A Real Aquarium Containing A Living Simulated Sea
A hybrid physical + digital installation
In progress - 2026
A living ocean ecosystem you can study through glass, part aquarium and part simulation
Project Overview:
The Ocean Machine is my capstone installation that uses a real aquarium tank as the physical boundary for a simulated ocean ecosystem. Inside and around the tank, I'm building an environment of 3D printed and hand painted ruins and artifacts, then running a 3D simulation inside the tank using screens and projectors. Secondary displays cycle sensory views and system data, turning the piece into something that feels alive and observable, like a living museum exhibit you can watch evolve over time.
What makes this world feel alive is that it is driven by three custom built core systems: (1) A custom three dimensional spatial partition octree system, (2) comprehensive and realistic sensing and environmental life systems grounded, in real ecological computation and data, and (3) a custom built artificial behavior and interaction systems that turn perception into action. These system aren't one off effects. They are intentionally designed to be modular and scalable, meaning they can grow into larger simulations and more complex interactive experiences beyond this installation.
Three-Dimensional Spatial System:
At the foundation of the simulation is a custom built three-dimensional spatial partitioning octree system that organizes everything in the world into an efficient, searchable structure. Instead of treating the ocean as one continuous space, the octree divides it into nested volumes so the simulation can quickly answer questions like what is nearby, what region an entity belongs to, and what objects or environmental signals should be processed at any given moment. This system supports fast spatial querying, scalable world updates, and efficient management of large numbers of entities and data points. It functions as the structural backbone of the project, and it is designed to scale upward as the ecosystem becomes more complex.
Sensing + Environmental Life Systems:
The second core pillar is a set of comprehensive and realistic sensing and environmental life systems, grounded in real ecological computation and data. These systems drive how the world "communicates" internally and externally. This system allows creatures to detect meaningful signals from their individual surroundings, and the environment produces real inputs that can be measured, compared, and interpreted. Rather than relying on scripted triggers, this layer focuses on computed factors such as spatial proximity, vibrational disturbances in the water, and environmental factors that can change over time. This is what ultimately gives the installation its sense of realism, because responses emerge from conditions in the world itself, not from pre-authored events.
Artificial Behavior + Interaction Systems:
The third pillar is my custom built artificial behavior and interaction systems, which take the information produced by the sensing and environmental layers and turn it into believable decision making. Creatures are not simply animated objects. They evaluate what they detect, what they need, what they feel, and choose priorities and carry out responses over time based on internal rules and an everchanging context. This layer is also where interaction becomes visible, as entities influence one another and the ecosystem shifts dynamically as conditions change. Because the behavior and interaction systems are modular, they can be extended into richer patterns, more species-level variation, and larger, more complex ecosystem dynamics as the project grows.
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Explore The Project:
Current Status:
Current Phase:
Early Prototyping and Planning
Right now I am working on:
simulation structure and subsystems, and display approach tests (projection vs screen)
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What's Coming Next:
--- First tank layout mockup (digital)
--- Prototype of the octree spatial system
--- Display Test: behind tank screen vs projection
--- First Species Implementation
--- First "museum view" secondary display (data visualization)
Follow Along:
New updates will appear in the Devlog above as the installation evolves