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Namma Interventions

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Data Visualisation
Graphic Design

“Namma Interventions” or “Our Interventions” is an Information Design/Data Humanism project that visualizes consequent unplanned human interventions in local ecosystems of Bangalore and the unforeseen consequences they bring.  Over the years, this cycle has harmed the environment and the need to take responsibility and combat such issues cautiously demands to be addressed. This project visualized three such interventions in Bangalore using Digital portraits and created a sense of belonging and familiarity by using names of well-known places, maps and infrastructure of Bangalore. 

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Objective

Strategy

To raise awareness about human interventions in ecosystems and their impact, with a specific focus on Bangalore and climate change. By utilizing physical multimedia as a creative medium, I aim to explore the intersection of Information Design and Digital Portraiture, drawing inspiration from Data Humanism to present insightful narratives on environmental issues.

Inspired by Elizabeth Kolbert’s Under a White Sky, this project explores humanity’s attempts to fix the environmental problems it created. The design strategy combines hand-crafted processes with data-driven storytelling to spark a personal and emotional response to environmental issues. Influenced by Giorgia Lupi and Gabrielle Merite, it adopts the principles of Data Humanism—making complex information accessible and human-centered.

Focusing on Bangalore’s environmental challenges, the project uses collage, maps, and familiar place names to turn data into visual portraits that feel intimate and relatable. By emphasizing hands-on creation, the tactile process deepens engagement and encourages reflection, transforming environmental data into something emotionally resonant and locally grounded.

How to Read
the Data Portraits

  • Hover mouse over elements to discover the mentioned details
     

  • Gradient Timeline indicates the issue is still ongoing 

  • Star : The number of points of the star indicates the Success rate % of the Interventions

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20%

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40%

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60%

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70%

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90%

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Affected Area

II

I

Details of 
NTERVENTION I &
its consequences

Details of
INTERVENTION II & 
its consequences

Success %
of Intervention II

Timeline with 2 markers 

 

Marker 1
Year of Intervention I

Marker 2
Year or Intervention II

Success % of
Intervention I

Water Hyacinth

The Water Hyacinth is considered one of the most invasive species on the planet. Originally from the Amazon, these flowers have conquered most of the waterbodies in Bangalore by reproducing at an alarming rate as they blanket 60% of the lakes & prevent the entry of oxygen & sunlight. 

INTRODUCED BY BRITISH IN INDIAN LAKES FOR THE PURPOSE OF AESTHETICS

Consequences of Intervention I

  • Oxygen depletion led to the loss of diversity

  • Blockage of major rajakaluves (storm drains)

  • Breeding ground for mosquitos & other pests

  • Indicator of pollution

I

II

REMOVAL OF HYACINTH BY PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MEANS TO HALT ITS GROWTH

Consequences of Intervention II

  • Biomass rot

  • Chemicals used for the removal can contaminate water bodies

  • The species helps in the removal of heavy metals like lead & mercury from the lakes 

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1890

1988

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INTERESTING FACTS

  • Most lakes in Bangalore are artificial tanks built in the 16th century. These lakes are interconnected via storm drains and depend on rain to replenish.
     

  • Bangalore was once a city of a thousand lakes. The numbers have reduced to 81 lakes in a 2017 report, of which only 37 are habitable. 
     

  • Lake restoration projects are ongoing in the city. There is hope for the condition of lakes. Some projects are the Dyavasandra Lake project and the Nanjapura Lake project. 

II

TREE TRANSPLANTATION

Consequences of Intervention II

  • Costly & time-consuming process

  • Only 10% of the trees are transplanted & the rest are cut

  • The transplanted trees only have a <40% survival rate if not taken care of well

  • It will take decades for canopies to reform & cool the streets once again.

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Bangalore 
Metro Line

The ongoing metro line construction (Phase 1 & 2) of Bangalore is one of the main contributors behind massive deforestation projects all across the city. The once-called "Garden City" is losing lakhs of trees & the solution from the Government is Tree transplantation. The city only has 7% of vegetation left.

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TREE FELLING FOR METRO LINE PHASE I & II

Consequences of Intervention I

  • Rise in road temperature

  • Loss of Habitat for local species

  • Takes time to regrow cut trees

I

2011

2016

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INTERESTING FACTS

  • No database records the total number of trees in Bangalore and the trees cut for the metro construction. 

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  • A recent news article states that the Namma Metro project will cut down 4774 trees in the following months for Phase 2B (Silkboard to Airport)

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  • The government is planting samplings to measure the number of trees cut on the outskirts.

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Geo-
Engineering
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Ever since the dawn of industrialisation, global warming has spiked to unimaginable levels. This has adversely affected all parts of the planet, and there seems to be no end to the rising temperature and pollution. One possible solution is said to be a Geoenginnering technique - Atmospheric Sulphite injection. This is a planetary intervention of humans manually changing the atmosphere to temporarily reduce the effects of global warming.

THE EVOLUTION OF THE IT CAPITAL SPARKED RAPID URBANISATION, VEHICULAR MOVEMENT & INFRASTRUCTURE

Consequences of Intervention I

  • Extreme temperature fluctuations

  • Change in rainfall patterns

  • Loss of vegetation cover

  • Air toxicity

  • Increase in population density

I

II

ATMOSPHERIC SULPHITE INJECTION

Consequences of Intervention II

  • Can affect cloud & rainfall patterns

  • India's monsoon could decrease by 12% which can cause droughts

  • Billions of litres of sulphite need to be injected every year to maintain the effect

  • Can cause a large-scale catastrophe if ceased abruptly

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1911

?

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INTERESTING FACTS

  • Bangalore's urban cover has increased by 348% as of 2017

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  • Bangalore was once known as the "Garden City." The city depended on its large tree covers to maintain cool temperatures.

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  • Scientists state that if the world ever comes to this technique as a solution for Global Warming, then we have failed as a species. 

Process
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