Salford partners with Spanish university for climate change app
Research from the School of Arts, Media and Creative Technology, in partnership with the University of Murcia in Spain, has led to the launch of the LIFE-AMDRYC4 app. The virtual reality app, which is compatible with Google Cardboard and touchscreen technologies, focuses on the impact of different agricultural practices on climate change.
The app originated from the LIFE AMDRYC4 [2017-] venture, an innovative European funded project which presents natural solutions for the adaptation to climate change of dryland agricultural systems in the Mediterranean area.
The University of Salford’s Dr Manuel Hernández, who specialises in digital media, said: “I was originally approached in October 2019 to create a digital brochure which presented the LIFE-AMDRYC4 objectives in illustrative animations. Things soon advanced and our goal became to develop a games app, using immersive technologies like XR and VR to visualise the effects our actions have on climate change.”
The app is targeted at professionals and highlights environmental-friendly agricultural practices such as terracing farming and the negative effects of others such as intensive grazing.
“The project took several months to develop and involved a team of specialists including level designers, developers and UX designers, some of which were still students,” added Manuel.
Students from the School of Arts, Media and Creative Technology were given the opportunity to develop the app, working alongside international researchers.
“As well as giving our students invaluable experience, they are helping to make society more aware of the impact human activities can have on the environment. On a personal note, I’ve realised how crucial the sustainable management of natural resources is, and how human activity can be much more compatible with biodiversity that I initially thought,” he added.
Future activity includes a webinar, conducted by researchers Professor Maria José Martínez and Professor Carmen Pérez-Sirvent from the University of Murcia and Dr Manuel Hernández from the University of Salford, as part of a table discussion on “Environmental Education through Immersive Technologies”.
The app is available for free at:
IOS APP STORE
https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/life-amdryc4/id1540739695
ANDROID PLAY STORE
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.UMU.LIFEAMDRYC4
Multilingual interface including Spanish, English, French, Italian and Portuguese.
More information about the project is available on the official website: http://lifeamdryc4.eu/
For all press office enquiries please email communications@salford.ac.uk.
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