See more objects with the tag airplanes, digital, flight, colorful, data visualization, North America.

Object Timeline

2005

  • Work on this object began.

2008

  • Work on this object ended.

2014

2015

2024

  • You found it!

Data Visualization, Flight Patterns

This is a Data visualization. It was designed by Aaron Koblin. It is dated 2005–08 and we acquired it in 2014. Its medium is video made with processing, adobe after effects, maya. It is a part of the Digital department.

Flight Patterns is a data visualization project that traces domestic airline traffic during a single 24-hour period over North America. Flight paths, using datasets provided by the Federal Aviation Administration, are rendered as arced trajectories. The result is a stunning visual animation that elegantly renders air traffic data as cartography.

This object was featured in our Object of the Week series in a post titled Flight Patterns.

This object was donated by Aaron Koblin. It is credited Gift of Aaron Koblin.

Cite this object as

Data Visualization, Flight Patterns; Designed by Aaron Koblin (American, b. 1982); USA; video made with processing, adobe after effects, maya; Gift of Aaron Koblin; 2014-41-1

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibitions Making Design: Recent Acquisitions and Making Design.

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian’s Terms of Use page.

For higher resolution or commercial use contact ArtResource.

If you would like to cite this object in a Wikipedia article please use the following template:

<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/68743525/ |title=Data Visualization, Flight Patterns |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=26 April 2024 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>