how to explore a smellscape: glasgow & singapore
TRANSCRIPT
@katemclean | sensorymaps.com
/smello ! I research map urban smellscapes My friends call me “smelly Kate”
/the smellscape* is the smell equivalent of a visual landscape…
Porteous, J.D. (1985) Smellscape. Progress in Physical Geography. [Online] 9 (3), 356–378. Available from: doi:10.1177/030913338500900303.
Q1. Do we understand enough about how occupants’ sensory systems react with the environment by which they are surrounded?
Field olfactometer. McLean 2014 ‘Smellwalk NYC’ Photo ©2014 Brian Harkin
While there are many specialized tools available for detecting and analyzing environmental odours (Henshaw 2013), these instruments do not ‘capture’ the subjective dimensions of smell as a ‘lived,’ embodied, or environmentally ‘situated’ experience. (McBride & Nolan fc)
Nasal Ranger, a field olfactometer
/smell data
“We breath up to 24,000 times per day; …With every breath, we inhale smell molecules – information about our surroundings.”
Tolaas, S in Bradley, L (2012) http://www.anothermag.com/fashion-beauty/2313/sissel-tolaass-scent-archive
“…calculated that humans can discriminate at least 1 trillion olfactory stimuli.”
Bushdid et al, (2014)
/smell data
http://www.mementoscents.com/blog/read_135855/how-to-appreciate-perfume.html, accessed 2016 Henshaw (2013) Urban Smellscapes
/natural perfume & urban smellscape olfactory pyramids
Background (Ambient) smells
Episodic smells
Ephemeral / curiosities
/urban smellscape wheel
Quercia, D., Schifanella, R., Aiello, L.M. & McLean, K. (2015) Smelly Maps: The Digital Life of Urban Smellscapes. arXiv:1505.06851 [cs]. [Online] Available from: http://arxiv.org/abs/1505.06851 [Accessed: 19 June 2015].
/mapping assumptions
Mapping is subjective, cartographers make decisions of selection, classification, simplification and symbolisation
Maps of physical and political landscapes are temporally-bound
http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20141127-the-last-unmapped-places
Creative mapping can offer insights that direct tracing cannot
Amoroso, N. (2010) The Exposed City: Mapping the Urban Invisibles. 1 edition. New York, Routledge.
Harley, J.B. (1989) Deconstructing the map. Cartographica: The international journal for geographic information and geovisualization. 26 (2), 1–20.
http://sensorymaps.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/grave-sniffing.html http://sensorymaps.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/smells-of-change-glasgow.html http://sensorymaps.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/calling-all-glaswegians-collecting.html McLean, K ‘The Barras’ (2011) Meighan, M (2007) ‘Glasgow Smells’ & Meighan, M (2011) ‘Glasgow Smells Better’
/research methodologies: Glasgow • paired smellwalks • interviews • watercolour • social media / media
McLean, K (2012) Scents of Glasgow - legend & text
/research findings: Glasgow • expectation & reality • Glasgow & public image • regeneration & tradition
/exhibit: Scents of Glasgow
‘Scents of Glasgow’ installation with smells at Sidney Cooper Gallery (2013) ©Kate McLean
/research methodologies: Singapore
http://sensorymaps.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/scents-scented-research-in-urban-fields.html
• AllSense & IFF • 200 x smellwalkers • smellnotes & colour
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• intriguing top notes • common base notes • temporal dimensionality
/research findings: Singapore
‘Scentscape Singapore’ installation at Royal College of Art (2016) ©Kate McLean
/exhibit: Scentscape Singapore
/comparing the cities
/smell similarities: synthetics, food, restorative space /smell differences: emissions, local produce /findings: local govt., cultural heritage, humans
/map similarities: voids, turbulence, humidity, colour /map differences: dot size, swarm vs. bracelet /findings: complexity of smellscape, mapping of possibility
/future: side-by-side exhibit as an indicator if Glasgow got warmer, what & how might we expect to smell?
/exhibition observations• Mediterranean understanding • Odour molecules become
airborne faster in warmer environments
• Human odour receptors are less receptive in cold weather
Dalton, P (2014) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/science-news/10574977/Why-does-cold-air-smell-differently-from-hot-air.html
/challenge of recording
Smellnotes for Pamplona & Smellscaper App design. Kate McLean (2014 – 2016)
smellnotes: inscribed v. digital
/the ‘smellfie’ kit • includes theory & methodology • smell note blank forms • exhortation to contribute findings • develop & maintain smell database
http://sensorymaps.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Smellwalk_Intro_Kit_%C2%A9KateMcLean_2015.pdf
Smellnote ©KateMcLean 2015 | [email protected] | sensorymaps.com | @katemclean
SMELLNOTES City:Smell # (locate this smell on a map)
Name of smell Smell intensity (weak strong)
Smell duration (short long)
Smell like/dislike (dislike like)
Expected smell? (yes no)
Your associations. Your thoughts. Based on this particular smell…
1. Smell Catching / Passive smelling
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4.
5. Smell Hunting / Active smelling
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9. Free smelling (your choice of smell catching and / or smell hunting)
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13. Summary smell (indicative scent of this walk) Smell colour:
