San Francisco resident Matt transformed his ceiling into a dynamic airport map using ADS-B radio data and projection mapping. The system tracks real-time flight paths from nearby San Francisco International Airport (SFO), displaying aircraft trajectories as they pass overhead. Developed with open-source tools like FlightAware API and Arduino, the setup uses a BeagleBone Black computer to process data and sync projections with live flight movements.

The project began as a personal experiment to visualize the 1,000+ daily flights at SFO. Matt shared his code on GitHub, inspiring hobbyists to adapt the system for other airports. Technical details include 1080p projectors, radio antennas tuned to 978-1090 MHz, and Python scripts parsing JSON flight data. The system achieves sub-100ms latency, ensuring smooth synchronization between radar updates and visuals.

This DIY aviation tech highlights the accessibility of ADS-B data for creative applications. By combining radio frequency monitoring with spatial projection, Matt’s work bridges engineering and art. It also underscores the public utility of freely available flight-tracking infrastructure, demonstrating how hobbyists can repurpose technical data into immersive experiences.

Anyone near major airports could replicate this with $500–$1,000 in hardware. The system’s open-source nature ensures global adaptability, turning skies into a living map of air traffic. As Matt notes, it’s a testament to how consumer-grade tools can decode complex systems like airspace logistics.