Dummy – UrbanRewild

An augmented reality experience for reconnecting city dwellers with local ecosystems.

Lisa Carter

How can augmented reality be used as a tool to foster ecological awareness and encourage pro-environmental behavior within urban communities?

“UrbanRewild” is a speculative design project that overlays digital information about local flora and fauna onto the physical world. By revealing the “hidden” nature within the city, the project aims to make residents more aware of their local environment, its history, and the potential for future rewilding initiatives, thereby fostering a stronger connection to place.

Process

The process started with ecological and historical research of a specific local park. This was followed by storyboarding key interactions and user flows for the AR experience. Low-poly 3D models of native plants and animals were created in Blender. These assets were then integrated into a prototype built with Unity and AR Foundation for mobile devices. The experience was tested on-site with a group of local residents to gauge its effectiveness and emotional impact.

Artefact

The design artefact is a mobile AR application. When a user points their phone’s camera at specific GPS-marked locations within a park, the app overlays augmented reality content onto the view. This includes animated 3D models of animals that once inhabited the area, visualisations of historical plant life, and speculative projections of future rewilding efforts. Interactive elements allow the user to learn more about each species.

Technology

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Lab

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Program

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