Ocean wave forecasting as an immersive public space

HavObservatoriet is an artist-led research collaboration with the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). In 2023 the project constructed a circular open-air ‘wave observatory’ in Vejle Klima Park, Denmark, in a newly landscaped harbour-facing area, designed to protect the city of Vejle against flooding. The observatory creates a public space within the park, sheltered from the wind and connected to the power of the ocean.

HavObservatoriet is designed to simulate the latest forecasts for the ocean surrounding Denmark as one single circular animated digital visualisation that envelops the viewer in a combined statistical model of the behaviour of the sea surface. The system is connected to the latest ECMWF near-term ocean wave spectrum forecasts. It converts the spectral data from these forecasts into an animated simulation of the ocean surface which is rendered using a non-photorealistic particle-based rendering system. The panoramic image of the sea that surrounds the viewer is displayed at 1:1 scale - so a 1meter high wave appears 1 meter high on the screen. Because the screen wraps around the viewer, you can see a wave approaching from one direction, feel it wash over the building, and then disappear in the opposite direction.

The screen shows the “view” from a single geographic location at a time, changing the location every few minutes to a new semi-random location around the coast of Denmark. Each selected geographic position of spectral data simulates the amplitude of waves at every wavelength and in every direction they travel. Sometimes the screen will be showing 10m high storm surges from the North Sea, or sometimes the tranquil waves from the east coast of Jutland.

This presentation will explore the visual and performative nature of this installation and its possible role in the urban landscape. It will discuss future possibilities of this collaboration, and the ways in which such artistic interpretations of environmental data might impact on public engagement.

(Note on environmental impact: To reduce power requirements for this project, a rendering technique was developed that only requires a small proportion of the LED screen to be illuminated at any one time. As most of the image is black and responds to ambient light conditions the observatory therefore requires very little power).