Augmented Reality Technology Used to Bolster Better Understanding of Climate Change

Pete Fisher
5 years ago
• Categories: Community

Lower Trent Conservation announced today that its staff will be using augmented reality technology to help members of its watershed community better understand the impacts caused by climate change.

Additionally, the organization seeks to promote practical changes in human behaviour that will help lead to greater community resilience in the wake of climate change.

A key tool for communicating these messages will be the organization’s new Augmented Reality Sandbox that uses cutting edge technology to educate and engage stakeholders including local businesses, industries, students and the general public.

The Augmented Reality Sandbox is a hands-on interactive tool used to convey the importance of water resources and earth science concepts. Colours depicting land formations with various elevations and detailed contour lines are projected onto the sand. When participants interact with the sand, the unit detects the movement and alters the colours and contour lines in real time. Simulation of rainfall, flooding and drought can be controlled by the participants, helping them to understand the nature of water flow across land formations.

“With the reality of climate change, communities are seeing an increase in the severity and frequency of extreme weather events like flooding, droughts, heat waves, and severe storms”, says Lower Trent Conservation CAO Rhonda Bateman. “Our organization is reaching out to local residents, schools, businesses and industries in hopes of helping them foster a better understanding of what climate change is, how it impacts them and our community at large, and how they can modify behaviors contributing to climate change.”

The organization’s Augmented Reality Sandbox was made possible thanks to a $10,000 donation by the RBC Foundation under its new Tech for Nature funding initiative that supports new ideas, technologies, and partnerships to solve pressing environmental challenges.

“We are committed to bringing the power of innovative technologies to address and scale solutions to some of the most pressing environmental issues of today,” said Valerie Chort, Vice President, Corporate Citizenship, RBC. “Through our partnership with Lower Trent Conservation, RBC is helping address one of the most pressing environmental issues of our time.”

“We are very grateful to RBC Foundation for its support,” adds Bateman. “The effects of climate change connect us all and working together is imperative to safeguarding our communities today, and into the future.”

Lower Trent Conservation’s Augmented Reality Sandbox can be seen at numerous community events, conservation workshops and educational institutions throughout the Lower Trent watershed region. Anyone interested in having the tool featured at their public space, school or community event is encouraged to contact Lower Trent Conservation at 613-394-4829 and visit LTC.on.ca.

Photo attached (L-R): RBC’s Commercial Account Manager Tracy Keough accepts certificate of appreciation from Lower Trent Conservation CAO Rhonda Bateman, Information Technology Specialist Jeffrey Meyer and Environmental Education Technician Corinne Harris during launch of the new AR Sandbox tool.