AR Sandbox: Augmented Reality Sandbox for Museums

1. Push and gather the sand to build a hill or ridge.
2. Dig a lower area or create a route between landforms.
3. Watch the projected terrain colors and contours update.
4. Observe the virtual water and change the landscape again.

Visitors explore elevation, contour lines and the relationship between high and low ground. Building a ridge or opening a channel changes how the terrain is represented. The virtual water provides another way to notice the shape of the landscape and discuss where water collects or moves.

• Terrain mapping: elevation colors and contour lines respond to the sand surface.
• Landscape building: visitors create hills, valleys, ridges and channels.
• Virtual water: the supplied demonstration includes water visualization across the shaped terrain.

• Real sand as the visitor’s building material.
• A projected overlay aligned with the surface.
• Responsive topographic colors and contour lines.
• A shared table that makes landscape changes visible to a group.

Designed for visitors aged 6 and above, AR Sandbox fits earth-science galleries, children’s museums and family discovery centers. It supports open exploration or a focused challenge, such as building a valley or connecting two low areas. Families and school groups can compare the landscape from different sides of the table.

Our AR Sandbox combines a sand basin with overhead sensing and a 4,200-lumen projector. The standard dimensions are 1800 × 1100 × 2250 mm, with a power requirement of 1.5 kW. We customize dimensions, materials and appearance for your venue. English, Spanish and Arabic are standard software languages, with additional languages available on request.

• Provide circulation and reaching space around the basin, with a stable arrangement for overhead equipment.
• Control direct sunlight and strong ambient light so the projected map remains readable.
• Plan power, cable management, calibration and maintenance access. Confirm mounting, network requirements, ventilation and the specified sand type and quantity.

Our AR Sandbox experience brings together terrain visualization software, a sand basin and overhead sensing and projection. We define the software selection and equipment package with you for the proposed installation. Your project proposal sets out the supplied components, installation and training scope, and any consumables or ongoing services. Every exhibit includes a one-year standard warranty.

• Earth-science galleries: connect landforms with contour maps.
• Children’s museums: offer a collaborative physical building activity.
• Science centers: support facilitated investigations of terrain and virtual water.

• AR Mars Colony: Use a responsive physical landscape to explore a Martian settlement.
• Build Bloom: Compare sand shaping with building from geometric pieces.
• How Big Is Universe: Extend map-based scale thinking into a wider journey through sizes.

Send your available space and intended visitor group to discuss an AR Sandbox installation.