The image is © Aaron Koblin. There is one other image of this object. See our image rights statement.

 

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

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2005

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2008

  • Work on this object ended.

2014

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2025

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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 moving image (digital video, 56 sec.; color, sound). 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; moving image (digital video, 56 sec.; color, sound); 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://www-4.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/68743525/ |title=Data Visualization, Flight Patterns |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=10 November 2025 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>