EcoConstruct

EcoConstruct

EcoConstruct

“Bridging Urban Development and Conservation Through Interaction”

A tangible interaction and data visualization project that simulates urban impact on wildlife, allowing users to explore changes and test restoration strategies.

Industry

Industry

Industry

Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy | ArtCenter

Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy | ArtCenter

Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy | ArtCenter

Role

Role

Role

Interaction & Research Designer

Interaction & Research Designer

Duration

Duration

Duration

2024 | 14 weeks

2024 | 14 weeks

2024 | 14 weeks

Contributor

Contributor

Contributor

Yilin Jin | Zoe Guan | Jerry Cai

Yilin Jin | Zoe Guan | Jerry Cai

Yilin Jin | Zoe Guan | Jerry Cai

Showcase

Problem

Wildlife habitats are shrinking due to rapid urbanization, and increasing human-wildlife conflicts.

  • Habitat Loss – Housing and infrastructure reduce natural spaces.

    Habitat Loss – Housing and infrastructure reduce natural spaces.

  • Light & Noise Pollution – Disrupts animal behavior and breeding.

  • Limited Awareness – Few tools to visualize human impact.

    Limited Awareness – Few tools to visualize human impact.

Solution

An interactive tangible & digital tool to explore urbanization’s effects and test restoration strategies.

  • Physical Models – Place objects to see habitat changes.

    Physical Models – Place objects to see habitat changes.

  • Tablet Interface – Visualizes animal movement and impact.

    Tablet Interface – Visualizes animal movement and impact.

  • Restoration Simulation – Test solutions like reforestation.

    Restoration Simulation – Test solutions like reforestation.

    Restoration Simulation – Test solutions like reforestation.

Key feature

Interact with 3D objects to explore urban impact on wildlife. See real-time habitat changes, animal movement, and test restoration strategies in a hands-on way.

Interact with 3D objects to explore urban impact on wildlife. See real-time habitat changes, animal movement, and test restoration strategies in a hands-on way.

  1. Tangible Interaction

Use 3D models to simulate urban impact and explore ecological changes

Why Tangible Objects?

Main Audience

Urban Planning Students

The use of tangible models helps urban planning students intuitively explore the ecological impact of their designs, offering a more spatial, hands-on experience than a screen-based tool.

Users can tailor their simulation by selecting locations, choosing key animal species, and adjusting environmental variables. This hands-on customization allows users to explore how different factors.

Users can tailor their simulation by selecting locations, choosing key animal species, and adjusting environmental variables. This hands-on customization allows users to explore how different factors.

Users can tailor their simulation by selecting locations, choosing key animal species, and adjusting environmental variables. This hands-on customization allows users to explore how different factors.

  1. Customize Your Exploration

The restoration simulation lets users test green spaces, grasslands, and ponds to help ecosystems recover from urbanization.

The restoration simulation lets users test green spaces, grasslands, and ponds to help ecosystems recover from urbanization.

  1. Restoration

Simulate air pollution by placing a factory and observing changes in productivity and wind direction. See how it impacts animal movement and habitat.

Toggle between local animals to access dynamic data on their behavior and habitat. Use the pull-out menu to explore changes based on actions and the site’s original status.

Toggle between local animals to access dynamic data on their behavior and habitat. Use the pull-out menu to explore changes based on actions and the site’s original status.

  1. Data Visualization

Research Insights

Our Client Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy (AFC) is a conservancy NGO dedicated to preserving and restoring natural habitats in Los Angeles.

Understanding urbanization’s impact on wildlife requires real data. This dataset maps monitoring sites in LA, revealing species distribution, movement, and habitat disruptions.

This map highlights key wildlife corridors in Los Angeles, connecting habitats to support biodiversity and reduce urban fragmentation.

This map highlights key wildlife corridors in Los Angeles, connecting habitats to support biodiversity and reduce urban fragmentation.

This map highlights key wildlife corridors in Los Angeles, connecting habitats to support biodiversity and reduce urban fragmentation.

We visited the site to observe challenges, understand reservation issues, and identify AFC’s needs.

The geographic distribution of wildlife monitoring sites in LA, highlighting key observation locations for studying urban impact on ecosystems.

The geographic distribution of wildlife monitoring sites in LA, highlighting key observation locations for studying urban impact on ecosystems.

The geographic distribution of wildlife monitoring sites in LA, highlighting key observation locations for studying urban impact on ecosystems.

Camera trap images from Los Angeles natural reserves capture wildlife activity, showing species behavior and the impact of urbanization on local ecosystems.

Final Showcase

Final Showcase

Final Showcase

Present to Clients

Present to Clients

Present to Clients

Final Thoughts

Final Thoughts

Small changes in how we design and interact with the environment can lead to more sustainable ecosystems.

This project highlights the importance of visualizing ecological impact and making informed decisions.

With more time, we would expand the simulation with more species, environmental factors, and real-time data for greater accuracy.

Let’s
Collaborate

Book a call with me -

Click to explore!

Designing for the future?

YILIN

©

YILIN JIN

2025

Let’s
Collaborate

Book a call with me -

Click to explore!

Designing for the future?

YILIN

©

YILIN JIN

2025

Let’s
Collaborate

Book a call with me -

Click to explore!

©

YILIN JIN

2025