Interactive Virtual Tour Research Articles

Use of virtual reality technology in libraries: innovative solutions for long distance and disability needs : a case study of Galala University Central Library

Some people have difficulty accessing libraries due to long distances or disability. This impedes their access to knowledge and information. The solution to this problem lies in the use of virtual reality technology in libraries. Virtual Reality (VR) offers tremendous potential to enhance library services, making them more accessible and accessible to all segments of society, regardless of distance or disability. Where it allows users: - Exploring libraries remotely: Users can walk around the library shelves, and see books and other materials as if they are actually present. Book Search: VR technology allows users to search for and browse books digitally, with the possibility of booking or borrowing them electronically. Access to private Collections: Through interactive virtual tours, libraries can display their rare or private collections, such as manuscripts and antiques. Interactive learning experiences: VR technology provides immersive learning experiences for people with disabilities, such as virtual tours of museums or historical sites, or simulation of scientific experiments. Social Communication: VR technology allows persons with disabilities to communicate with others and engage in social events within the library, without the need for actual attendance. Finally, virtual reality technology in libraries has tremendous potential to improve the reader's experience and efficient use of library resources. The case study presented is a tentative model for applying this concept, and we hope that further research and experiences in this area will be stimulated.

Virtual Platform for Museum: A Case Study with Oman Across Ages Museum

Abstract: The Virtual Platform for Oman across Ages Museum (VPOAAM) is a project initiated in 2015 in Manah, Al Dakhiliyah Governorate, aiming to highlight the unique qualities of the Sultanate of Oman and its features, ancient history, and Renaissance. The project, designed in the shape of mountains, was initiated by His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq the Great. The project is situated on a 300,000 square meter land area with a building area of 66,591 square meters, designed in the shape of mountains. The late Sultan Qaboos bin Said laid the foundation stone for the project, which inspires architectural innovation and showcases the Sultanate of Oman's qualitative transition from its historical splendors to its bright present. Visitors can explore the museum's art and historical collection online, with interactive virtual tours allowing them to interact and learn about art pieces and exhibits. The museum also contains a wide range of multimedia, including images, videos, written texts, and audio information, allowing visitors to interact with antiques and artistic exhibits. These are a glance of the museum we taken as case study to develop the platform with the approval and kind support from the competent authority of the museum. After successful completion of the research project; the output will be the same museum in a virtual platform. This research conducted with a number of items among thousands of physical items in the museum. And the result shows a significant remark to continue and complete the virtual museum platform for the stated museum.

"Feels Like an Indie Game"-Evaluation of a Virtual Field Trip Prototype on Radioactive Waste Management Research for University Education.

This article describes the design and evaluation of a virtual field trip on the topic of radioactive waste management research for university education. We created an interactive virtual tour through the Mont Terri underground research laboratory by enhancing the virtual experiment information system, designed for domain experts, with background information, illustrations, tasks, tests, and an improved user interface. To put the tour's content into context, a conventional introductory presentation on the final disposal of radioactive waste was added. A user study with 22 participants proved a good perceived usability of the virtual tour and the virtual field trip's ability to transfer knowledge. These results suggest a benefit of employing virtual field trips in geoscientific university courses. In addition, it is conceivable to use the virtual field trip as a tool for science communication in the context of participatory processes during nuclear waste disposal site selection processes.

Development of Interactive Virtual Tour Based on 360-Degree Panorama Technology at the Bandung City Museum

Virtual tours have been widely used to introduce sites or buildings, but not much in education and tourism fields. The Covid-19 Pandemic has encouraged the growth of digitalization in all fields, including the development of museum virtual tours as an effort to provide visitor access among various restrictions. Along with these developments, the Bandung City Museum seeks to present an interesting museum virtual tour that can provide the best experience to its user. The purpose of this research is to find out the development and evaluation of an Interactive Virtual Tour Based On 360-Degree Panorama Technology At The Bandung City Museum. The research method used is Research and Development, with an analysis of potential and problems to improve the final product. The Virtual Tour allows users to navigate around the Museum building and listen to the narration, as well as read brief information about each object. For improvement, the virtual tour was also evaluated for usability by the users. Overall responses show that the virtual tour received positive feedback and was able to create satisfaction for the users, with several things to improve such as sound, images, and navigation quality.

