Augmented Reality Cultural Route at the Xeros River Valley, Larnaca, Cyprus

Landscape studies have evolved into a signicant branch of
historical archaeological research, by placing emphasis on the ecological,
economic, political and cultural values of pre-modern settled and sacred
landscapes. The aim of our work is to support the systematic exploration
of landscape archaeology in the Xeros River valley in Cyprus, through
time, from prehistory to today, through the design and development of
an Augmented Reality (AR) application. The AR application supports
the exploration of pre-modern monuments and archaeological sites in
the Xeros River valley, serving as a guided tour for visitors of the area.
By employing image recognition and utilizing a location-based practice,
the application provides the users with an immersive and educational
experience. Initial reactions by experts in landscape studies indicate the
potential of the application in enabling the narration and visualization
of the historicity of the landscape and the fate of religious and other
monuments of the past 1500 years.