Experiencing Augmented Reality as an Accessibility Resource in the UNESCO Heritage Site called "La Lonja", Valencia

This paper presents the design of an augmented reality application for the Gothic Silk Market Building called the "Lonja de la Seda" in Valencia (UNESCO Monument Heritage Site, 1996) and the results of the experiments carried out "in-situ" to observe its usability as an accessibility resource. The objective of this project has been to use and validate augmented reality (AR) as a tool to increase the accessibility to the architectural elements of this monumental setting. The AR application aims to resolve the perception issues derived from poor lighting, the distance in relation to the multiple details, access, etc. 145 individuals of different ages and diverse origin, making the visit to the monument with or without guide used the AR application. When visitors had used the application as they wished, interviews were conducted individually in order to receive their feedback about the AR experience. Users enjoyed identifying and selecting the motifs they were going to visualize with the AR tool. In general, the experience was very positively evaluated by participants, promoting a favourable and renewed image of the monument.This project has been carried out in collaboration between the Department of Architectural Graphic Expresion and Labhuman Institute at the Universitat Politècnica de València funded by the Research Program PAID0511 "Nuevas Aplicaciones de las Tecnologías Gráficas para la Mejora de la Sostenibilidad, el Conocimiento y la Accesibilidad al Patrimonio” (Ref. 2786). Besides, the Spanish Ministry Economy and Competitiveness partially supported this work (Project ref. TIN2010-21296-C02-01). It is also necessary to be grateful to the Town Hall of Valencia which has allowed us to carry out the experience in this protected building.Puyuelo Cazorla, M.; Higón Calvet, JL.; Merino Sanjuan, L.; Contero, M. (2013). Experiencing Augmented Reality as an Accessibility Resource in the UNESCO Heritage Site called "La Lonja", Valencia. Elsevier. 25:171-178. doi:10.1016/j.procs.2013.11.021S1711782