A Pilot Study of an Interactive Virtual Tour Tool for Patient Education Prior to Undergoing High-Dose Rate Brachytherapy for Prostate Cancer.

High-dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy for treatment of prostate cancer is an invasive procedure that can be associated with patient anxiety. Patient education regarding the procedure can allow for better informed decision-making while also decreasing anxiety. We sought to develop and assess the utility of an interactive virtual tour tool that portrays a 360-degree view of the HDR brachytherapy patient experience, with the goals of providing patient education, decreasing patient anxiety, and assisting in wayfinding on the procedure day. Using a 360-degree camera, we captured multiple photographs that depicted the various hospital locations that a patient would navigate through on the day of their HDR brachytherapy procedure, including the medical center lobby, pre-operative/post-operative units, and the brachytherapy suite. We then compiled these 360-degree photographs using virtual tour software, to allow users to navigate throughout the locations. We added informational text, spoken audio, and videos associated with key staff, objects, and the brachytherapy procedure that allow the users to interact with and learn about these various components within the virtual tour. This tool was accessible via a website link on a computer, tablet, or smartphone and was provided at the time of consult to patients who were planning to undergo HDR brachytherapy for prostate cancer. A questionnaire assessing the tool's ease of use, educational value, wayfinding utility, and ability to improve anxiety and treatment decision-making was conducted prior to and after their procedure. Preliminary feedback from healthy volunteers is highly positive, with users finding that the tool is easily accessible, user-friendly, improves understanding of HDR brachytherapy, simulates the treatment experience accurately, helps with wayfinding, and has the potential to decrease patient anxiety and increase comfort with the treatment decision. Data from the patient questionnaires are being collected and will be analyzed. A 360-degree virtual tour tool allows for an easily accessible, immersive, and interactive method of patient education on an invasive, anxiety-associated procedure. This has the potential to decrease patient anxiety and improve comfort regarding treatment decision-making. This tool may be applied toward other relatively involved radiotherapy modalities, including gynecologic HDR brachytherapy, respiratory-gated treatments, and CyberKnife stereotactic radiosurgery.

Spatial aspects of evacuation: a closer look at user interaction during route choice

ABSTRACT Emergencies such as evacuation from buildings are becoming the subject of research for both psychology and spatial sciences. This paper reports on one aspect of a larger project that dealt with the study of the influence of spatial parameters of buildings on decision-making during evacuation (other research objectives describe Snopková et al., 2023). In this research project, 208 participants received 20 stimuli in the form of an interactive virtual tour in which they could view the intersection (by moving the mouse). Within 8 s, they had to select one corridor that seemed safer to use in case of evacuation. In this paper, we focused on the analysis of the collected interaction data (mouse rotation) and their relationship to the laterality of the participants and the final choice of the evacuation corridor. Statistical analysis using correlation coefficients and the Welch t-test revealed no relationship between the side the participants initially turned and laterality or the final selected corridor. However, participants who chose the right corridor spent significantly more time turned to the right side and vice versa. To sum up, the presented findings support the ongoing research and discussion on human behaviour during the evacuation from a building.

DOCUMENTATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE THROUGH THE FUSION OF GEOMATIC TECHNIQUES. CASE STUDY OF THE CLOISTER OF "SANTO DOMINGO" (JAÉN, SPAIN)

Abstract. This study describes the methodology and results obtained for the modelling of the cloister of “Santo Domingo” located in the city of Jaén (Spain). The main objective of the application of geomatics techniques to this case was the graphic documentation of the site, the development of HBIM and the diffusion of the results. For this purpose, we developed a methodology based on the fusion of data obtained using several sensors, acquisition techniques and scales. In this sense, we used TLS, RPAS aerial photogrammetry and terrestrial photogrammetry using a spherical camera. As results, we obtained a 3D model with real texture and from this we developed several applications focused on the documentation and diffusion of the results, such as the BIM (HBIM), an interactive virtual tour and a 360 virtual tour available on a website. The proposed methodology has demonstrated its feasibility for performing this type of study due to the results and accuracy achieved with this application. We highlight the potential of current geomatic techniques for documenting this type of cultural heritage regardless of its structure and dimensions, selecting in each case the most appropriate methodology in relation to the scale of the products demanded. In addition, we also emphasize the need to use several techniques and the fusion of their partial products in order to obtain a complete product of the whole scene, taking advantage of the specificities of each one.

Location-Based Augmented Reality for Cultural Heritage Communication and Education: The Doltso District Application

Location-based Augmented Reality applications are increasingly used in many research and commercial fields. Some of the fields that these applications are used are recreational digital games, tourism, education, and marketing. This study aims to present a location-based augmented reality (AR) application for cultural heritage communication and education. The application was created to inform the public, especially K12 students, about a district of their city with cultural heritage value. Furthermore, Google Earth was utilized to create an interactive virtual tour for consolidating the knowledge acquired by the location-based AR application. A scheme for evaluating the AR application was also constructed using factors suitable for location-based applications: challenge, educational usefulness (knowledge), collaboration, and intention to reuse. A sample of 309 students evaluated the application. Descriptive statistical analysis showed that the application scored well in all factors, especially in challenge and knowledge (mean values 4.21 and 4.12). Furthermore, structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis led to a model construction that represents how the factors are causally related. Based on the findings, the perceived challenge significantly influenced the perceived educational usefulness (knowledge) (b = 0.459, sig = 0.000) and interaction levels (b = 0.645, sig = 0.000). Interaction amongst users also had a significant positive impact on users’ perceived educational usefulness (b = 0.374, sig = 0.000), which in turn influenced users’ intention to reuse the application (b = 0.624, sig = 0.000).

User experiences of medical students with 360-degree virtual reality applications to prepare them for the clerkships

For medical students, the transition from the preclinical to the clinical phase of their curriculum (clerkships) can result in increased levels of stress and anxiety. This is partly caused by low self-perception of preparedness. By using 360° video-based virtual reality it is possible to provide learners virtual access to clinical situations ahead of time. This technique can provide active and contextual user experiences and offers opportunities to demonstrate both behavioral skills and subject knowledge. We developed two 360° video-based virtual reality applications for medical students transitioning to the clerkships. In this study, we describe the development and evaluated the user experiences. Two virtual reality applications were developed for use in a small group learning session. One of the applications is an interactive virtual tour of a hospital ward, in which learners explore the Internal Medicine ward and learn about the roles of different health care professionals and their mutual interactions. In each room, the learners listen to a voice-over and look at hotspots to gather additional information. The other application has been developed to train students in observing (un)professional behavior of healthcare providers in their daily activities. An evaluation was performed by an anonymous explorative questionnaire with open and closed questions (Likert scales) regarding the user experience and cybersickness symptoms. In our study, 171 students used the applications and completed the questionnaire. For 63% of the respondents, this was their first experience with a virtual reality headset. Qualitative analysis showed that students evaluated the learning method as realistic, informative and enjoyable. Most students evaluated virtual reality as a good (59%) or excellent (26%) tool for learning. Forty-five percent of the students experienced physical discomfort, such as nausea, dizziness, headache and disorientation. In most cases, these complaints were mild, although a small number experienced severe nausea (n = 6) or severe headache (n = 2). Students suggested several areas of improvement including increase of display resolution and decrease of ambient noise causing distraction. 360° video-based virtual reality can successfully be implemented in the medical curriculum to create a realistic learning experience to prepare students for the clerkships.

