Scenes from the Regional Geographies of Cloud Infrastructure

Hydrating, Humming, Shuttling

Abstract

Data centers are resource-intensive facilities, relying not only on computational hardware but also on ancillary systems such as air conditioning and backup generators to maintain the computing capacity required for delivering a broad range of global services. While substantial research has focused on internal operations of data centers, considerably less attention has been directed toward the external landscapes and environments where they are sited. This paper draws on fieldwork conducted in regions with high concentrations of data centers in Germany and Switzerland. Through on-site observation, mapping, photography, and soundscape recording, we re-interpret the regional settings where large-scale cloud infrastructure providers are located. This tentative study seeks to elicit counterintuitive insights into digitalization and the often-overlooked relationships between computer-intensive infrastructures and their surrounding environments.