Week 1 - Lab

Ways to measure aspects of a real site in relation to geometry, materiality, light, sound and interaction.

Geometry:

Photos:
These give you a realistic feeling of the space, can also be used to gauge distance (eg, tiles) and observe textures/materiality.
Tape Measure:
Mainly related to geometry.
3D Laser Scanner:
A very effective, but expensive and hard to come by implement.
Trundle Wheel:
Often used to line out sporting fields, but are also useful for measuring curves. Although they are not totally accurate.
GPS:
Global Positioning System provides reliable positioning, navigation and timing services to worldwide users.

Materiality:

Durometer:
This instrument measures the hardness of a material. Hardness may be defined as a materials resistance to permanent indentation.
Impulse excitation technique:
A small mechanical impulse causes the sample to vibrate. The vibration depends on elastic properties, density, geometry and inner structures.
Universal Testing Machine:
Used to test the tensile and compressive properties of materials.

Sound:

Microphone:
Is an accoustic-to-electric sensor that converts sound into an electrical signal, used for recording sound.
Sound level meter:
Measures sound pressure level and is commonly used in noise pollution studies.

Interaction:

Video Camera:

Record human interaction and sound.
Personal Interaction:
Just walking through the space your human senses can take in a great deal. Touch in relation to materiality, listening to gauge the sound, and just being located in the space you can see how different interaction takes place (sitting, waiting, walking etc.)