Interactive Landscape
Objective
Create awareness about the importance of preserving mountain forests and the impacts of deforestation and farming. Users choose scenarios by placing a wooden model on a control board with a projector illustrating the effects of farming and deforestation on an interactive landscape model.
Credits
David Rios - Instructor, "Introduction to Physical Computing"
Mimi Yin - Instructor, "Introduction to Computational Media"
Harvey Gunjareug - Assistant in Coding and Debugging
Qiuyao He (Lois), Lening Hou - Videography and Photography
Fabrication
From Concept to Reality
Drawing Inspiration from Nature The fabrication journey began with hand-drawn contour lines inspired by the landscapes of Chiang Mai, Thailand. These initial sketches were then refined in AutoCAD for clarity and precision.
3D Modeling
A Pre-Fabrication Blueprint Importing these lines into SketchUp was the next step. Here, I designed a 3D model of the landscape. SketchUp proved invaluable in designing all dimensions and providing an overview of the topography model, ensuring that the final product was both accurate and visually striking.
Four Scenarios
"In mountain forests, tree canopies absorb rain, protecting the soil from erosion, while roots soak up water to prevent landslides."
“Mountain forest farming increases landslides and floods, impacting villages and disrupting nature's balance as trees, vital for rain absorption, are lost.”
“Deforestation, or cutting down trees, really hurts the environment. It destroys the homes of many animals and plants, leads to more floods and soil being washed away because trees help keep the ground stable, and makes the weather more extreme.”
“Restoring forests by allowing them to regrow naturally is a slow process, but it's highly beneficial for the environment. It's not just about increasing the number of trees. While it takes about 10 years, much longer than it takes to cut them down, this approach is valuable for preserving biodiversity and preventing flooding and landslides.”
Audios
Interaction
User Interaction and Audio Integration
Interaction is key. When users place a wooden cylinder on the control board, it triggers the P5 javascript to display their chosen scenario, accompanied by explanatory audio. This immersive experience makes learning about environmental impacts more engaging and accessible.
P5 Javascript: Simulating Natural Phenomena
For an added touch of realism, I used P5 javascript to create water flow directions and flooding simulations on the mountain using flow field and Perlin noise algorithms. This added an interactive and visually appealing element to the project.
The Technical Essence
Arduino and Actuators
The Movement of Nature At the core of this project lies the Arduino software, which I harnessed to control four linear actuators. These actuators are responsible for the dynamic movement of the topography model, moving up and down to simulate different environmental scenarios: an original forest, farming on mountains, deforestation, and the restoration of the forest.
Serial Communication and Interactive Display
A critical aspect of this setup was establishing serial communication between P5 JavaScript and Arduino. This allowed me to display the scenarios with richly detailed visuals, which I created using Photoshop. The result? Each scenario comes alive with images and videos, engaging the viewer in a story of ecological change.
Winter Show
A Blend of Learning and Innovation
"Interactive Landscape" is more than just an educational interaction; it's a testament to the power of blending technology and art to create impactful learning experiences. It's a project that speaks volumes about the potential for innovative approaches to environmental education.
What sets "Interactive Landscape" apart is its ability to make complex environmental concepts accessible and engaging. It's a shining example of how the fusion of technology and art can revolutionize the way we educate and interact with critical global issues.