Back to Work

CityBits

An interactive installation revealing hidden data layers of Vancouver. Built for Creative BC, CityBits transforms Open Data and the Greenest City 2020 Action Plan into an immersive, explorable experience.

Creative Coding Interaction Design App Development Data Visualization

Brief

Create an interactive installation for Creative BC
Visualize Vancouver's Open Data and Greenest City 2020 Action Plan
Enable direct public engagement with urban data

Services

Creative coding
Interaction design
Mobile app development
Data visualization
iBeacon integration

Results

Pioneering use of Apple's iBeacon technology
Seamless smartphone-to-installation connectivity
Engaging public data exploration experience

Making urban data tangible

In 2013, Slant received an opportunity from Creative BC to build an interactive installation that would bring Vancouver's data to life. CityBits reveals hidden data layers of the city using the Open Data initiative and the Greenest City 2020 Action Plan (GCAP).

The project includes a mobile app that allows users to explore Goals, Aspects, and Facts of the GCAP while answering questions about their city. We pioneered the usage of Apple's iBeacon Bluetooth technology to enable direct in-person interaction with the installation.

When a smartphone enters proximity, it automatically connects and controls the wall-based visualization, creating a seamless bridge between personal devices and public display. The result is an intuitive way for citizens to engage with the data that shapes their city.