Brigalow Catchment Study – Virtual Tour of Key Research Sites
The Brigalow Catchment Study’s virtual tour showcases key research sites with 360-degree panoramas, drone footage, custom navigation, embedded videos, and 3D models, providing an engaging and informative experience
The Client
The Brigalow Catchment Study is a long-term research project examining the impact of land management practices on water quality, soil health, and agricultural productivity in Queensland’s Brigalow Belt. By comparing cleared and uncleared land, the study provides critical insights to support sustainable farming, environmental conservation, and policy development.
The Challenge
The Brigalow Catchment Study aimed to create an interactive virtual tour to provide an immersive and informative representation of the research site. The goal was to seamlessly integrate drone footage and ground-based 360-degree images to allow users to explore key areas remotely. However, several challenges arose during development. The lack of 3D capture from ground panoramas limited the ability to create a fully immersive model, and the drone-generated version had resolution issues, making it difficult to identify specific equipment or landscape details.
Navigation within the tour also needed improvement. Users experienced difficulty moving between views, particularly in areas like the C5 Exclusion Plot, where exiting required returning to the home screen instead of a smooth transition. Additionally, important locations such as the C1 Flume were missing and needed to be added for a complete and accurate representation of the study site. Another challenge was determining the right level of detail to include. While some elements, like hydrological boundaries, were considered for the tour, they risked adding unnecessary complexity to the experience. The balance between usability, clarity, and scientific accuracy had to be carefully managed.
Our Solution
To enhance the Brigalow Catchment Study Virtual Tour, the team refined the approach to improve clarity, navigation, and overall usability. The goal was to create a seamless and informative experience while addressing technical limitations and user concerns. By leveraging drone footage and ground-based 360-degree images, the team optimized the available data to create the most immersive experience possible. While a full 3D model was not part of the original scope, the drone-captured imagery was enhanced to maximize resolution and detail, improving the visibility of key study areas and equipment.
To resolve navigation issues, connectivity between viewpoints was improved, allowing users to move smoothly between locations without being forced back to the home screen. Areas like the C5 Exclusion Plot were adjusted for better accessibility, and the C1 Flume was added to provide a more complete representation of the site.
The team also carefully considered the level of detail included in the tour to maintain clarity without overwhelming users. Based on discussions, certain elements, such as hydrological boundaries, were omitted to keep the virtual tour focused and user-friendly. Through these refinements, the Brigalow Catchment Study Virtual Tour was transformed into a more engaging, accurate, and accessible resource, providing a high-quality visual representation of the research site.
Optimized drone footage and 360-degree images to enhance resolution and clarity
Improved connectivity between viewpoints for smoother navigation
Adjusted C5 Exclusion Plot accessibility to prevent users from getting stuck
Maximised visibility of key study areas and equipment despite 3D model limitations
Added the C1 Flume to complete the site representation
Refined the level of detail to balance usability and accuracy
Omitted hydrological boundaries to keep the tour clear and focused
Integrated user feedback to ensure continuous improvements and refinements
Enhanced overall user experience, making the virtual tour more engaging and accessible
Project Team
Tim
Jenny 
Scott
Jamie
Client Testimonial
Andrew, BrigalowAndrew, Brigalow
Great job showcasing the Brigalow Catchment Study. The results were clear, engaging, and very effective. We’re happy with the outcome and keen to work with them again.
