A Virtual Reality experience developed to document and communicate the environmental impact of wildfires through immersive reconstructions of the affected landscape.
· THE PROJECT
The wildfires that swept through El Bierzo during the summer of 2025 dramatically transformed some of the most iconic landscapes in northwestern Spain. Beyond the ecological damage, the fires also erased a significant part of the region’s visual heritage.
This project explores how immersive technologies can help preserve that memory while allowing audiences to experience the scale of these events through an emotional and engaging perspective.
· THE CHALLENGE
The main challenge was to recreate a landscape that had largely disappeared without relying solely on conventional documentation.
The goal was to develop an experience that combined documentary accuracy with immersive storytelling, enabling users to understand the landscape before, during, and after the wildfire while encouraging reflection on the importance of preserving our natural heritage.
· THE SOLUTION
An immersive experience based on 360° video and Virtual Reality was developed, combining real footage of the affected area with digital reconstructions and 3D visual elements.
Users are placed directly within the landscape, guided through the different stages of the wildfire using visual and spatial audio effects that enhance the feeling of presence.
The experience can be viewed using VR headsets, web browsers, or mobile devices, making it accessible across multiple platforms. By combining 360° video, digital reconstruction, and immersive storytelling, it demonstrates how immersive technologies can become powerful tools for scientific communication, environmental awareness, and natural heritage preservation, communicating the impact of wildfires in a more engaging, emotional, and memorable way than traditional audiovisual formats.
· IMMERSIVE NARRATIVE
The experience unfolds through four sequential stages designed to create an emotional journey.
Throughout the experience, a narrated story accompanies the visuals, creating a deliberate contrast between what users see and what they hear. While the landscape gradually gives way to destruction, the narration celebrates El Bierzo’s beauty, biodiversity, and natural heritage, reinforcing the emotional impact of its loss.
· THE UNTOUCHED LANDSCAPE
Users first discover the beauty and richness of the natural environment before the fire.
· THE FIRST SIGNS
Subtle indications of the approaching wildfire begin to appear.
· THE DEVASTATION
The landscape is completely transformed as the wildfire consumes the environment. Animated 3D elements and immersive visual effects intensify the sensation of being surrounded by the fire, conveying the scale and violence of the event.
· REFLECTION
The experience concludes by inviting users to reflect on the fragility of natural heritage and the importance of protecting it for future generations.
· LANDSCAPE CAPTURE
Production began with the capture of panoramic photographs and 360° imagery of the affected area to accurately document the landscape in its post-fire condition.
· DIGITAL RECONSTRUCTION
The captured material underwent an extensive post-production process, including:
- Image cleanup
- Color correction
- Integration of 3D models
- Smoke and particle simulations
- Addition of firefighting aircraft and emergency vehicles
These elements were combined to recreate the different stages of the wildfire while maintaining the visual consistency of the environment.
· TECHNOLOGIES
- 360° Video
- Virtual Reality
- 360° Photography
- 3D Modeling
- Digital Reconstruction
- Particle Systems
- Audiovisual Post-production
- Immersive Sound Design
Cuellas-de-Paz, V., Rodríguez-Garcia, B., Guillén-Sanz, H. (2026). The Emotional Impact of 360° Video Reconstructions of Wildfires on the Natural Environment. In: De Paolis, L.T., Arpaia, P., Sacco, M. (eds) Extended Reality. XR Salento 2026. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, (Awaiting publication)
Project details
PROJECT TITLE:
An Immersive Storytelling Through El Bierzo’s Wildfires
STUDENT'S NAME:
Víctor Cuellas de Paz
FIELD:
Natural Heritage
DEGREE:
Media Communication
COLLABORATION WITH:
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LAST VERSION RELEASE:
May 2026