About

The Media/Democracy Lab at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) and the Planning, Sustainability, and Project Management (PSPM) office have partnered through the UIC Sustainability Fund to host an augmented reality (AR) event during Earth Month in April 2026.

You can participate by scanning QR codes located across campus or on this website. There are five eARth augmented reality activities where you can learn about UIC’s sustainability resources and reflect on your own sustainability impacts.

Each augmented reality (AR) visualization shares information about UIC’s climate commitments and links to this survey. After exploring an AR activity, return to the survey to submit a response.

The AR visualizations were developed by using participatory design practices, engaging UIC students, faculty, and staff in the process.

Learn more about Climate Commitments, Sustainability, and the Sustainability Fund at UIC.

Augmented Reality (AR) Tutorial

Augmented reality (AR) overlays digital objects, such as 3D models and multimedia, onto the real-world environment. This project uses web-based AR, which launches from your phone’s browser after scanning a QR code.

Find a detailed Zapworks Tutorial here.

Quick Start Tutorial & Tips:

Place and check the grey circle at the bottom.

For best viewing, anchor the white circle to a surface, such as a table, or position it at approximately eye level.

Please follow UIC’s Information Technology Guidelines when scanning QR codes.

When scanning QR codes, ensure it is from a trusted source. You can preview the QR URL in the phone’s camera app.

Alternatively, all publicly posted flyers on campus include the website URL; you can type it into your phone’s web browser: sustainabilityar.com.

Launching the QR will ask you to grant permissions on your phone.

It does not ask to download an application or provide personal information.

Place and check the grey circle at the bottom. For best viewing, anchor the white circle to a surface, such as a table, or position it at approximately eye level.

For a detailed tutorial, view the Tutorial page.

To explore sustainability infrastructure, look for metal signs outside University Hall, Grant Hall, Douglass Hall, and Lincoln Hall.

• University Hall (UH)
• Grant Hall (GH)
• Douglass Hall (DH)
• Lincoln Hall (LH)

Also, look for UIC eARth flyers across campus:

• Richard Daley Library (LIB)
• Student Center East (SCE)
• Behavioral Science Building (BSB)

Visit the UIC Heritage Gardens featured in UIC eARth in person, or visit the Heritage Garden website here.