This paper describes REMEMBER, an EU project which aims at establishing a network for joint valorization of 8 ports in Italy and Croatia, trying to shift the paradigm of touristic flows toward a sustainable tourism. The key point is an innovative ICT architecture, modular and scalable, to share information at diferent system levels of detail and fruition, with an interoperable and multi-channel approach. Given its flexibility, contents can be conveniently displayed in diferent ways: Web portals, fixed installations, mobile devices etc. This infrastructure enables a great number of Digital Experiences (DEs) that can be exploited at both global and local scale. Since the project is on going, the paper presents a first overview of the instantiate methodology, as well as briefly introduces the DEs that are currently designed and, finnaly, reports a prospective outlook related to the post-pandemic scenario.
Digital tools have demonstrated to be an enabling process, not a
solution [
The mainstream upon which will be built the exploitation of REMEMBER project is an innovative ICT architecture. It is modular and scalable, representing an important communication system that facilitates all the stakeholders involved in the project to exploit many kinds of information at diferent system levels of detail and fruition. It allows to manage multiple information with an interoperable and multi-channel approach. Given its flexibility, contents can be conveniently displayed in diefrent ways: Web portals, fixed installations (totems, digital signage), mobile devices (smartphones and tablets) etc. The final goal, will be to create a great number of Digital Experiences that can be exploited at both global and local scale. Such Digital Experiences will be built on the backbone of the cloud service, and in particular relying on three main items: • content, such as texts, images, photos, audio-visual contents, 3D models, diagnostic data; • equipment, namely hardware and software components; • technology development deployment of the experience, considering the adaptation to the diferent devices, according to the type of desired experience.
The big picture of the developed framework is depicted in Figure 2 2.1
The architecture is developed following the cloud-based services
paradigm, with the aim of creating a long-term and linked open
data platform, designed for CH-related repositories. This approach
allows interoperability between diferent platforms (on site,
online, mobile) and between diferent users (augmented usability of
metadata for both experts/non-experts). Moreover, the
architecture allows diferent kind of users to manage and maintain it in
a simple, fast and secure way. Particular attention is paid to the
integration of the information. In fact, while populating the data
base, diferent stakeholders, as well as heterogeneous data, can
be involved. The key value of the whole project is that the ICT
system is able to convey information at diferent scales, providing
the users with updated contents; at the same time, administrators
can constantly monitor its performances, being able to infer useful
information about tourists’ needs, habits and preferences [
The architecture assures eficiency in the management of contextaware services, analysing data arising from diferent experiences. The cloud platform will be able to ofer a great number of IT services, relying on two mutual task: from the one hand, the managing of information about Heritage and, from the other, allows the single instruments to exchange data in an interoperable way. The platform is designed for managing heterogeneous data, with the aim of enabling all the stakeholders to contribute with their own content. As such, the system enables: • the integrated management of data and resources to ensure the integration and cooperation of the technologies used in the platform; • the management of levels of interoperability between applications and services present at diferent levels of the platform; • the management of rules according to the context of application and user typology.
ICT driven platform for high-quality virtual contents creation and sharing with e-tourism purposes 2.3
The use of digital technologies plays an essential role in the creation of highly evocative and engaging products and installations, which allow visitors to learn about cultural heritage and sites through more stimulating, emotional and interactive experiences. However, the design of digital technologies requires a strategic vision that allows to place the technological element in a coherent plan of communication of identities, memories and cultural contents, starting from a clear identification of the objectives and aims of the interventions. These diferent approaches, which may also intersect or overlap, have to enhance the cultural asset/site in a user-centred perspective. The Digital Experiences allowed by the project are briefly summarised in the Figure 2.
In addition, it should be pointed out that the ADRIJO platform already enables interactive and engaging Digital Experiences. Every innovation and research action is successful and achieve an important impact, if it establishes good connections with interested researcher and user communities. The web platform plays a fundamental role in exchanging information, keeping up to date with the latest developments and disseminating the results. Nowadays, this can be best achieved through digital channels and social media exploiting the advantage of being able to present information to a diverse group of people at the same time and on demand. It can not only provide basic information that is static but also deliver reoccurring and constantly changing pieces of information. The web-platform will enable users to look for specific content on the website and/or on mobile applications. All contents developed by the partners during the project will be made accessible on both the website and the mobile application. A major challenge in the development of the platform, that is currently under design phase and usability validation, is the multi scale approach to the Adrijo Heritage. In fact, the platform will contain contents covering the 8 ports of the Adriatic sea and, if necessary, the hinterland and it can be visited remotely, i.e. in geographical locations far from the POIs. In this case, Adrijo will propose all the contents with a keywordsbased strategy, within the geographical interface. On the other hand, if the platform will be used in one of the ports, the platform will react responsibly to the geographical coordinate of the mobile device, proposing firstly content closer to the user. In this way it will also automatically become the local version of the VM, trying to maximize the usability of the interface and not requiring the user to use too many menus and steps. In addition it is worth to mention that the database manages Virtual Tour (by panoramic images or 360° videos also taken by drones), ofering a simple but eficient tool to visit the spaces. It consists in the panoramic photos (scene) linked together, visible at 360° in immersive mode, and enriched by other metadata (popup), e.g. texts, sounds, HD images and videos. A simple graphic interface allows to enjoy the 360 experience for all users, also not experts or not digital-friendly users (e.g. google maps, with few control and global icon). When it is possible, the virtual tour would have a marked map where the 360 view hotspots are shown. This allows to move in the interested panoramic photo, skipping the obligatory path.
For the development of DE in the local level of the VM, in
particular in Ancona VM, the UNIVPM unit is analyzing and studying the
adaptation of an hybrid form of geo-located contents displacement,
merging also AR Vision-based tracking, as summarized in Figure 3.
Firstly the user receives an overview of the surrounding area of the
POIs, in fact after framing a QR code or the Adrijo logo, an
automatic play of the introductory video of POI is foreseen. Then, the
device tracks camera pose by detecting and recognising geometric
features in the real environment to establish 3D world and 2D image
coordinate correspondences. This approach can provide realistic
real-time camera pose tracking. However, rendering virtual objects
over the real environment could be slow due to the large amount
of processing required. Considering this fact, we are planning to
use AR only to displace tags that link to videos or VR experiences.
The pandemic scenario depicted new challenges for virtual
museums curators, in fact the COVID-19 outbreak has underlined the
critical importance of digital access to cultural heritage. In this light,
because the REMEMBER partnership is currently instantiating its
main tool and gate, that is the Adrijo platform, the idea of putting
it at disposal to a new plethora of stakeholder seems particularly
interesting. Considering the turning point in which all European
countries need to democratise access to our heritage in order to
support diversity, inclusivity, creativity, and critical engagement
in education and knowledge sharing [
The project here presented is funded under the Interreg IT-HR programme 2019-2021, Application ID 10042741. The content of this document reflects only the author’s view and the Programme Authorities are not liable for any use that can be made of the information in it included.