A Virtual Reality visualization of the biosonar communication channel for live in the depths of the sea

Abstract

Underwater sound propagation is used as a means of communication by many living beings in the deep sea. It is not only used as a communication channel, but it also serves so that animals can recognize the surrounding environment by acting as an underwater sonar. The work in this thesis addresses the visualization of this phenomena by devel- oping a Virtual Reality Serious Game using Unity, where the players can live the experience of seeing through sounds, and understand how human noise pollution interferes with underwater life. We have created an underwater scene with its own ecosystem and full of sounds, which allows the players to feel like being underwater. Players will navigate freely in this scene, with the objective to reach deeper zones. In this journey, they will lose the sight with the depth, and become dependent of the sound waves to locate and discover its surroundings.