The Interactive Toolset Enables:
Seascape creation by users who can interactively add and relocate features in land and seascapes, in a Virtual Reality environment, and explain their reasons for siting and design, and report preferences.
Site level exploration used a simulator of aquaculture developments (by Norwegian University of Science and Technology), in a Virtual Reality environment, enabling the user to move around and within fish cages, populated by moving fish, and feeder systems.
Regional level analysis identifying designations, landscape characteristics and development guidance relevant to spatial planning, and explore consistency between terrestrial and marine environments, in a Google Earth interface.
Scientific findings:
Positive preferences of aquaculture in seascapes were associated with good stewardship, naturalness, and coherent locations of features
Stakeholder generated scenarios directed aquaculture development to sites where adjacent land is used for primary production (e.g. forestry, agriculture)
Stakeholders avoided areas close to leisure use (e.g. marinas), historic features (e.g. castles), housing, and areas perceived as ‘remote’, ‘wild’ or ‘natural’.
Addressing target audiences and expressing needs
- To raise awareness and possibly influence policy
- Collaboration
National and regional level policy makers and planners: Stakeholders with policy responsibilities for testing the role of seascape creation tools in developing spatial scenarios for planning aquaculture.
Facilitators of community engagement: Representative bodies, NGOs and public agencies responsible for enabling public and community engagement in relation to planning, to refine the virtual reality framework and its operational use.
Research organisations: Research collaboration to develop augmented reality tools for use in online dialogue, and integration of other data (e.g. disease risk).
- EU and Member State Policy-makers
- Research and Technology Organisations
- Academia/ Universities
R&D, Technology and Innovation aspects
Prototype tools have been developed for use at site, seascape and regional levels. The models are implemented in virtual reality headset and theatre platforms for individuals and groups. The tools have been used operationally in public engagement to raise awareness of issues relating to aquaculture, and multi-functional uses of coastal waters, and in demonstrations with regulators and planners .
