My main challenge at UCL MAL was diversifying vegetation and creating realistic foliage of the species native to the Atlantic Rainforest in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, bordering Paraguay.

Maps Data: Google

The UCL Multimedia Anthropology Laboratory, in collaboration with the Guarani and Kaiowá Indigenous communities, is developing a virtual reality exhibition that highlights these groups' endangered habitats and rich traditions. The Guarani-Kaiowá have long struggled to secure their territorial rights in Ñande Ru Marangatu, and this project aims to increase their visibility and support their efforts. Despite this temporary victory, the tribe still faces ongoing mobilisations that threaten to displace them from the only area where their ancestral culture and community are safeguarded.

Research

I searched in PlantCatalog for the species native to the region, such as Canna x generalis, different types of Bromeliads and Typha latifolia. Afterwards, it was presented to the Shaman during the Zoom meeting to see if she recognizes them as present in their forest. To my surprise they also had the medicinal and practical use in their everyday life.

Photogrammetry

The task involved creating photogrammetry from photos taken in the forest surrounding the Indigenous communities, with the aim of creating a digital twin.

The photogrammetry result from Polycam

The final model of the plant from the Marantaceae family

After cleaning up the photogrammetry scan, I have additionally used the following methods for the retouching to obtain a better result:

• The UV map retouch. For that purpose, I brought the UV map into Photoshop. Having two screens, I could, after saving changes in Photoshop, check how the changes were applied in Blender by clicking Ctrl R in the UV map window.
• Using Sculpt tools in Blender: Smooth, Draw and Elastic Deform for the leaves.
• Modelled & textured the stems to complete the plant.
• Painted some parts of leaves in Blender and added a Bump.

Adding the wind simulation in UE5.

During the project, photogrammetry training was prepared for the Indigenous youth so that they could capture their environment and help the VR team with limited resources. My part was to prepare a comparison of the photogrammetry and Gaussian Splatting of their local beautiful caraguata flower.

Another important thing was to research the size of the plant, how frequent and rare it was, and what conditions it preferred in order to place it appropriately in the UE5 scene.

PlantFactory & Foliage painting in UE5

Typha latifolia

Vriesea carinata

With limited funds for the project, I proposed using PlantFactory with its Catalog, which was free, instead of SpeedTree. Above some of the examples used.