Explanatory diagrams

The datasniffer explained

A diagram showing how the datasniffer works in three key areas. It details the geolocation function that maps geoposition to planning records, the output of the datasniffer in the form of clicks and vibrations, and the datasniffer's controls that allow the user to selectively filter records

Geolocation map image background derived from: Map tiles by Stamen Design, CC BY 3.0 — Map data © OpenStreetMap

The datasniffer in use - an onto-epistemogram

A diagram showing how the operations of the datasniffer’s Nightsteps software in use.

Explaination of the final signal logic for the datasniffer

A worked example of the datasniffer signal logic pt1. A map shows a person holding a datasniffer, with its detection area (a cone emanating from the datasniffer) touching two planning sites. Text reads: The walking group point the datasniffer to-wards the sites of two planning applications. The datasniffer filters are configured to ‘detect’ all records, and both planning sites fall within the ‘detection’ area. This means both sites are registered by the datasniffer. To communicate the presence of these sites, the Nightsteps software updates the score played upon the datasniffer’s mechanisms. The first factor in determining this is to look at the distance between the datasniffer and the planning sites. Planning site 1 is 75m away, so its signature rhythm repeats twice over the duration of the score.

This works through the score for each planning site, with diagrams showing the final composed score. PLANNING SITE 1: Nightsteps generates a signature rhythm based on a snippet of the planning application’s description text. The relationship between the text and the rhythm is arbitrary - the algorithm simply ensures the rhythm is the same whenever the planning site is encountered As the rhythm strength is 4, it contains more and longer strikes As the site is 75m away, the rhythm repeats twice over the total score. Short and long strikes are each given a standard duration, regardless of repetitions. The strike power is 69 (55 base power from distance, 14 boost from site area). PLANNING SITE 2: Again, an arbitrary (but consistent) rhythm is created from the planning application’s description text. As the rhythm strength is 1, it contains fewer, shorter strikes The area is 35 metres away. At this distance, it will repeat six times over the total score The strikes are interpreted according to a standard duration. The signal strength will be 74 (70 base from closeness, 4 boost from site area). COMBINED SCORE: As both sites are detected, the two scores are combined in the output that plays out on the datasniffer. The resulting score is less repetitive than either individual score, indicating multiple planning applications in the areas.