Hi there, I am Felipe Castelblanco an artist based between Berlin and Basel, interested in public space, public art in odd places (oceans, air, nomadic), also film, interactivity, eco-social practice and more. You can see my work here: http://www.felipecastelblanco.com/
I’m starting a practice-based PhD at FHNW with the aim to research new frontiers of public space. I’m specially interested in using new logics, interfaces and situations to think about space based on Verticality, depth and altitude. I will be happy to share ideas, questions, comments and references as the work evolves!
Hi Felipe! I think you will enjoy the diversity of ideas circulating around the Aerocene project, as well as the fantastic aerodreamers that are part of the project. Please feel free to post to any category, as well as contribute to any open discussion with your own ideas. Welcome to the Aerocene forum!
I’ve just joined the forum, so here I am introducing myself. I’m a phd candidate based in Buenos Aires, Argentina studying the open source hardware movement in Latin America. I’m also member of R’lyeh hacklab where I participate mostly in community science projects.
I came across Aerocene through ETER, our project about developing an open air-quality sensor with high school teachers, though I’d already seen some of the work of Tomás Saraceno, which I loved completely!
Hi my name is Léo and I am living in Lyon in France. I discovered your amazing project while visiting an expo in Lisbon (MAAT museum) last week.
I am an active member of a (young) Non Profit Organization, named “Tête en Terre”, which means “Earth Head”. The main objective of this organization is to create “living projects” focusing on Art and Environnement (last year, we organized an “Earth mask parade” with people from our neighborhood. I would be very intersting in building an Aerocene Explorer with the members of our organization, and then share it with volunteers in Lyon. Can you confirm that the cost of building the full kit is around 1500 - 2000 €, especially if I want to use RIPSTOP 7D (which seems to be the most expensive part of the kit)?
I would like to know as well if you have french documentation? If not, we might be interesting to help translating it in French, in order to divulgate the materials more easily in France. Additionnaly, do you know if flights from France have already been done?
Thanks in advance for your answers and potential suggestions about this project,
Hi @LeGo Léo! Welcome to our forum and we are happy that you are so much into solar balloons!
As well, I admire your actions within “Tête en Terre”, this sort of community collaboration is always so positive for everyone involved. Regarding building an Aerocene Explorer, yes, ripstop 7d is expensive. We have been investigating for a while the possibility of building with used sails such as spinnakers, which could eventually be a lot cheaper. On top of this building with a used material is friendlier to the environment. Also please do check Museo Aerosolar construction in Buenos Aires last year > Aerocene - TECAT How to build an Aerocene?
My name is Max. I study GIS, Geography, and computer science. I am an undergraduate senior currently working on a funded research project. I would like to use the Aerocene explorer and Dust Duino to measure particulate matter emitted from Wildfires in Forest regions and Savanna regions. I plan to publish my results through a series of ESRI ArcMaps that depict gradients of PM in the atmosphere.
Hi (again) Max! This is great and sounds very interesting. What area in the world is the Explorer launch including measurements planned for? Is it connected to an institution?
Hi @MaxEnger ! I am a cartography student myself and sometimes work as an onboard technician on oceanographic surveys. Your project sounds amazing! Over here in Argentina we are working together with ETER pollution monitor by @juli and friends. They have developed a simple PM sensor, which is cheap and relatively easy to build. We are planning activities on Villa Inflamable, a population that lies next to a petrochemical plant in Buenos Aires. Will be publishing pics over here! When thinking about airborne sensors weight is a variable to take into account. Although the Aerocene Explorer should be perfectly capable of carrying a Dustduino on sunny day. The idea to visualize with ArcMaps is great, as it is an industry standard. As well, we try to push for open hardware & software. I wonder if this could be done with opensource QgisS? In any case, it is great to e-meet you! Here to help My best, @Joaquin
I’m a Mechanical Engineering student turned Web Developer. I came across this project on a TED talk and it was one of the most inspiring I’d seen. I’m keen to get involved with a London launch soon and to meet up with any of you that are around here! @Joaquin I’d also be keen to have a Skype with you at some point to hear a bit about your intersection of science, art, visualisation and development
Hi @LuanvP, and welcome to the Aerocene community!
