The Physical Geography of the Sea

An exploration of maritime traffic and natural currents formed the basis of this interactive installation, developed for the 4th Istanbul Design Biennale. The project focused on geo-computational mapping and radio sensing to capture a real-time image of the Bosphorus. By intercepting live vessel data, the work translated the invisible economic and environmental forces of the strait into a physical, endlessly changing visual pattern.

The core sensing architecture relied on a custom antenna array paired with software-defined radio (SDR) to intercept Automatic Identification System (AIS) packets from passing ships. These radio transmissions, which bounce freely for kilometers, were decoded using open-source software to extract vessel positions and routes. This live data stream was then routed to a computer-driven analogue projector, which utilized rotating discs to superimpose the passage layers and project the resulting digital landscape into the physical space.

Translating raw radio frequencies into a legible visual format required bridging digital data processing with analogue mechanical output. The system had to continuously parse incoming AIS packets, filtering out noise from transmissions bouncing across kilometers of the strait, and map these coordinates to the physical rotation of the projector’s discs. Calibrating the software to accurately reflect the intertwining routes and natural currents demanded precise synchronization between the digital terminal and the mechanical projection hardware.

The completed geo-computational tool successfully operated as a live mapping system, revealing the succession of ships and routes through a dedicated computer terminal. As an interactive installation, the project was exhibited at the 4th Istanbul Design Biennale, demonstrating how embedded sensing and software-defined radio can render the invisible infrastructure of maritime environments into a tangible, public-facing experience.