Technology A — Pratt Grad ComD

Project Description

Rang Morla Reimagined is an interactive data visualization that reinterprets the traditional Gujarati folk poem "Rang Morla" (Colors of the Peacock) through the living pulse of New York City. Just as the poem celebrates vibrant colors in nature, this project reveals the "colors" of urban life across NYC's five boroughs through five data-driven factors: subway ridership (movement), 311 noise complaints (sound and activity), light pollution (urban glow), nature and air quality (green life persisting), and urban density (built environment). The visualization pulls real-time data from NYC Open Data APIs—MTA subway turnstile counts and citizen-reported noise complaints—while using sample estimates for environmental factors where real-time APIs are unavailable. Every five seconds, a random factor and borough combination displays through distinct visual languages: glowing subway routes in official MTA colors, orange sound waves pulsing from borough centers, amber fireflies representing light pollution, organic green polygons showing vegetation alongside floating blue air particles, and purple concentric circles indicating density levels. Users can press subway route keys (1-7, A-Z, S) to pause the auto-loop and explore specific transit lines connecting boroughs. This project demonstrates that in the concrete jungle, life persists—not only through nature, but through the movement, sound, light, and energy of millions of people, creating a data portrait that honors both the cultural heritage of Gujarat and the vibrant reality of contemporary urban existence.

Credits

ChatGPT, Claude AI

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Vinyl Spiral by Lior Edrich

Rang Morla Reimagined - A Multi-Factor Visualization of New York City

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by Prachee Shah

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by Prachee Shah

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