Closing Bell: Explore the Gowanus Canal via Google Maps
A group of researchers from NYU Polytechnic has sent a roving, camera-equipped robot into the Gowanus Canal to capture images and collect water quality data from the sewage-laced Superfund site. Now Brooklyn Atlantis has posted its latest set of panoramic images on Google Maps, enabling anyone to take a look at construction sites along the waterfront, like the Batcave…
A group of researchers from NYU Polytechnic has sent a roving, camera-equipped robot into the Gowanus Canal to capture images and collect water quality data from the sewage-laced Superfund site. Now Brooklyn Atlantis has posted its latest set of panoramic images on Google Maps, enabling anyone to take a look at construction sites along the waterfront, like the Batcave or Lightstone’s 700-unit project on Bond Street, or just see what it’s like to explore the canal from water level. Check it out here, and take a look at the water quality data and find out how you can help with the research.
What’s up with all that dirty foam everywhere?
It’s more or less sea foam, courtesy of the Gowanus Canal’s lovely chemical composition, and the turbulence created by the flushing tunnel at the top of the canal. With all the precipitation we’ve been getting, the street runoff is loaded with funky nutrients, detergents and the like. When these chemicals make it into the canal and the tunnel churns em up you get lots of brown, chunky, oily foam. When a gust of wind comes by this stuff ends up 10+ feet off the surface of the water!