Our activities involve the use of a physical sandbox equipped with sensors and an augmented reality system that projects digital information onto the sandbox surface. This sandbox has been used to create and manipulate topographic models using sand, while the AR system overlays digital information such as contours, water flow, and vegetation on the physical sand surface.
DiGTL is adding agent-based modeling to this project, which simulates the behavior and interactions of autonomous agents in a virtual environment. The system simulates the movement and interactions of agents, such as animals, vehicles or people, in relation to the topography and other features of the sandbox. This enables users to explore the potential impacts of different scenarios on the behavior of the agents.
This integration of AR sandbox and agent-based modeling will be used in support of teaching and learning in a variety of fields, including geography, environmental science, urban planning, and ecology. The interactive and immersive experience provided by the AR sandbox, along with the agent-based modeling system, can help students understand complex concepts related to population dynamics, movement patterns, and spatial interactions, in a more engaging way. Incorporating the AR-ABM integration into investigations allows researchers to study and analyze the impacts of different scenarios on the behavior of agents.
The integration of an AR sandbox and agent-based modeling in support of teaching, learning and research in a variety of fields is an innovative and exciting project that aims to change the way we understand and interact with the environment, using cutting-edge technology that support highly interactive and immersive experiences.