Virtual Nature Interventions
The project creates virtual nature environments for use with VR headsets, in a dome, and on screens. The goal is to design environments that promote health and well-being, both generally and with regard to the different client groups involved.
Design of Virtual Nature Interventions
The filmed environments are chosen with the background knowledge of what nature types are the most restorative and what properties are the most important for the well-beeing. Previous research have for example shown that important properties are a good view, shelter, water, <80yrs old forest, sounds from a large number of bird species etc. Important can also be what kind of nature environments you grew up with. Read more about previous research here!
To further examine what environments and nature elements that are the most restorative and to meet the requirements of the different client groups, a variety of sites is chosen; in different forest types (pine, spruce, deciduous forests), nature types (forest, lake, sea, river, mire), seasons (spring, summer, autumn, winter), time of day, different weather and spread out in the different project regions, In addition some sites are also chosen in farm environments with animals.
See our VR environments!
Production Methods
Within the Natureach project, virtual nature is created by videos shot with 360- degree cameras as well as standard cameras with fisheye lenses, for the 180-degree videos. The sounds are recorded with separate professional audio equipment and to enhance the immersive experience, the audio-visual sensations can be be completed with scents, tastes and tactile sensations by adding natural elements from the authentic environments to the settings used in virtual nature interventions.
Read more about our site choices, production and intervention methods in the Handbook!
Results
Manuscript
Niemi, M., Pálsdóttir, A. M., Bohlin, E. & Dolling, A. What makes a virtual nature environment a restorative place? Defining the ecological, psychophysical and socio-cultural factors and characteristics that create wellbeing promoting virtual nature environments. Manuscript in preparation for scientific publication 2026.
Presentations
At the conference i Vasa, dec. 2025:
Optimizing environmental qualities and restorative components in nature-based VR interventions.
- Anna-María Pálsdóttir, Elisabet Bohlin, Ann Dolling
Updated version at One Health Day (SLU) feb. 2026:
Nature and human health-Optimizing environmental qualities and restorative components in nature-based VR-interventions
- Elisabet Bohlin