Augmented Reality Solution for the Côa Valley Rock Art

Abstract

Augmented Reality is a technology that combines real-world environments and digital content in an interactive way. As a technology, AR has constantly been growing, currently used in various areas and applications with very positive results. With the development of software and hardware platforms, AR became accessible in many different ways, ranging from wearable to mobile devices, providing users with various experiences. % Context of the work Although its application to the area of tourism and culture is not a widely explored topic, it presents great potential in improving cultural experiences for tourists. Some studies about this topic have demonstrated AR's usefulness in the area, mostly in museum settings. Still, there is little research on the application of AR to flat rock engravings, which presents additional challenges compared to museum environments. Figuring out what type of display and tracking method to use, handling outdoor conditions, and dealing with physical restrictions on rock art sites are the main problems in this area. The Côa Valley contains over a thousand ancient rock engravings, scattered in more than 80 locations that the public can visit. In conjunction with the company InfoPortugal, this dissertation aims to explore how AR can help improve the cultural experience of the Côa Valley rock engravings visitors, how this technology can be successfully applied to flat rock engravings, and how receptive users are to AR mobile applications in cultural visits. The result should be a prototype of a mobile AR application that aids the Côa Valley visitors in visualizing rock engravings seamlessly and straightforwardly using their mobile devices. The application should outline the engravings contained in the area captured by the device's camera and present additional digital information about the captured rock art. Additional information can be in the form of text, images, or even animations placed on top of specific engravings to help users understand the context and story behind each drawing.