The Sound of New York City Evictions
A data sonification and visualization of NYC evictions from 2017 to 2024
The Sound of New York City Evictions is a sonification project I created with these goals in mind:
○ Use Python to map data to audio ✔︎
○ Share the step-by-step method with readers of this article. ✔︎
○ Use Python to map data to audio ✔︎
○ Share the step-by-step method with readers of this article. ✔︎
New York City eviction data shows a distinct trend: in 2017, the city reached a peak level of evictions (over 20 thousand), followed by a pause during the COVID-19 pandemic moratorium. Since the moratorium ended, evictions have returned to concerning levels. I thought this would be an ideal data set to sonify, because of the noticeable change in pattern over time.
Step 1: Find the Data
I found New York City eviction data (NYC OpenData) through Data Is Plural, a “weekly newsletter of useful/curious datasets” edited by Jeremy Singer-Vine.
I found New York City eviction data (NYC OpenData) through Data Is Plural, a “weekly newsletter of useful/curious datasets” edited by Jeremy Singer-Vine.
Step 2: Use Python to Convert Data to Audio
This approach is adapted from Matt Russo's sonification tutorial. Using it as a guide, I wrote a Python script to convert the NYC eviction data to a MIDI file (a format which is readable by audio interfaces).
The scripts and data are available in this GitHub repository. I also created a version for Jupyter Notebook for users who are less comfortable using a IDE.
This approach is adapted from Matt Russo's sonification tutorial. Using it as a guide, I wrote a Python script to convert the NYC eviction data to a MIDI file (a format which is readable by audio interfaces).
The scripts and data are available in this GitHub repository. I also created a version for Jupyter Notebook for users who are less comfortable using a IDE.
Step 3: Customize the Audio with Logic Pro X
Description
Description
Step 4: Add Visuals and Narration
Description
Description
Tools Used:
- Data sonification: Python (ref Matt Russo's approach) + Logic Pro X
- Data visualization: Flourish + Adobe After Effects
Mention sharing this as a tutorial for RJI article "customization" focus
Screenshots: Logic Pro session, flourish visualization, NYC open data resource,
Outline the process, and the layers included in the data sonification, rationale of design
- Data sonification: Python (ref Matt Russo's approach) + Logic Pro X
- Data visualization: Flourish + Adobe After Effects
Mention sharing this as a tutorial for RJI article "customization" focus
Screenshots: Logic Pro session, flourish visualization, NYC open data resource,
Outline the process, and the layers included in the data sonification, rationale of design
