Coastal Water Information Orders: Reverse-Engineering New York City's Data Dashboards

Area of Science:

• Environmental Informatics
• Urban Ecology
• Science Communication

Background:

• Urban coastal waterways face challenges from pollution.
• Public understanding of water quality impacts recreational activities.
• Information systems play a crucial role in disseminating environmental data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine how information systems influence knowledge about urban coastal waterways.
• To analyze the role of data structure and web design in shaping public perception of water quality and health risks.
• To understand the implications of digital infrastructures on environmental knowledge production.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data structure and web source code from two New York City data publication initiatives.
• Qualitative assessment of how information design facilitates or obscures knowledge.
• Framework of 'information order' to contextualize findings.

Main Results:

• Specific data structures and web design features cultivate distinct forms of knowledge about water quality and pollution.
• Reliance on shared geographic information systems and web frameworks shapes knowledge production.
• Emphasis on enterococcus bacteria as a pollution indicator influences the scope of understanding.

Conclusions:

• Widely shared digital and observational features in environmental data initiatives can both facilitate and constrain future knowledge production.
• The design of information systems has significant implications for public engagement with urban water quality issues.
• Understanding the 'information order' is key to improving environmental communication and decision-making.