LCAart: Communicating industrial ecology at a human scale

Abstract

This Forum piece describes a collaborative project between engineering and architecture to visualize some of the most influential results from industrial ecology using human-scale, photorealistic images that are quantitatively accurate. Our goal was to apply visualization theories and practices from art and architecture to address a major communication problem in our field: though inspirational in concept, in practice much industrial ecology research is difficult to comprehend for the average person. Models are large and complex, metrics are esoteric, and results are often reported on a scale that is devoid of personal meaning. Our strategy was to place hidden flows and embodied emissions in plain sight, creating images that show the environmental implications of consumption as absurd insertions into scenes of daily life, at a scale that is relatable and personally meaningful. We also compare with and discuss other artistic efforts around the world in the oeuvre of "Consumption Art," providing historical context. Industrial ecology envisions a world where production systems can incorporate social and environmental implications in real-time, where policy is informed by our best understanding of trade-offs and inequities, and where the public has an appreciation for what actions are meaningful, all with the goals of improving quality of life for all while safeguarding the environment and human health. Effective communication of our research is vital to build consensus for policy and action toward this vision, and one under-appreciated aspect of communication in our field is the sympathetic power of Art.

Data and visual displays in the Journal of Ecology 1996–2016

“…Many researchers in the field of ecology have cited Ellison 9 as a primary reference for their work on data visualization. 35–37 Marcum 38 discussed the challenges to data visualization in ecology from the perspective of librarianship and human society. In this paper, he introduced the concept of visual ecology, in which the emphasis is on observation and description, and a more intensive focus on people and information-related behavior is utilized.…”