Web-Based Interactive Virtual Tour as an Information Media and Introduction to Post-Pandemic Lecture Buildings (Building B, Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, University of Lampung)

This study aims to determine the effectiveness of architectural communication methods using a link embedded in online media or social media. This research method is an interactive communication simulation in the form of a Virtual Tour using the 360o panoramic image method. A 360o panoramic image is multiple images combined to get a wider, more detailed image. Panorama images will be set using software and then uploaded to a website's database. The public, in this case more concerned with the academic community, can easily get information about the shape of buildings and spaces from various predetermined points, without installing certain 3D Architecture software. It is enough to use a computer or smartphone based on iOS or Android and without using object tracking or the like to activate communication, because it is web-based, it can be easily accessed anywhere and anytime as long as the user has the intended link. This is an alternative media in providing information about the object, which in this case is the Lecture Building to the public, especially students and parents during the post-pandemic period.

Interaktif Virtual Tur Melalui Media Elektronik: Kualitas Pelayanan, Kepuasan Wisatawan, Word of Mouth dan Niat Untuk Berkunjung Kembali

Starting with a walking tour which has the concept of traveling by walking around a destination to get to know the other side of the story which tourists rarely know, from museums, culinary delights, and other historical places. In early 2020, coronavirus hit the world. Indonesia implemented large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) that were imposed over the past few months, bringing tourism to a halt. On this situation, many walking tour organizers and tour guides use the latest innovation, namely interactive virtual tours. The purpose of this study is to investigate the role played by tour guides and service providers or interactive virtual tour organizers in providing services electronically which have an influence on the level of tourist satisfaction which is ultimately transmitted by word of mouth electronically and in the end they want for a revisit intention as visit in person. This study used a quantitative method with 210 respondents. The study used a Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) model using AMOS version 23.0 software.

STEM for All on the SS Freshspring: VR Tour

Over the past year the world has changed dramatically. With greater restrictions on accessibility, the need to provide innovative and distributable remote experiences is now more prominent than ever. BMT has partnered with the SS Freshspring Trust to create multi-generational STEM experiences. “Preserving the past to inspire knowledge for the future”. The SS Freshspring Trust have a vision to become a STEM hub by utilising cutting-edge technology. BMT have extensive experience in developing VR applications in the Maritime Domain. With skills shortfalls in many engineering disciplines, there is a need to inspire future generations into careers in STEM. Equally, many adults have a passion for technology and have valuable skills to offer to STEM projects. This paper uses the historic vessel SS Freshspring, a 1940s RFA Fresh Water Carrier currently being restored in North Devon, as the basis for exploring a range of initiatives and activities aimed at making engineering and technology interesting and accessible to all. The specific focus is on the development of an interactive 3D virtual tour, aiming to provide access to a wide audience by targeting a range of modalities including smartphones, internet browsers, and most consumer VR headsets.

WHEN ROMAN ANTIQUITY AND RENAISSANCE CAME TOGETHER IN VIRTUAL 3D ENVIRONMENT: 3D MODELLING CONSIDERATIONS

Abstract. This paper is a review of the modelling of two edifices located in a city which developed on the vestiges of a Roman city during antiquity endowed in the 4th century with a military camp. The term castellum is used for the first structure. A second structure concerns the remains of a castle dismantled at the end of the 17th century, which was generally known only by an engraving in perspective made shortly before its demolition, and the cadastral matrix that had preserved the traces of its right-of-way. It is a Renaissance castle built in the 16th century by the Württemberg family in the northeast corner of the ruins of the castellum. The projects contain a first part of data analysis and interpretation based on available documents. Similar sites close in terms of architecture, geographical location and construction period were also visited to get inspiration from them and to be able to make proposals for restitution. Despite the lack of data available, the multidisciplinary aspect of these projects is very important. In fact, the experience of archaeologists and the monitoring of modelling throughout its progress is essential to work out models that are both justifiable, at the level of the proposals made and sufficiently complete to be able to be highlighted. Once the models validated, they are integrated in a virtual way into the contemporary urban environment, through an interactive virtual tour. This paper reviews the principles implemented during the modelling, the rendering and the valorisation of the models thru virtual tours and AR/VR implementation.

