Virtual reality brings climate impacts and action to life

Imagine some of your favorite places in Hermosa Beach underwater. Hard to picture? An innovative new initiative, Look Ahead Hermosa Beach is using virtual reality to raise awareness about the risks of sea-level rise and help community members envision and weigh in on available solutions.

Through a partnership with the City of Hermosa Beach, United States Geological Survey (USGS), Climate Access, and WhiteSpace VR Look Ahead Hermosa Beach offers an immersive VR experience that illustrates the risks of sea-level rise in three familiar locations — the Hermosa Beach Pier, Pier Plaza and The Strand— as well as steps that can be taken to address risks from climate impacts and reduce carbon emissions. Look Ahead Hermosa Beach includes interesting facts about climate change in the region and an opportunity for community members to share their concerns and opinions with the City of Hermosa Beach via survey questions embedded in the VR and sign up to receive more information about climate action underway and how to get involved. 

Watch the Videos

Below you can watch visualizations showing what the current condition looks like, how sea level rise may affect the location, and potential solutions to address the risks at the following locations:

• Hermosa Beach Pier
• Pier Avenue
• The Strand in North Hermosa

Once you've watched the videos, you can take the survey directly in each video or at the survey link at the bottom of this page. 

Hermosa Beach Pier

Pier Avenue

The Strand in North Hermosa

Take the Survey 

After you've watch the videos, share your opinions on the risks of sea-level rise in Hermosa Beach and find out what you can do to help meet the challenge by taking this short survey. Your responses will inform the City of Hermosa Beach’s strategy for responding to sea-level rise and work to advance climate action goals.