Windsor designer shows what South Cameron woodlot looks like when developed

As the debate continues about whether or not to develop the South Cameron woodlot, a Windsor man created an augmented reality demonstration for what the woodlot could look like with residential development.

Michael Hoppe, who works at Geopogo in San Francisco, returned to Windsor for his brother's birthday.

His companycreates architectural software that helps clients view their creations in augmented reality.

Hoppethought he could usehis skills to show people what the woodlot looks like with some homes on the land.

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"I felt that it was a form of protest," said Hoppe. "In this particular case we're showing development. It's very exciting, but in our case for the woodlot, we're showing a future where we get to question, do we actually want this future?"

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestryretracted a provincially significant wetland (PSW) designation for around 20 hectares (50 acres) of the South Cameron woodlot in February.

Earlier this week, Windsor West MPP Lisa Gretzkymade public a letter to the Ontario premier, calling on him toreinstate the provincially significantwetland designation.

Micheal Hoppe designed what the South Cameron Woodlot would look like if it was developed

6 years ago

Duration 0:42

Micheal Hoppe designed what the South Cameron Woodlot would look like if it was developed

Hoppe uses a Magic Leap virtual retinal display headset. With the headset on, you can stand in the South Cameron woodlot and see where houses, driveways and a roadcould be built.

"It's really a method that gives the community a perspective to see what this would look like," Hoppe said.

There's similar debate in the San Francisco area about preserving the redwood forests, where Hoppe said the municipalities have done a good job with the forest protectionand finding a balance between development and the preserving the ecosystem.

"What's important is that we can use these technologies to more intelligently design within these areas that need to be protected."