This web site uses cookies to improve your experience. By viewing our content, you are accepting the use of cookies. To find out more and change your cookie settings, please view our cookie policy.

Search
  • Videos
  • Smart Cities
  • Windows 10
  • Cloud
  • Innovation
  • Security
  • Tech Pro
  • more
    • ZDNet Academy
    • Microsoft
    • Mobility
    • IoT
    • Hardware
    • Executive Guides
    • Best VPN Services
    • See All Topics
    • White Papers
    • Downloads
    • Reviews
    • Galleries
    • Videos
  • Newsletters
  • All Writers
    • Log In to ZDNET
    • Join ZDNet
    • About ZDNet
    • Preferences
    • Community
    • Newsletters
    • Log Out
  • Menu
    • Videos
    • Smart Cities
    • Windows 10
    • Cloud
    • Innovation
    • Security
    • Tech Pro
    • ZDNet Academy
    • Microsoft
    • Mobility
    • IoT
    • Hardware
    • Executive Guides
    • Best VPN Services
    • See All Topics
    • White Papers
    • Downloads
    • Reviews
    • Galleries
    • Videos
      • Log In to ZDNET
      • Join ZDNet
      • About ZDNet
      • Preferences
      • Community
      • Newsletters
      • Log Out
  • us
    • Asia
    • Australia
    • Europe
    • India
    • United Kingdom
    • United States
    • ZDNet around the globe:
    • ZDNet China
    • ZDNet France
    • ZDNet Germany
    • ZDNet Korea
    • ZDNet Japan
  • Bea holding bird

    Bea holding bird

    Beatriz da Costa, assistant professor of informatics at the University of California, Irvine, holds a homing pigeon use as part of her PigeonBlog exhibit going on this week at ZeroOne San Jose, a San Jose, Calif., festival held in conjunction with the annual International Symposium of Electronic Art. Pigeons in the project carry packs equipped with GPS-enabled electronic air quality sensing devices that send real-time air pollution and image data to an online map.

    Published: August 10, 2006 -- 04:45 GMT (21:45 PDT)

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Backpacks

    Backpacks

    These birds are fully equipped with "backpacks" for their journey. The 37-gram packs contain GPS receivers, air pollution sensors and a digital camera. The pollution sensors detect a number of potentially harmful gases such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide. The pigeons send data and photographs to a blog that is updated in real time. The results are displayed on the blog in the form of an interactive map.

    Published: August 10, 2006 -- 04:45 GMT (21:45 PDT)

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Closeup of devices

    Closeup of devices

    By using the homing pigeons as the "reporters" of current air pollution levels, project organizers hope to invoke urgency about a topic that has health consequences.

    Published: August 10, 2006 -- 04:45 GMT (21:45 PDT)

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Bea with partners

    Bea with partners

    PigeonBlog founder Beatriz da Costa and her partners have been working with pigeons for the past year on a data-gathering initiative designed to collect information about air quality conditions and distribute it to the general public.

    Published: August 10, 2006 -- 04:45 GMT (21:45 PDT)

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • 0
  • Bea holding bird
  • Backpacks
  • Closeup of devices
  • Bea with partners
1 of 4 NEXT PREV

Data collecting is for the birds

Homing pigeons are given "backpacks" with GPS enabled devices as part of an alternative air pollution data-gathering experiment.

Read More Read Less

Bea holding bird

Beatriz da Costa, assistant professor of informatics at the University of California, Irvine, holds a homing pigeon use as part of her PigeonBlog exhibit going on this week at ZeroOne San Jose, a San Jose, Calif., festival held in conjunction with the annual International Symposium of Electronic Art. Pigeons in the project carry packs equipped with GPS-enabled electronic air quality sensing devices that send real-time air pollution and image data to an online map.

Published: August 10, 2006 -- 04:45 GMT (21:45 PDT)

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Related Topics:

Hardware Data Centers PCs Servers Storage Networking
LOG IN TO COMMENT
  • My Profile
  • Log Out
| Community Guidelines

Join Discussion

Add Your Comment
Add Your Comment

Related Galleries

  • High-performance storage: From flash drives to server hard drives (April 2018 edition)

    Storage

    High-performance storage: From flash drives to server hard drives (April 2018 edition)

  • First look: 2nd generation AMD Ryzen processors

    Processors

    First look: 2nd generation AMD Ryzen processors

  • Gadgets to keep your iPhone or Android smartphone charged up

    Mobility

    Gadgets to keep your iPhone or Android smartphone charged up

  • In Memoriam: All the consumer products Microsoft has killed off

    Microsoft

    In Memoriam: All the consumer products Microsoft has killed off

ZDNet
Connect with us

© 2018 CBS Interactive. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Cookies | Ad Choice | Advertise | Terms of Use | Mobile User Agreement

  • Topics
  • All Authors
  • Galleries
  • Videos
  • Sponsored Narratives
  • About ZDNet
  • Meet The Team
  • Site Map
  • RSS Feeds
  • Reprint Policy
  • Manage | Log Out
  • Log In to ZDNET | Join ZDNet
  • Membership
  • Newsletters
  • Site Assistance
  • ZDNet Academy