<p>The map I've been making by tracking myself over GPS does not display scale, or landmarks, or street names. It doesn't show which way is north, south, east or west.</p>
<p>The map I've been making by tracking myself over GPS does not display scale, or landmarks, or street names. It doesn't show which way is north, south, east or west.The map I've been making by tracking myself over GPS does not display scale, or landmarks, or street names. It doesn't show which way is north, south, east or west. I use geographic information system software that allows me to accurately position all the .gpx files I upload from my GPS tracker app on my phone.</p>
<p>When zoomed out, the line appears to be curved, jagged, definitely not straight. However, when zooming in there are many straight lines, and they only bend at anchor points where each snapshot is taken. The line becomes knotted at places, representing social interactions, financial transactions, backtracking, and places where the GPS signal was obscured, or confused by bouncing off buildings.</p>
<p>In a vector program I begin to simplify the file, sliding a scale that removes anchor points and unravels the knot.</p>
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<p>In a vector graphics editor I begin to simplify the line, sliding a scale that removes anchor points and unravels the knot into a completely straight line. As I do this, I notice smaller knots that were not so visible at the scale I saw them at originally.</p>
<p>In early modern physics, the AEther (or Ether) was believed to be an invisible space-filling substance or field that was a transmission medium for electromagnetic or gravitational forces.</p>
<p>As I walk from homeserver to homeserver, I'm relying on a mental mind-map of Rotterdam, one formed over the past 7 months that I've been here. If I follow my nose, I can usually end up in the general vicinity of where I'm supposed to be. Eventually I need to use an actual map to pinpoint my targeted destination, but for the most part I enjoy the increasingly rare occurence of being lost for a moment.</p>
<p>If I walk enough routes, this will eventually form a map of Rotterdam, though one reduced down to just simple lines against a blank background. These represent areas that are accessible on foot, most likely the streets and footpaths.</p>
<p>The line here meanders slightly, perhaps this is where I crossed a road? I'm still in the habit of walking on the left side of the road, following the direction that traffic moves in Australia. I notice that oncoming pedestrians can't always tell which way I'm going to pass them on the pavement; even on foot we still follow the dominant flow of traffic.</p>
<p>If you know Rotterdam, perhaps you can identify what the straightest part of this path represents: the Erasmusbrug. It's easy to guess why the line is so straight, the bridge is a high traffic area, and it's not so easy to wander off the path here, or to cross the lanes of traffic going over it. There are also not many other ways to cross the Maas River. It could be crossed by boat, or there is also the subterranean Maastunnel further up the river. Another option that doesn't come to mind so easily is to swim. But any which way one crosses the river, the line represented by GPS tracking software would reveal itself as straight lines between the snapshots taken as the scale increased. On this day the bridge was raised; trams stopped mid-way, and their drivers stood outside, smoking in a huddle. Impatient joggers ran on the spot, cyclists stood astride their bikes, some of the rest of us shifted from foot to foot while we waited for the bridge to lower again.</p>
<p>If you know Rotterdam, perhaps you can identify what the straightest part of this path represents: the Erasmusbrug. It's easy to guess why; the bridge is a high traffic area, and it's not so easy to wander off the path here, or to cross the lanes of traffic going over it. There are also few other ways to cross the Maas River. It could be crossed by boat, and there is also the subterranean Maastunnel further up the river. Or perhaps swim. But any which way one crosses the river, the line represented by GPS tracking software would reveal itself as straight lines between the snapshots taken as the scale increased. On this day the bridge was raised; trams stopped mid-way, and their drivers stood outside, smoking in a cluster. Impatient joggers ran on the spot, the rest of us huddled while we waited for the bridge to lower again.</p>
Simon Browne
5 years ago