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© Nickolay LammFrequency fence: Visualisations from U.S artist Nickolay Lamm based on how mobile networks and frequencies are distributed across U.S. cities
If we could see the mobile signals being sent and received from the hundreds of devices that surround us, they would cover us like a psychedelic patchwork quilt.

That's according to the latest visualisations from U.S artist Nickolay Lamm.

Lamm worked with computer engineering professors in Illinois to learn how mobile networks and frequencies are distributed across U.S cities such as New York and Chicago.

The result is a colourful grid system that blankets buildings and famous landmarks, and in real-life would change and glow as the frequencies changed.

To plot the signals, Lamm consulted with Professor Danilo Erricolo, from the University of Illinois at Chicago and Professor Fran Harackiewicz, from Southern Illinois University Carbondaleegular.

Lamm began by dividing each city into a hexagonal grid, and the grid points were based on the location of mobile phone masts and base stations.

Lamm then used network operator data to work out which frequencies are emitted from which individual stations.

Each frequency was assigned a colour, and the higher the number of users in that location, using that frequency, the larger the block of colour. Where multiple signals were sent, the colours were combined.

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© Nickolay LammLamm used network operator data to work out which frequencies are emitted from which stations. Each frequency was assigned a colour. Where multiple signals were sent, the colours were combined. In the cities, including Chicago pictured, Lamm made the hexagons smaller to account for an increased number of users
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© Nickolay LammThis image visualises signals from the base station on the top of Hollywood Hills. To plot the signals, Lamm consulted with Professor Danilo Erricolo from the University of Illinois at Chicago and Professor Fran Harackiewicz, from Southern Illinois University Carbondaleegular
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The channel combinations shown are not static, but rather change rapidly in time as different users are assigned different channels,' explained Lamm.

'If you were to take a photo of these rapid changes, you'd likely see a wide array of colours as seen in the illustration.'

In the city centres, Lamm deliberately made the hexagons smaller to account for the increased number of residents, and therefore the increased number of signals and frequencies need to serve them.
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© Nickolay Lamm

Comment: How appropriate, Capitol Hill beaming out those mind altering signals


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© Nickolay LammThis image shows the signals sent from the Herbert C Hoover building in Washington. Lamm said: 'The channel combinations shown are not static, but rather change rapidly in time as different users are assigned different channels. If you were to take a photo, you'd likely see a wide array of colours as seen in the illustration'
Lamm's other images show how the signals would look if users were stood in front of Capitol Hill or the Herbert C Hoover building in Washington.

The project was a follow-up to Lamm's Wi-fi visualisations released last year which depicted the shape of the Wi-Fi signals. Different colours were used to distinguish the different sub channels.

In these images, Lamm worked with former Nasa astrobiologist M. Browning Vogel to learn how the networks move.

The designs were then based on coverage data taken from around the U.S Congress and The National Mall in Washington.

Each picture shows a familiar Washington landmark surrounded by Wi-Fi channels represented as different colours, as 'interlocking bubbles'.

Lamm then added a hazy effect to areas of the signal broken by a tree, landmark or other obstacle.
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© Nickolay Lamme project was a follow-up to Lamm's Wi-fi visualisations released last year which depicted the shape of the Wi-Fi signals. The Wi-Fi pulses are shown here as spheres. Lamm used red, orange, yellow and other colours to represent these invisible channels that make up the overall Wi-Fi signal
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© Nickolay LammWi-Fi routers on buildings and lamp posts create a circular omnidirectional data fields around them, pictured. Wi-Fi broadcasts at a frequency between radio and microwaves, meaning that the waves or pulses are about six inches apart, as shown by these coloured bands in front of Congress
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© Nickolay LammWi-Fi uses the radio frequency band of the electromagnetic spectrum between radio waves and microwaves. According to Ofcom, the UK will have a severe shortage of airwaves used for WiFi by 2020