The New School’s Urban Systems Lab Launches New App for Visualizing Climate Risk in New York City
Climate change has been accelerating across the world, producing severe weather phenomena like extreme heat waves, blizzards, and hurricanes. There is an increasingly urgent need for cities like New York to understand where, when, and how these events will affect neighborhoods and communities, especially the most vulnerable populations. Recently The New School’s Urban Systems Lab (USL) launched Ocellus XR, a mixed reality mobile application that will help New Yorkers better understand their local climate risk, learn how to prepare for extreme weather, and advocate for equitable interventions and green infrastructure. The app is free, easy-to-use, and available for download.
With the Ocellus XR app, individuals will be able to explore New York City through augmented reality, seeing visualizations of the effects of both climate change and resiliency efforts like the addition of more street trees and green roofs. Users will have the ability to view interactive 3D maps and local information on excessive heat, flood risks, and other climate hazards.
Beyond helping New Yorkers understand the climate risks they face and prepare for extreme weather, the USL intends for the app to provide information that will enable local communities to advocate for equitable solutions to climate hazards.
Support for OcellusXR was provided in part by the Architecture League of New York’s 2022 Independent Project Grant, which is made possible through support from the New York State Council on the Arts.