Taking Back the AirUrban Design | Community Engagement | Data Visualization | Tableau
Urban Design Studio II
Instructor: Nida Rehman & Ginger Takahashi
Air Quality Visualization & Community Kiosk, Braddock
This project explores how environmental data can be translated into public-facing tools that support community awareness and engagement.
The first section visualizes regional air pollution patterns, mapping particulate matter and emission sources to reveal how industrial activity shapes everyday air quality across Pittsburgh. These visualizations make otherwise invisible environmental risks legible through spatial analysis and data storytelling.
Building on this research, we designed and fabricated a public kiosk for the Braddock community in collaboration with General Sister. The kiosk functions as an accessible, on-site interface where residents can view local air quality information, learn about environmental conditions, and engage with neighborhood data.
By combining data visualization, physical installation, and community use, the project reframes environmental information as civic infrastructure — not just data to observe, but knowledge to empower local decision-making.
After the studio ended, I also assisted General Sister with Purple Air Sensor Setup, Air Filter Installation, and a series of independent Zine , which is recently included in the collection of Asia Art Archive in America.
This project began as an air quality data visualization study, mapping regional pollution patterns with a focus on elevated PM2.5 concentrations across Braddock and surrounding industrial corridors. By layering particulate matter readings with emission sources, land use, and community observations, the visualizations revealed a cumulative pollution burden, where overlapping sources compound exposure and disproportionately impact residents’ daily health.
Recognizing the gap between environmental data and everyday accessibility, the project evolved into a community design–build effort in collaboration with General Sister. We designed and fabricated a public kiosk that translates these findings into clear, localized information, allowing residents to understand conditions in real time and engage with environmental issues through a tangible civic interface. By combining digital analysis with a built installation, the project reframes environmental data as shared community infrastructure rather than abstract statistics.