Wales Institute of Social & Economic Research, Data & Methods
Sefydliad Ymchwill Gymdeithasol ac Economaidd, Data a Dulliau Cymru
www.wiserd.ac.uk

KLiC Project – Biomapping: Methodological Trials

Principal Investigators: Dr Chris Taylor and Dr Jon Anderson 

Summary and Rationale

This project explores the (bio)physical and emotional relationships between people and place. By using state of the art galvanic skin response units alongside geographical positioning technology, this project seeks to map (bio)physical records of human interaction with their environment. To date, this potential has been explored through and for artistic means. The pioneering ‘biomapping’ work of Christian Nold has produced a range of innovative maps which demonstrate the possibility of harnessing GPS and GSR technology to advance geographical knowledge (For an example of this please click here). This project, however, seeks to explore this potential further, with a primary focus on the scholarly and policy (rather than artistic)-oriented insight that motivates our work. This will be undertaken initially through a series of experimental ‘trials’ to produce innovative cartographies of new and familiar environments. 

Aim

To product innovative cartographies of new and familiar environments by mapping (bio)physical records of human interaction with their environment. 

Research Questions 

Since this project is largely based on experimental ‘trials’ its research questions at this stage are methodological rather than substantive. Based on these initial ‘trials’ further research with associated substantive research questions will be developed.

  • Create a baseline bioregister for the investigators when in stasis.
  • Walk through familiar environments to create a moving and mappable bioregister.
  • Analyse through subsequent interview and data analysis the affects of certain conditions on bioregister; including bodily (temperature, stress, anxiety etc), external (e.g. weather, technology – eg iPod use etc), environment (e.g. built environment, traffic, danger etc).
  • Compare familiar environments to alien places (e.g. unknown neighbourhoods, ‘other’(‘s) places, designated places (e.g. graveyards, museums, libraries, churches, IKEA, saunas etc).
  • Compare familiar and alien places at different times of day or practice (e.g. dusk, night, rush hour, shopping congestion etc). 

Research Strategy 

This project will use state of the art galvanic skin response units alongside geographical positioning technology to map (bio)physical records of human interaction with their environment. This quantitative cartography will be interpreted by respondents through the use of qualitative discussions and interviews, giving a personalised insight into embodied engagements between people and place. 

Engagement and Dissemination Activities 

  • RGS Annual Conference (2011) (London, 31 Aug – 2 Sept 2011) – Moving Geographies: Film and Video as Research Method (Symposium) – Sensory video and the embodied spaces of film and video session: Capturing the moving relations between people and place.  
  • RGS Annual Conference (2011) (London, 31 Aug – 2 Sept 2011) – Art, Science and Geographical Imaginaries (Symposium): Mapping person-place relations: a synthesis of science, social science and artistic endeavour