Embodying the impact of climate change for decision makers using augmented reality (AR): A case study of climate-threatened cultural heritage sites in Western Alaska

Three-dimensional (3-D) scans and augmented reality (AR) are common tools that can place the user into a landscape threatened by climate change. Combining the ability to rapidly preserve at-risk location data and entice the public, LiDAR and photogrammetric methods have quickly gained popularity; however, industry quality 3-D scanning methods are often costly and time-consuming. Recently, Apple has added commercial-grade LiDAR scanning to many of their mobile devices, giving researchers an opportunity to use a low cost and low expertise method to produce 3-D scans of environmentally at-risk sites that can easily engage with the public, decision makers, and government representatives on mobile devices. Here, we argue the usefulness of collecting LiDAR data of environmentally-threatened localities as a way of allowing decision makers to embody the true impact of climate change on any given conservation case using AR while also providing researcher data for time-series comparison with minimal spatial error (<2 cm). We discuss cases showcasing the use of an iPad Pro 12 to take 3-D scans of at-risk cultural heritage sites on the western coast of Alaska using a free app (Scaniverse) that can be employed in a model hosting platform (SketchFab). We show how AR scans can both be used to create accurate time-series data and be incorporated to provide an immersive and accessible experience. Embodying the impacts of climate change on an environmentally at-risk site may increase attachment for the public, including climate adaptation funding and policy decision makers, by establishing a connection to “Place”.