ICT as a tool to foster inclusion: interactive maps to access cultural heritage sites

Within the European policies and strategies for a sustainable development, the role of cultural heritage as an economic, environmental and social driver has become increasingly significant. As an asset in people’s lives, it’s necessary to assure anyone the opportunity to access it, regardless of the physical abilities or cultural background of a person. In this sense, ICT could represent an important instrument in enhancing the level of inclusion in cultural heritage sites. This paper develops the discussion around interactive maps as a feasible solution to ensure a fully inclusive experience of a cultural heritage site. Thanks to the analysis of similar existing instruments, this operative tool has been conceived to perform two fundamental functions. First, provide an information system thanks to which everyone, particularly users with special needs, could be able to organize their movements and be aware of the proposed services (that also could be new ICT, like Virtual and Augmented Reality, implemented directly in the map) and opportunities to access cultural heritage. Second, offer a tool for the management of the projects related to the development of inclusion, therefore it is addressed to municipal administrators and other key actors involved in the governance of cultural heritage