Temperature Signal
Entry point
For this project, temperature becomes an entry point for public sensing.
A way to notice that water conditions are changing even when contamination itself remains invisible.
Weather matters
Rainy and sunny conditions matter because rainfall is closely connected to CSO overflow.
During and after rain events, household wastewater, stormwater, and runoff may enter waterways through overflow points.
Compare readings
Our fieldwork compares temperature readings across different sites and weather conditions.
To explore whether temperature change can help signal changing water conditions.
Temperature
Temperature readings come from the water as a fast, low-cost sensing layer.
Rainfall
+ CSO
Readings are interpreted with rainfall data and CSO patterns.
Low
Moderate
High
The result becomes a visible public-facing signal, not a hidden lab result.
Possible
correlation,
not certainty.
The project treats temperature as a possible signal, not a final diagnosis.
A warm reading does not automatically mean E. coli is present, and a cool reading does not automatically mean water is safe.
Instead, temperature helps us build a visible, low-cost public interface around uncertainty.
Parent
at Pier 5
The interface could help a parent understand whether the probability of E. coli contamination is low, moderate, or high.
Kayaker
at Pier 40
That detection, in real time, could become a public-facing tool for people already near or on the water.
Runner
on the greenway
Temperature sensing makes it faster, cheaper, and scalable across every waterway in the city.