For a project like Nemus Futurum there were no prior benchmarks to draw inspiration or execution ideas from. Augmented Reality obviously had been a lot, but not usually in challenging outdoor conditions and not that contextually.

Since we were working with an invite-only exclusive experience, we had full control of the hardware used. The most challenging parts were the changing weather conditions (light, temperature etc.) that needed a lot of optimization. Another challenge was the extremely varied learning curve of AR for different visitors.

We also needed the app to work as an extension of the tour guide, so it was run in single app mode with GPS unlocking content based on location.

One of the main reasons of climate change is the use of fossil fuels and more precisely the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. The more efficiently a tree grows the more effectively it stores carbon dioxide.

Forests are a renewable source of raw materials and energy. And sustainable forestry strives towards the most efficient growth. Nemus Futurum was created to illustrate this basic concept and the 80-year life cycle of a commercial forest.

At Nemus Futurum visitors are guided through all significant stages of an 80-year forest cycle. All visitors are provided a tablet with a bespoke app installed at the beginning of the tour that helps contextualize both the environment and support the narration of the tour guides.

The app uses various methods such as GPS tracking and Augmented Reality to provide a curated digital experience in the awe-inspiring forest setting of Kirkniemi.

Metsä Group is a Finnish forest industry group operating in international markets. They use the best renewable raw materials in the world – nordic wood – both responsibly and efficiently. Metsä Group’s operations cover the entire value chain of woodbased products. In addition, Metsä is one of the leading producers and users of renewable energy in Finland.

Nemus Futurum compliments Metsä Groups innovative and progressive brand by bringing together the actual nature setting with cutting-edge technology to educate and entertain the visitors.

Main target group consists of EU regulators, Metsä Group stakeholders & employees and representatives of the media. The tour is invite-only.

There is no “greenwashing” at Nemus Futurum, everything is based purely on real facts and figures. At Nemus Futurum visitors are guided through all significant stages of an 80-year forest cycle.

The old proverb “You can’t compete with Mother Nature” was the guiding theme when defining the key visual style of Nemus Futurum. What this meant in practice was that we excluded photorealism from illustrations and AR because the experience was designed for a particular location.

While at the tour the app uses GPS tracking to initiate content. Augmented reality was used to showcase both the passage of time within the forest cycle as well as things unseen to the naked eye such as CO2.

A few days after visiting Nemus Futurum all guests receive an email with a link to a microsite. The site revisits the main themes and expands on some of the subjects presented during the tour.

According to the satisfaction survey, the response rate from the visitors has been almost 100% positive and praising. Despite to the fact that the whole tour is happening outside in the forest, at pre-booked hours, each group is always under the arms of whatever weather exists. We cannot guarantee sunshine, but we can guarantee them an unforgettable experience.