This Tree Health VR workshop takes you on a journey of discovery around a virtual Yorkshire Arboretum giving first-hand experience of the pesky Great Spruce Bark Beetle.
Promising to be like nothing else in the world – it used cutting-edge technologies, puzzles and gamification to bring alive the significant economic damage caused to forests and woodlands by these beetles and demonstrates why good plant biosecurity is vital as we combat climate change.
The project was commissioned by Defra and brought together by the Yorkshire Arboretum, Askham Bryan College, VISR and Fera Science Ltd, and is part of a broader approach to educate and build awareness of tree health threats to future generations.
Deploying cutting-edge immersive technology
Virtual reality (VR) is becoming increasingly accessible with many applications for use in education and engagement. It offers participants a fully immersive experience to engage and explore the virtual world of plant health and biosecurity. The project has developed VR resources for a model pest (Great Spruce Bark Beetle) using a mixture of media from both field and laboratory materials.
VR is ideally suited for education about tree health issues as many harmful organisms are not known to occur in this country, some have restricted distribution in the UK, some are seasonal (e.g. broadleaf tree pests) and many produce very cryptic symptoms all of which digital technology can overcome and bring the problem alive.
This new VR experience has applications both in education for professionals but also raising awareness with the public about the importance and value of plant health and biosecurity. It has the potential to reach out to a diverse range of audiences both nationally and internationally and engage with previously hard to reach audiences.
The technological fusion combines high-resolution bark scans, 3D modelling, LIDAR scans, and 360 panoramas, creating a visually captivating digital “Yorkshire Arboretum” for exploration and education.
At the forefront of educational innovation
Here, you can see students at Askham Bryan College using the VR experience of the digital arboretum to learn about the life cycle of the Great Spruce Bark Beetle.
Professor Nicola Spence, Defra Chief Plant Health Officer, said:
“Pests and diseases cause significant damage to trees, causing tree death in many cases as well as having a considerable impact on biodiversity. Using new and innovative technology such as virtual reality experiences will help educate and build awareness of tree health threats to future generations.”
Dr Tim Whitaker, Askham Bryan College principal, said:
“Askham Bryan College is proud to be at the forefront of educational innovation in plant health with the launch of the Tree Health virtual reality experience. This cutting-edge technology offers a unique and immersive way to understand the vital importance of biosecurity and the impact of pests like the Great Spruce Bark Beetle on our ecosystems.”
Dr Charles Lane, Fera Plant Health and Biosecurity consultant, said:
“This technology has the potential to be a real game changer in connecting to and communicating with people about why and how we can protect the health of our plants.”
Dr John Grimshaw, MBE, Director of the Yorkshire Arboretum, said:
“The Tree Health Centre at the Yorkshire Arboretum was established to promote awareness of the multiple threats facing our trees, and it’s exciting to see information being delivered in this new way. We’re proud of being part of the team that is producing it.”
Accessible to all learners
The project has won the Green Gown award for Digital Futures. The judges felt that this innovative project really demonstrated the way in which technology can be used to enhance teaching and learning. It was felt that this project increased accessibility to a wider range of learners who may not otherwise have the same opportunities and experiences. They were impressed by the breadth of the project, both in terms of how far it appeared to be embedded across the curriculum, but also seemingly high engagement within the college and community.
This award-winning feasibility study demonstrated that an engaging VR experience can be built for tree health. Further evaluation will begin to realise its potential and applications for both raising awareness and education about plant health and biosecurity for schools, colleges, professionals, and the public.