How Healthy Are Our Streams and River? - Initial Headset VR Prototype Functionality with GIS

Abstract

How Healthy Are Our Streams and Rivers is a GIS-based immersive learning experience using virtual reality (VR) to explore water quality in the Lehigh River watershed. This project enables learners to analyze water quality data through interactive virtual macroinvertebrate surveys at four distinct tributary locations. The game is designed to enhance spatial understandings of the watershed while promoting environmental literacy by incorporating GIS capabilities within the Unity 3D real-time development game engine. Players assess water quality health with virtual macroinvertebrate surveys, examine anthropogenic impacts, and explore remediation strategies. The project uses the ArcGIS SDK for players to interact with offline geospatial data layers in a VR environment, while overcoming challenges such as limited network connectivity common in non-formal education settings. We present our initial prototype development with a primary focus on the GIS functionality within the Unity environment. This iLEAD paper describes the learning experiences and its conceptual understandings, and our initially developed GIS functionalities for immersive learning with a water quality investigation in a Unity-developed headset VR environment.