Abstract
The Flood Helmet is a mobile device that visualises possible future flood scenarios based on the
user's physical location. The flood level in the helmet is determined by the elevation height of the
land that the user is standing through gps coordinates inputs and gives users a sensory and experiential
exploration of their surrounding areas and the future it might hold.
Intended Outcome
This project aims to create a sense of immediacy in users regarding to issues in the rising sea level
and that disasters are not always faraway from us. If nothing is done to prevent global warming,
places that we have fond memories of might be gone in the future. On the Second Level, I want to
raise the level of awareness of Climate Change through this project.
Project Description
The Flood Helmet is a wearable device that addresses the issues regarding Climate Change and
specifically the Sea Level rise in Singapore. According to the Nus Sea level rise mapping project
and IPCC Third Assessment, we might lose up to 11.79km square by 2100 and 160.89km square according
to the Artic Climate Impact assessment in an indefinite future.
Flood Helmet visualises the areas that might be affected or even flooded in the future projected
based on the calculation model provided by the IPCC report. The helmet device determines the location
of the user via a Gps module that continuously reads the coordinates received from the satellite network.
Upon hitting an area or spot that is preprogrammed into the database, the clear see through areas of
the helmet is injected with sea water which reflects the amount and level that the environment might
suffer from in the future.
Audio feedbacks that works like a compass are present throughout the user’s experience with the
helmet that gives a hint of the proximity of distance the user is away from affected areas.
The rationale of a helmet interface for this project is so that users can focus on the environment
that one might normally take for granted or navigate it habitually without ever taking notice of it
and look at how the landscape might be totally different in the future visualised in a metaphorical
way while viewing it in real time without the aid of any screen.
The helmet interface is not meant to be an outside to inside statement but rather quite the opposite,
my intention is to create an inside out situation where users look through the helmet and the water,
to create a pause between the user and the space, whereby relations and meaning can take place.
