NABU CRANE WORLDS

What does a meadow look like when you suddenly become as small as an insect? What does it feel like to stand among hundreds of cranes? And why are peatlands so important for nature and the climate? For the international NABU visitor centre CRANE WORLDS, we developed an immersive digital exhibition that takes visitors right into three very different habitats. Cranes, insects and peatlands are not simply explained. They become experiences. Three interactive VR and touch modules combine high-resolution 360° worlds with digital storytelling and playful knowledge transfer. The result is modern environmental education that constantly shifts perspective – sometimes quite dramatically.

At the heart of the digital exhibition are three immersive experience worlds: cranes, insects and peatlands. In the crane world, the journey begins in a place where wildlife photographers would normally wait for hours for the perfect moment: a photography hide. From there, visitors move out onto the fields and right into the middle of the cranes’ resting and feeding grounds. In 360°, visitors suddenly find themselves surrounded by the “birds of happiness” and can get closer to them than would normally be possible in the real world for reasons of nature conservation. For the recordings, our 360° camera was positioned directly on the feeding grounds during the crane migration. The birds sometimes came extremely close to the camera – and we even managed to capture a white-tailed eagle taking off.

In the insect world, the scale changes completely. Visitors experience a meadow from the perspective of its smallest inhabitants. Suddenly, blades of grass become trees and a familiar landscape turns into an entirely new world. This immersive perspective makes biodiversity not only visible, but emotionally tangible. The VR Experience reveals how much life exists within the smallest spaces and how important insects are for functioning ecosystems.

The third virtual expedition takes visitors into the world of peatlands. Peatlands are among the most fascinating and at the same time most threatened habitats. The Experience communicates their biodiversity and highlights the central role water plays in these landscapes. And the topic does not end with the VR headset. In the outdoor area of CRANE WORLDS, visitors can also explore different peatland landscapes and learn about their importance for nature, biodiversity and the climate. Digital and real-world nature education come together directly.

The three worlds were not designed as isolated VR applications. Each module combines Virtual Reality and interactive touch applications to create one integrated digital exhibition. Visitors who are not currently wearing a VR headset can explore the topics on the screens, access additional content and dive deeper into the individual habitats. This also makes the modules work as a shared experience during everyday exhibition use: one visitor can be fully immersed in the virtual world while others explore content on the touchscreen at the same time. Virtual Reality, 360° worlds and touchscreens become one connected digital exhibition.

In addition to the three major experience worlds, we developed further digital applications for the exhibition. An interactive live camera brings what is happening outside directly into the exhibition and, for example, allows visitors to observe activity at a bird feeder. A screen becomes a digital window into nature. Another touch module allows visitors to share their impressions of the exhibition and provide feedback. The exhibition therefore does not simply communicate in one direction – visitors themselves become part of the digital system.

Behind all the technology is one clear goal: to inspire an interest in biodiversity. CRANE WORLDS focuses on cranes, their habitats and nature conservation. At the same time, topics such as peatlands, insects and biodiversity are communicated through a variety of digital and analogue formats. Virtual Reality opens up perspectives that would hardly be possible in the real world: standing in the middle of a crane feeding ground without disturbing the animals. Experiencing a meadow through the eyes of an insect. Or exploring a sensitive habitat without having to physically enter it. Technology becomes a tool for nature conservation and environmental education.

The international NABU visitor centre CRANE WORLDS is located near Günz in Western Pomerania, in the middle of one of Central Europe’s most important crane resting areas. The centre combines an interactive indoor exhibition with an extensive outdoor area, creating a place for learning and discovery focused on cranes, biodiversity and nature conservation. The digital VR and touch applications complement the physical exhibition and make it possible to experience perspectives and encounters with nature that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to access on site.