Augmented Reality in Agriculture and Education

Augmented reality (AR) is employed in agriculture to enhance farm safety, biosecurity, industry productivity, and communication. Through AR wearables, users can access and interact with various 3D content, including live farm maps, representations of animals, carcasses, diseases, and ailments, as well as visualizations of growing plants, fruits, and vegetables to explore their growth process and seeds, along with NDVI soil data.

In educating children about food sources and sustainability, the Woolworths Fresh Food Kids Discovery Tour project utilizes AR. This initiative introduces kids to the Odd Bunch program, aimed at minimizing food waste. Through AR, children engage in activities like growing virtual plants, picking Odd Bunch apples, or harvesting carrots from a digital patch. By using AR, digital objects and activities overlay the real-world environment, allowing for an immersive and interactive learning experience.

The project involves students using iPads to scan AR markers, which trigger various activities. These activities are designed to be interactive, rather than passive, allowing students to engage with digital content in their physical surroundings. The AR portals created for this project serve as gateways, transporting users into a virtual farm setting once a marker is scanned.

Overall, AR is proving to be a valuable tool in both agriculture and education, offering innovative ways to enhance productivity, safety, and learning experiences.