ARTS, an AR tourism system, for the integration of 3D scanning and smartphone AR in cultural heritage tourism and pedagogy

Abstract

Interactions between cultural heritage, tourism, and pedagogy deserve investigation in an as-built environment under a macro-or micro-perspective of urban fabric. The heritage site of Shih Yih Hall, Lukang, was explored. An Augmented Reality Tourism System (ARTS) was developed on a smartphone-based platform for a novel application scenario using 3D scans converted from a point cloud to a portable interaction size. ARTS comprises a real-time environment viewing module, a space-switching module, and an Augmented Reality (AR) guide graphic module. The system facilitates scenario initiations, projection and superimposition, annotation, and interface customization, with software tools developed using ARKit® on the iPhone XS Max®. The three-way interaction between urban fabric, cultural heritage tourism, and pedagogy was made possible through background block-outs and an additive or selective display. The illustration of the full-scale experience of the smartphone app was made feasible for co-relating the cultural dependence of urban fabric on tourism. The great fidelity of 3D scans and AR scenes act as a pedagogical aid for students or tourists. A Post-Study System Usability Questionnaire (PSSUQ) evaluation verified the usefulness of ARTS.