Simulating Weather For A Mixed Reality Platform

Abstract

Complex systems are inherently difficult to teach in a traditional classroom setting. The We’re In This Together (WIT) project aims to provide a different teaching strategy by using AR/VR headsets to situate the students directly inside the system. WIT’s first game attempts to tackle common weather concepts including precipitation and fronts; however, the most recent version fails to demonstrate and model the concepts in an accurate and comprehensible way. This project focuses on developing a brand-new simulation layer for the game that better captures the causes behind common weather phenomena. The new simulation uses a particle-based approach to model the movement of air in the atmosphere and creates a more thorough and interactive experience to help students explore the various aspects of weather.