Queensland is now home to a second Great Barrier Reef, allowing children and adults alike the ability to interact with the world's largest coral reef system without leaving the city.

The Living Reef is the brainchild of game developers and researchers at the Queensland University of Technology's (QUT) The Cube in Brisbane.

Large 10-metre-tall screens are educating visitors about the creatures of the reef as well as the environmental issues it faces now and into the future.

The team is one of the first in the world to use a system where coral was grown with a method called the space colonisation algorithm to help mimic nature.

Developers have given the fish the ability to think and act through AI. ( Supplied: QUT )

"We created a system where we could grow coral mathematically using simulation software," Cube studio manager Simon Harrison said.

"Traditionally we would model the coral with 3D software and then an artist would try and copy it, but we've done something different and are one of the first in the world to use it."

Developed by coral reef researchers Brett Lewis and Dr Luke Nothdurft, the interactive space mimics how the reef lives in nature.

More than 20 species of fish and more than 11 types of coral have been created to help bring to life the 3D reef ecosystem.

"Not everyone has had the opportunity to get to the reef and this project allows us to see it in it's living form and to learn more about it," Mr Harrison said.

"We really want people to experience how we would like the reef to be seen."

He said the reef was not set at a particular point in history.

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"You could be seeing it as 10,000 years old," Mr Harrison said.

"We have nothing that identifies the reef as modern day and the idea for this is so we could show the reef in all its glory."

AI powers the underwater world

When creating the reef, developers scientifically modelled sea creatures along with their behaviour.

The creators programmed the fish how to behave. For example: "You like to swim with your friends" or "Be scared of bigger fish".

"We spoke with the researchers to make sure we have each of the creatures behaving in a correct way," Mr Harrison said.

"We didn't program the fish to swim in lines or on train tracks like many applications. We have given each of the fish their own AI."

Fish search for invisible food, alongside sharks who are searching for their own food, some being the fish.

"We don't have them [sharks] eating the fish as that would cause problems and there would be no fish left in the reef, but they do chase the fish and form schools," Mr Harrison said.

"Once you've given them [the fish] a simple set of rules, you can see the emergent behaviour."

Whales, sharks and fish all interact as part of the Living Reef. ( Supplied: QUT )

Swimming in the reef … in the city

The display is fully interactive. Visitors are able to feel as though they are swimming underwater with the creatures and touching their environment.

Visitors can hunt for seashells, help free turtles from nets and experience the autonomous robot that helps spawn new coral on the reef.

"All the panels are touch screen so as soon as you touch the panels the fish will come and try and nibble on your fingers as they are attracted to your touch," Mr Harrison said.

Visitors can interact through the large screens with both coral and creatures. ( Supplied: QUT )

The studio team plans to create more creatures for the 3D reef. Jellyfish, cuttlefish and octopus are next on the list.

"An octopus is our biggest goal, but they are very strange creatures and they might take us months to animate," Mr Harrison said.