Virtual Burrator

You might ask why we need a virtual Burrator when we are fortunate enough to have the real thing on our doorstep. However Virtual Burrator has been developed by the Human Interface Technologies (HIT) Team at the University of Birmingham to evaluate the potential benefits of virtual outdoor environments in reducing patients' recovery times, particularly when it is not possible to expose those patients to real scenes of nature. Researchers in the 1980s found that exposing individuals to natural views and settings could reduce stress, improve feelings of well-being and assist in recovery following mental fatigue.  Restorative environments as simple as window views onto garden scenes were found to reduce post-operative recovery periods and the need for strong pain killers.

Virtual Wembury is currently being used for experimental trials within the intensive care unit of Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham and once the results have been assessed, the plan is to introduce the Virtual Burrator scenario as well. In the meantime, Virtual Burrator scenes are being integrated into a trial at a dementia care home in Gloucester, where a large double-glazed window frame in front of a LCD screen will create a 'window' onto a natural scene.  The creators hope that the reservoir and forest scenes may help residents to relax and talk about memories of times spent in similar areas with family and relatives.

Robert Stone is the director of the HIT Team and holds a Chair in Interactive Multimedia Systems within the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences at the University of Birmingham. He also currently holds the position of Visiting Professor in Simulation Psychology within the University of Plymouth and, being a Plymothian by birth, is more than just a little familiar with the beautiful Devon scenery. He takes a very hands-on approach to all his research and Virtual Burrator and Virtual Wembury have been developed under his guidance by his postgraduate students alongside their main studies, with no additional funding, except for Robert's external consultancy work.  

The main focus of Virtual Burrator is the support of restorative and rehabilitative therapies for hospitalised casualties of armed conflict. However the research team has also been working with local historical experts and South West Lakes Trust to use the virtual environment to bring some of the historical features of the region to life.  The 'Virtual Heritage' version of Virtual Burrator has been created using a technique called  'Augmented Reality' which has enabled the HIT Team to recreate 3D models of former buildings in their actual locations, such as the Burrator & Sheepstor Halt - complete with various locomotives -  which was part of the old Plymouth to Dartmoor railway. Virtual Burrator users can walk across the reservoir via the 1920s suspension bridge built to support engineering work when raising the dam, and even watch a WWII Lancaster Bomber flying over the dam. The team is also investigating the possibility of mapping out a pre-flood version of the Burrator basin, but it may be some time before the funding and equipment are in place to achieve this part of the project.

The Virtual Burrator environment was developed using Digital Terrain Model data for the basic topography; this was then overlaid with high-resolution images, generated from detailed aerial photographs; virtual representations of trees, large plants, meadows, rocks, streams, buildings, roads and tracks were then added.  The HIT Team researchers have also been pioneering the use of 'drone' technologies using small quad- and hexacopters fitted with cameras to provide views of inaccessible areas.  The virtual soundscapes which include birdsong, brooks, wind and footsteps were then created using a combination of web audio files and recordings made on location. The virtual environment even incorporates changes in light and weather over the course of a day-night cycle.

Eventually it is hoped that, funding permitting, the general public will be able to experience Virtual Burrator in the South West Lakes Discovery Centre at Burrator Reservoir. When Virtual Burrator came to Sheepstor in January for a live demo, a small but fascinated group of people had the pleasure of experiencing a number of virtual scenes including a very eerie night-time railway platform scene, complete with swirling mists around the old lamps and the distant sound of a steam train whistle!

More detailed information can be obtained via the HIT Team’s Virtual Heritage brochure and news updates at www.birmingham.ac.uk/stone.

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