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June 5, 2002
Technology normally seen in the latest computer games
is being used by Norfolk-based scientists to help make
crucial decisions about the future of the county's coastline.
Researchers at the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change
Research, based at the UEA, are developing virtual reality
environments that graphically show how future coastlines
could be affected by climate change.
By 2004, planners should be able to use these computer-generated
fly-past videos and photo-real images as part of the
decision-making process.
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| As well as producing visualisations of the future,
the research will investigate the manner in which
they influence people's perceptions of coastal management
schemes. Here we see a view of part of the Holme
site as it looks today. |
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| Here is a vision from the same viewing location
depicting how the site could look in the future.
By comparing the environments depicted by the two
images, people can gain some understanding of how
the landscape of the site may change under different
management objectives. |
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| A piece of computer software known as World Construction
Set is being used to create the visualisations.
The software can create thousands of different textures
so that the environment depicted appears 'real'.
Here the software has been used to recreate a vision
of a grassy field at Holme. |
Dr Andy Jones said the virtual reality system will
be a vast improvement on current methods of informing
people of planning decisions, which use two-dimensional
maps or complicated technical documents that make no
sense to those affected most by the decisions.
"Within two years we will be able to visit communities
with a laptop computer projecting a future version of
their town on a six-foot wrap-around screen," said
Dr Jones.
"It will give people the freedom to walk around
in virtual reality and explore the effects of climate
change and the impacts of various decisions that will
need to be made to protect the coast."
People will also be able to explore the virtual environments
through the Web or in new virtual decision theatres
being built at the University of East Anglia in Norwich.
Dr Jones produces the virtual environments using information
such as that provided by the UK Ordnance Survey showing
the positions of roads, buildings and other infrastructure.
He combines this with data from the Environment Agency
about high tide levels and other aspects of the environment.
Dr Jones has also commissioned aerial photographs to
ensure the computer-modelled environments are as realistic
as possible.
"The simulations will contain accurate information
based on the best evidence of how the environment will
change, knowledge of management decisions, and accurate
data describing the current environment," said
Dr Jones.
For example, a local council could see how their coastal
region would look if they took no action, in which case
the beach could appear eroded.
They could then view the environment as it would look
if protected by sea walls, and view it again as it would
appear following a decision to allow a controlled breach
of the dunes.
The research is part of a new Tyndall Centre project
to investigate how people interpret and react to information
about the effects of climate change presented visually
as a virtual environment.
Dr Jones' team will determine if people's perceptions
of a management plan are influenced by being able to
visualise the resulting environment.
He will initially test the system on the low-lying Norfolk
coastline around Holme-next-the-sea, working with the
Norfolk Wildlife Trust, the Norfolk Coast Areas of Outstanding
Natural Beauty Partnership, and the Environment Agency.
"The region is a microcosm of the types of issues
faced nationally, such as how the site will be affected
by sea level rise, what are the best ways to respond
to climate change, and what are the consequences of
management decisions."
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