboard, paper maché, tissue paper, fabric, paper, and tape.

Using Stormglass API, ocean temperature and pH levels (at coordinates corresponding to the Great Barrier Reef) are quantified. After both measurements are received by the micro-controller, a Bleach Score (further discussed in step 2) is determined. The Bleach Score is a numerical representation of how likely coral is to undergo bleaching. The score is based off the water temperature and pH in the corals' area and Bleach Score values range from 0-100. After a score is determined, the dynamic coral lights and rotating background respond accordingly. The display runs through this process three times a day, at the times 8 AM, 1 PM, and 3 PM.

The base number for each Bleach Score is calculated by operating over a Weibull probability-density function [defined above as B(t)] with respect to temperature in C° (listed as Figure 4 from Sulley et al., 2019). Of the functions provided by Sulley et al., the most recent data was selected (2007-2017), with shape parameter [κ = 19.346] and scale parameter [λ = 29.413]. This base value is then scaled by a factor determined by the piece-wise function B(p), which is also partially reliant on temperature. Since ocean temperatures and ocean pH levels do not often change drastically, a linear transformation is applied to the product of B(t) and B(p) in order to map the product's most common range [60,70] to a full range [0,100]. This final number is the Bleach Score.

After a Bleach Score is determined, the sculpture will react depending on it's value. If the score is below 50, the background display will rotate to a scene full of sea-life. However, if the score is equal to or above 50, the display is changed to a more empty and desolate scene. The lights on the centerpiece corals also react to these scores. Each individual coral has a unique RGB value and when a bleach score is determined, the lights are shifted a certain distance from the color's unique value to white. For example, if the coral's original color value is 155 and white's color value is 255, a score of 50 would add half the difference in values to the original number: 155+((255-155)*0.5) = 205.

In the GIFs above, the actions of the components are shown. However, they aren't fully reflecting reaction based on data. Instead, they are left on display modes which constantly change for the sake of demonstration. Hence, the motor spins continuously and the lights rapidly change hue.

While a matrix of four servo motors was installed above the fabric serving as the ceiling, these servos were left powered off for the final design. Their purpose was to replicate a wave pattern in which each servo moves up and down with a slight delay from it's adjacent servos in order to simulate how the surface of water looks from underneath. However, this detailed proved to be very loud (as all servos ran constantly) and the effect itself was barely noticeable. To avoid the noise taking the audience out of the experience of the sculpture, these servos lay unpowered behind the fabric.