Immersive technology for the Andalusian ‘Educa Bus’

The challenge: Raising awareness of Andalusia’s vulnerability to climate change

Andalusia faces critical challenges due to its geographical location, making it particularly vulnerable to climate change. Rising temperatures, biodiversity loss and pressure on natural resources call for an active and informed response from the public. However, explaining complex phenomena such as soil erosion or the water cycle in a way that is accessible to all audiences presents a considerable logistical and educational challenge.

The aim was to transform technical data into hands-on experiences that would enable any member of the public, regardless of their age or location, to understand how their decisions affect the environment. A tool was needed that could be taken to over 200 local authorities, conveying a message of resilience and sustainability in a simple, impactful and accessible way.

Government of Andalusia

(Department of Sustainability and the Environment)

A public body responsible for the conservation of natural heritage, forest management and the fight against climate change in the autonomous community of Andalusia.

Education

Catalina García
Minister for Sustainability and the Environment

The Educa Bus is an open-air classroom designed to enable anyone in Andalusia to learn and understand how their decisions affect the environment. Knowledge is the first step towards change, and this technological initiative brings environmental education to every corner of our region.

Educa Bus, campaña itinerante para concienciar sobre medioambiente en Andalucía

Educa Bus, campaña itinerante para concienciar sobre medioambiente en Andalucía con Realidad Virtual

The solution: Immersive technology to experience and protect the ecosystem

Events

As part of the travelling campaign “Educa Bus – Get on Board with Sustainability”, developed by Silman97 for the Regional Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment of the Regional Government of Andalusia, Innoarea has created two immersive experiences based on virtual reality and augmented reality.

In the virtual reality experience, the user is immersed in a forest where they can compare a healthy riverbank with a degraded one. Through interaction, the user sees how vegetation protects rivers from erosion, choosing restoration measures that stabilise the riverbed immediately and visually.

For the augmented reality experience, we designed a digital overlay on a physical totem that visualises the water cycle on the ground. Participants trigger the rain and observe the processes of infiltration and runoff. The solution allows for the installation of natural measures, such as gabions and protective vegetation, to demonstrate how they slow the flow of water and protect the slope in real time.

Escenario de vegetación de Andalucía para concienciación sobre medioambiente

Navigation and decision-making through simple interactions for greater accessibility
Visualisation of the effects of rain, water infiltration and runoff on the terrain
Recreation of riverbank ecosystems and Andalusian forests with ambient sound
Messages that make it easier to understand environmental initiatives for all ages

Key findings

The deployment of these technologies has enabled the Educa Bus to become a benchmark for modern environmental education. By allowing users to ‘interact’ with the virtual landscape, it creates a much greater emotional impact than traditional methods. Citizens not only receive information, but also see for themselves how restoring vegetation improves land stability and water management.

This project succeeds in democratising access to immersive technology in rural areas and small towns, breaking down the geographical barriers to environmental education. The result is a more informed and aware public, capable of understanding that sustainability is a collective effort in which every small decision, backed by technical knowledge, contributes to securing the future of Andalusia.