Planetary Optimist

Project's type

Client

Year

Credits

Hardware-Software design and dev

Google X

2022

Team Project

Bringing technology and nature together: a research project exploring urban biodiversity through smart monitoring and public engagement.

01

Context

How can we use technology to examine and enhance urban biodiversity?

02

Opportunity

A system combining hardware (planters with sensors) and software (PWA) to monitor pollinators and educate the public

03

Impact

Tested in Buffalo NY, USA and Poznań, Poland, providing data on habitat optimization, biodiversity speces in urban sites

SOFTWARE: A platform for tracking and learning about urban pollinators. Designed to engage and educate the public, the platform offered real-time insights into pollinator activity and their habitats. To make exploration interactive, we introduced a citywide cycling route, connecting our sensor-packed planters in well-placed urban locations. Users could track biodiversity, join a gamified experience, and discover the crucial role of pollinators—all while biking through the city.

HARDWARE: Smart planters designed for both insects and people. Equipped with hidden sensors, these planters collected real-time biodiversity data while doubling as interactive public installations. Their structure was designed to visualize data, resembling dynamic infographics that revealed insights when scanned via a QR code. By blending form and function, the planters not only supported pollinators but also transformed urban spaces into living data stories.

Iterative design process: refining habitats, form following the purpose of the project.

Smart planter system diagram showing sensor placement and data flow

Process Summary

Impact Summary

Planetary Optimist turned public space into a testing ground for urban biodiversity. We combined thoughtful design with embedded technology to gather real-time ecological data—while keeping everything accessible, engaging, and human. The result was a research-driven experiment that hid complexity behind simplicity, inviting people to explore, learn, and connect