HOLISTIC 3D DIGITAL DOCUMENTATION OF A BYZANTINE CHURCH

Abstract. The aim of the present paper is the geometric documentation of the church of St Spyridon using modern digital methods of data collection and processing. The church is located in the Medieval City of Rhodes and the residues of several different historical phases found in the church prove the rarity and the amount of alterations it underwent over the years.Geodetic measurements, laser scanning and acquisition of photographic data were performed, in order to construct the 3D model of the church. 23 drawings were drafted at a scale of 1:50, including horizontal sections, exterior and vertical sections. The projected information of each drawing is described with the help of the corresponding orthophotographs. Moreover, the three-dimensional photorealistic model (textured model) of the church was created, as well as a stereoscopic video and interactive virtual tour, via the 3DHOP platform.

Design methodology for 360\xb0 immersive video applications: the case study of a cultural heritage virtual tour

Three hundred sixty–degree (360°) immersive video applications for Head Mounted Display (HMD) devices offer great potential in providing engaging forms of experiential media solutions especially in Cultural Heritage education. Design challenges emerge though by this new kind of immersive media due to the 2D form of resources used for their construction, the lack of depth, the limited interaction and the need to address the sense of presence. In addition, the use of Virtual Reality (VR) headsets often causes nausea, or motion sickness effects imposing further implications in moderate motion design tasks. This paper introduces a methodological categorisation of tasks and techniques for the design of 360° immersive video applications. Following the design approach presented, a testbed application has been created as an immersive interactive virtual tour at the historical centre of the city of Rethymno in Crete, Greece, which has undergone user trials. Based on the analysis of the results of this study, a set of design guidelines for the implementation of 360° immersive video virtual tours is proposed.

A Framework for Interactive Virtual Tours

This paper introduces a framework for the creation, management and deployment of interactive virtual tours. A panoramic image acquisition unit is adapted to acquire panoramic images and video streams from a wide variety of sources. The acquired panoramic images and video streams are fed into a transform engine that performs any required transformations on the input data in a uniform and seamless manner. A package generator coupled with the transform engine synthesizes complete virtual tour packages by combining the transformed data with a broad range of multimedia resources to create navigable virtual tours. Perspective correction and related transformations on the data are carried out by a viewing engine allowing a plurality of viewers to independently and simultaneously interact with the virtual tours. User interaction with the virtual tour packages is enhanced by a control engine that facilitates bi-directional communication between various elements of the system.

Digital Techniques for Cultural Heritage and Artifacts Recording

This paper will examine the current techniques available for recording of heritage sites and archaeological artifacts, that is: cultural heritage. Techniques include: digital freehand sketching, digital measurement, photographic techniques for generation of panoramas, 3D models and interactive tours, generation of 2D and 3D models to create interactive virtual tours, VR techniques and other trends. The paper will review the available hardware and software, the different workflows, processes, software, types of tools available for those interested in recording digital heritage. Future and expected trends will also be discussed.