We have a nice Aerocene community in London, starting with @sasha who often carries Aerosolar flights with her students. Regarding Data visualization, I’ve been involved with flight predictions and flight data visualization. We have several challenges ahead, and we are always open for some help!
Make sure to check our latest news on social media, links at top of the page. As well my skype is “bongotai”, happy to speak anytime
Pleasure to e-meet you!
Hi @LuanvP let’s link up about Aerocene in London!
Currently there are two Aerocene Explorers out and about in London. Did you have an idea of where you’d like to launch?
I also recommend a Skype with @Joaquin
Sasha
Hi.
I am from argentina and i am finishing my Mechanical Engineering thesis about numerical simulation of turbulence.
I love flying objects and i like studying fluid mechanics phenomena. Also i find very interesting the environmental, social, and collaborative perspective of Aerocene. I would like to collaborate in the scientific aspects of the project.
And i hope to attend the next launch in buenos aires!
Nice to e-meet you @fedeberta! Cool, sounds super interesting what you are doing. You should definitely link up with the Aerocene community in Argentina! I think @Joaquin is planning (a few) launches in the coming months outside of Buenos Aires - less windy as I understood it.
Hi, here Niccolo, living near Florence (Italy). Some words about me…
I felt in love with GNU/Linux since 1994, I started using it professionally in 1997 and since 2001 I’m exclusively using free and open source software for all personal and professional needs.
I work daily with computers, networking, GPS, maps and telecommunications. I enjoy playing with technology and mechanics, making prototypes with the Raspberry Pi and ridining my motorbike.
I am a student at ENSCI-les ateliers, a school of industrial creation in Paris. As a designer, I developed a research-based practice, linking science to design through various projects (experimental as well as innovation and prospective). The topics I like to explore are close to the one of the Aerocene project.
I am currently at the end of my master’s degree. After having written my thesis on the issues of natural history at the 21st century, my diploma project is now about the observation of fluxes that are shaping the seaside landscape. For this, I realize a citizen science project that suggest a walk thought the coast : 6 kind of objects are showing these fluxes (air, sand, wind, water color…). It offers an aesthetic perception and a scientific observation of it. As part of this project, I would have like to include an aerocene explorer balloon, and use its elevation to make aerial photography of the coastline. I was wondering what was the minimal size for a balloon to fly? And did you already made a « long » installation with it (one week, two weeks?) ? I’m also doing some experiments with mylar and thin PET films.
I look forward to discover the carte blanche events at the Palais de Tokyo! As I am working in Paris, I can help you by doing any kind of volunteering for the workshops :). Also, if you (or people from the community) want to visit our school, I would be really happy to be your guide !
Aló Charlene! Pleased to e-meet you.
Your diploma project sounds amazing! And using one of the Aerocene Explorer solar balloons sounds just right. The size of our tetra shaped balloons is roughly 3 x 3 mts. These are able to lift up to 1,5kg payload on a sunny day. Please bear in mind these balloons can’t fly without light, so only daylight hours flight is possible.
Have you already visited the Carte Blanche show at Palais? We can get you in to the Aerocene room for free. Over here you will find unccountable resources to make you own balloon!
As well there is a super interesting symposium and lots of activities this week!
Please check Palais thread for more details.
My name is Eric Mersch. I currently live in Brussels and I discovered the Aerocene project while taking part to a workshop at Palais de Tokyo this December. I have a background in experimental physics, but I’m fascinated by arts, sciences and nature in general and their interconnections. I’m interested in taking part to this project by sharing my questions, ideas, knowledge and my sens of wonder.
My best, 