Digital Tectonics
poetics of augmented space
The cartography, measurement and depiction of environments is never a true reproduction: tools and algorithms alter the outcome, and most sensing processes can’t be fully objective.
Digital readings of the world consist of densities, structures and patterns themselves, often unrelated to their physical counterparts. This research aims to reveal and detect hidden qualities, whilst questioning the reliability and necessary resolution of data.
The deeper digital structures are investigated and resampled, the more they reveal their own tectonics, visible only on molecular level. Algorithmic imprecisions cause glitches and aliasing of fully new character.
In fast progressing times, these machine visions increase in complexity, but also in relevancy: To understand a world that is already heavily reliant on technology only comprehensive to a few, it is crucial to maintain the transparency and integrity of the digital realm.
related: Off to new Dimensions
Digital readings of the world consist of densities, structures and patterns themselves, often unrelated to their physical counterparts. This research aims to reveal and detect hidden qualities, whilst questioning the reliability and necessary resolution of data.
The deeper digital structures are investigated and resampled, the more they reveal their own tectonics, visible only on molecular level. Algorithmic imprecisions cause glitches and aliasing of fully new character.
In fast progressing times, these machine visions increase in complexity, but also in relevancy: To understand a world that is already heavily reliant on technology only comprehensive to a few, it is crucial to maintain the transparency and integrity of the digital realm.
related: Off to new Dimensions
unevenly defined models through technologic surveying, photogrammetry and meshing algorithms resulting in unevenly defined models:
mesh structures emerging from voxelization of scan data that are not featured in their physical counterparts. with the varying reading density causes “ribbons” in the topology resulting in unexpected structures. Exceeding certain distance thresholds results in the tesselation of smaller islands that become linked by thinner ribbons.
mesh structures emerging from voxelization of scan data that are not featured in their physical counterparts. with the varying reading density causes “ribbons” in the topology resulting in unexpected structures. Exceeding certain distance thresholds results in the tesselation of smaller islands that become linked by thinner ribbons.
Reproduction
a digital asset (”perceptive machine”) gathers data of models through ray projection imitating the functionality of actual devices. Subject of investigation is a digital model of Friedrich Kiesler’s Endless house, described by him as “the sum of possible movements within” (and thus definedthrough intuition rather than rationality).
The digital scanner operates on a predefined path through the space, “scanning” (>through rayprojection and collison culling) its environemtnand gathering attributes throughout the process: The distance to the device, angle of collsion, density(across multiple frames and in single ones through the orientation towards the device), orientation of surface and uv space in relation to device angle are all collected and stored on the emerging point clouds.
![simulation set-up; scan density indication]()
a digital asset (”perceptive machine”) gathers data of models through ray projection imitating the functionality of actual devices. Subject of investigation is a digital model of Friedrich Kiesler’s Endless house, described by him as “the sum of possible movements within” (and thus definedthrough intuition rather than rationality).
The digital scanner operates on a predefined path through the space, “scanning” (>through rayprojection and collison culling) its environemtnand gathering attributes throughout the process: The distance to the device, angle of collsion, density(across multiple frames and in single ones through the orientation towards the device), orientation of surface and uv space in relation to device angle are all collected and stored on the emerging point clouds.
scan results including rays;
scan density yellow(low) to red(high);
solidified including rays after collision
The integration of perspectival rays produces hybrid artefacts merging Gestalt and perception
![point cloud sample including rays]()
scan density yellow(low) to red(high);
solidified including rays after collision
The integration of perspectival rays produces hybrid artefacts merging Gestalt and perception
Solidification
The emerging reading samples consist of densities, structures and patterns themselves, unrelated to their physical counterparts.
The digital structures are investigated and resampled by highlighting and tesselation according to gathered attributes and activation thresholds.
The emergent structures are not only representations and technological surveys, but reveal an underlying, digital structure, similar to the molecular level of physical objects, that consists of its own patterns and structures.
