Algae Bloom Dynamics 1.0

Algae Bloom Dynamics (ABD) represents a sophisticated intersection of augmented reality, art, and scientific simulation, designed to illuminate the complex dynamics of algae blooms and their origins in lakes and waterways worldwide.

This innovative platform educates users through an immersive augmented reality experience within their own environments. Participants can observe the gradual deterioration of a clear-water lake affected by imbalances in phosphorus and nitrogen, stemming from human activities and threats posed by invasive species. The project delineates local, regional, and global challenges arising from:

• Agriculture
• Household waste
• Stormwater runoff
• Wastewater systems
• Road salt
• Invasive species
• Fossil fuels

A key feature of ABD is the inclusion of detailed animated 3D models, representing:

• Fish: Yellow Perch, Rainbow Smelt, Bass
• Zooplankton: Daphnia, Spiny Water Flea
• Phytoplankton: Microcystis, Aphanocapsa
• Mollusks: Zebra Mussels
• Macroalgae: Nitella

This project emerges from the collaborative efforts of the Eco Resilience Global Games Research Group at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, with funding support from the Jefferson Project. For further details, please visit our dedicated websites:

• Algae Bloom Dynamics AR
• Eco Resilience Games

The Eco Resilience Games initiative is committed to crafting virtual worlds that motivate participants to conserve our real-world environments. Through creative use of advanced gaming technology, users can explore plankton in novel ways that convey their critical roles in freshwater ecology or experience the journey of a water droplet traversing an entire watershed. These endeavors aim to foster understanding of emerging environmental issues and underscore the importance of global cooperation for a sustainable and eco-resilient future.