Implementing work-integrated learning in online construction management courses

Implementing online learning can pose serious pedagogical challenges particularly when programs contain work-integrated learning (WIL) components. One such component is the site visit, where student groups are led by subject matter experts through an authentic environment. These WIL experiences help students relate the theory learnt in classrooms to practice. Construction management students particularly benefit from repeated visits to the same building site to appreciate the spatial and temporal constraints and how they change over the life of the building project. Unfortunately, logistics and occupational health and safety concerns have increasingly limited the inclusion of site visits in school and university curricula. Online construction management students are widely dispersed and therefore it is impractical to include shared physical site visits in the curriculum, although students are able to observe locally-based construction sites and report back their findings. In response, universities have collaborated with construction companies and, using significant federal funding, created an interactive learning environment that follows the construction of an eight-storey building over time. This high quality resource is a type of virtual WIL that has been primarily used in face-to-face teaching. In this case study we implement this resource in a fully online construction management course and create three comparatively low-cost environments that demonstrate the construction of residential, industrial, and multi-storey building construction sites, for implementation in another two online construction courses. As an enhancement, within these new environments are embedded images, explanatory videos and documents which students can interact with to create a virtual tour that can be embedded directly alongside the concepts being studied in their weekly learning materials. In addition, these tours are linked to specific online learning activities designed to motivate students to reflect on and refine their understandings based on the authentic context they are experiencing. To better understand the processes involved in this collaboration between school academics, staff from a central teaching innovation unit, and two construction companies, the business processes employed were modelled using a swimlane diagram. Insights into the practicalities of implementing these virtual tours are shared. The experiential learning outcomes of students using virtual WIL are comparable to traditional site visits. Initial online student feedback of small cohorts of online students has been overwhelmingly positive and encouraging for the development of more interactive virtual tours. The implementation of virtual tours and activities, blended with independent face-to-face site visits and assessment, forms an authentic, supported and constructively-aligned WIL experience for students undertaking fully online courses.

“Some Account of an Extraordinary Traveller”: Using Virtual Tours to Access Remote Heritage Sites of Inuit Cultural Knowledge

The use of panoramic images to transport viewers to remote geographic locations can be traced back to the panorama theatres of nineteenth-century Victorian London. More recently, Google’s World Wonders Project has utilized 360-degree panospheres to capture some of the world’s most famous heritage sites. Using arrows that demarcate a defined path of movement, users can virtually tour these sites by “jumping” from one panosphere to the next. Arvia’juaq National Historic site is located near the community of Arviat. Although the heritage value of the site is highly significant, Arvia’juaq sees few national and international visitors because of its remote location. For a variety of reasons, some local Inuit also find it difficult to regularly visit the site even though it is an important source of cultural identity. In this paper, we explore how panospheres can be used to create interactive virtual tours of heritage sites like Arvia’juaq. Although there are some caveats, we argue that virtual reality (VR) tours are potentially powerful tools for connecting people to heritage sites that might otherwise be inaccessible. This has important implications for raising awareness of polar heritage and its significance to Indigenous people, as well as national and international audiences.

Design of a virtual tour for the enhancement of Llíria’s architectural and urban heritage and its surroundings

<p>The Information Technology and Communications (ICT) have revolutionized the way to present and promote the heritage sites. These ICT also offer scholars, students and visitors unprecedented access to architectural, historical, geographical, archaeological, iconographical and anthropological data, among other. It is noted also that virtual heritage environments are inherently fascinating and possess essential properties to have a positive effect on supporting heritage conservation and education. This paper is concerned with the potential of these ICT developments for improving the enhancement of the heritage sites of the town of Llíria and its surroundings (Valencia, Spain) by mean of a virtual tour (“Edeta 360º”) based on 360º panorama photos. The “Edeta 360º” virtual tour is an immersive application that places the viewers inside the image, enabling them to significantly enhance position awareness and providing the highest level of functionality for viewing, capturing and analysing virtual data. It can appropriately and effectively be utilised to facilitate intellectual and physical access to public by bringing knowledge, awareness and appreciation about the heritage of Llíria while, at the same time, authenticity is preserved. The undertaking method to create this interactive virtual tour is based on an easy procedure with off-the-shelf equipment and using both freely available software to address the process of photo stitching that combines multiple photographic images with overlapping fields of view to produce a segmented panorama or high-resolution image. Each panorama contains hotspots that enable the users to further explore the surroundings. The virtual tour provides the user the ability to navigate a scene through the rotation and zoom functions. This application results very appealing and has been adopted as a mean for information, dissemination, education and tourism purposes.</p>