Replantify

Objective

The primary objectives of the Replantify project were:

• Raise Environmental Awareness: Create a VR game that educates players about the ecological benefits of tree planting by simulating real-time environmental changes within a virtual urban setting.
• Interactive Gameplay: Enable players to plant seeds across a virtual city using VR headsets, with dynamic growth of trees affecting factors such as humidity, pollution levels, air quality, and carbon emissions.
• Real-Time Feedback: Develop a stats interface displaying measurable environmental impacts (e.g., CO2 reduction, oxygen increase, air purification) as trees mature, enhancing player understanding of ecological processes.
• Innovative VR Experience: Deliver a pioneering Unity-based VR application that combines immersive technology with educational content, targeting recognition in competitive settings like hackathons.

‍

Planning

The planning phase ensured a structured approach to achieving the project’s goals:

• Concept Development:
  The idea emerged from a desire to merge VR gaming with environmental education, focusing on tree planting as a tangible action players could simulate and learn from.
• Technology Selection:
  Unity was chosen as the game engine for its robust VR support and real-time rendering capabilities, while Blender was selected for creating high-quality 3D models of trees, urban environments, and atmospheric effects.
• Feature Outline:
  Key features included a navigable virtual city, a seed-planting mechanic, real-time tree growth animations, and a stats dashboard tracking environmental metrics like carbon footprint and air quality.
• Timeline and Milestones:
  The 15-month timeline (March 2023 – June 2024) was divided into phases: initial design (March – May 2023), development (June 2023 – February 2024), testing and refinement (March – May 2024), and final submission for patenting and hackathon entry (June 2024).

Process

The development process was iterative and focused on integrating VR immersion with educational outcomes:

• Research and Design:
  Environmental data on tree growth and its ecological benefits were studied to ensure realistic simulation. A city layout was designed with designated planting zones to encourage exploration.
• Prototyping:
  Early prototypes tested VR navigation, planting mechanics, and basic environmental feedback, with adjustments made based on playtesting feedback from peers.
• Development Workflow:
  An agile methodology was adopted, with sprints dedicated to modeling (Blender), coding (Unity), and integrating VR interactions (e.g., hand-tracking for planting).
• Testing Strategy:
  Usability tests assessed VR headset compatibility, gameplay intuitiveness, and the accuracy of environmental stats, while performance tests optimized frame rates for a smooth VR experience.

Development

The development phase translated the vision into a functional VR application:

• Virtual Environment Creation:
  Blender was used to craft a detailed 3D cityscape, including buildings, roads, and planting spots, alongside tree models with growth stages (seedling to mature tree). Unity handled the real-time rendering of fog, rainfall, and pollution effects.
• Gameplay Mechanics:
  Players navigate the city via VR headsets, using controllers to plant seeds in designated areas. Trees grow dynamically over time, with animations reflecting maturity stages, triggered by a time-lapse system.
• Stats Dashboard:
  A UI panel was integrated, displaying real-time metrics such as CO2 reduction, oxygen increment, humidity changes, and air purification rates, updated as trees matured and impacted the virtual environment.
• VR Integration:
  Unity’s XR toolkit enabled seamless VR functionality, supporting headsets like Oculus and HTC Vive, with hand-tracking for intuitive seed planting and environment interaction.

Challenges

Several obstacles were encountered during the project:

• Performance Optimization:
  Rendering real-time tree growth and environmental effects in VR demanded optimization to maintain smooth frame rates, requiring adjustments to model complexity and shader efficiency.
• Data Accuracy:
  Simulating realistic environmental impacts necessitated balancing scientific precision with gameplay simplicity, requiring consultation with environmental studies for plausible metrics.
• VR Accessibility:
  Ensuring compatibility across various VR headsets posed technical challenges, addressed through extensive testing and configuration adjustments.
• Time Constraints:
  Meeting the hackathon deadline while refining the application for patent submission required efficient time management and prioritization of core features.

Conclusion

• Outcome:
  Replantify emerged as a fully functional VR game, successfully blending immersive technology with environmental education. Its recognition with the Debutée Award at the CSI 8.0 Hackathon, out of over 140 teams, underscores its innovation and impact.
• Impact:
  The project offers an engaging platform for players to explore the ecological benefits of tree planting, with real-time feedback enhancing learning. Its patent-pending status reflects its originality and potential for broader application.
• Future Scope:
  Potential enhancements include multiplayer modes for collaborative planting, expanded environmental factors (e.g., wildlife interactions), and integration with real-world tree-planting initiatives to bridge virtual actions with tangible outcomes.

‍