Geospatial Florida Wildlife is an immersive Augmented Reality (AR) experience created for the Google Geospatial AR Challenge. This project pioneers geospatial gaming by offering an interactive journey through the diverse ecosystems of Central Florida.
Inspired by popular AR games like Pokémon Go, Geospatial Florida Wildlife invites players to explore and discover native animals in their natural habitats. Players interact with lifelike 3D models of animals, including alligators, bats, butterflies, buffalo, manatees, wild boars, and horses, at geo-fenced locations.
- Explore Iconic Locations: Discover virtual wildlife at locations such as:
- Paynes Prairie National Park
- Florida Museum of Natural History
- UF Bat Conservatory
- University of Florida campus
- 16 Native Species: Encounter various species modeled in 3D, integrated with their natural surroundings.
- Remote Access: A 3D model viewer is available on the project’s website for users unable to visit the geo-fenced locations.
- Game Engine: Unity with AR Core extension for Google Geospatial Creator.
- Mapping: Cesium for Google Map Tiles API and Niantic Lightship for advanced occlusion and segmentation.
- 3D Modeling: Models sourced from Unity Asset Store and enhanced with over 200 models generated using Luma AI’s text-to-NERF technology.
- Download the App:
Google Drive Link - Install the App:
Open the APK file on your mobile device. Allow installation from unknown sources if prompted. - Open the App:
Launch 'Geospatial Florida Wildlife' from your app drawer. - Exploring in AR:
- Travel to designated geo-fenced areas in Florida.
- Animals will appear around you in AR when in the specified locations.
- Interacting with Animals:
- Walk around and view the animals from different angles.
- Experience them in their natural habitats.
- Visit the Website:
floridamon.com - Viewing 3D Models:
Explore a gallery of animals and view their 3D models. - AR Experience at Home:
- Click the 'AR' button to launch the AR viewer.
- Point your camera where you'd like the animal to appear and interact with it in your environment.
Caption: Wild boar and alligator in AR.
Caption: Geospatial map with geo-fenced locations.
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Watch the demo to see Geospatial Florida Wildlife in action:
- Enhanced interactivity for a more engaging user experience.
- Expansion to additional locations across Florida.
- Multiplayer features to encourage community exploration and discovery.
This project was developed for educational purposes as part of the Google Geospatial AR Challenge. It is not officially endorsed by the University of Florida or the Florida Museum of Natural History.
- APK Download: Google Drive Link
- Repository: Google Drive Folder