Time-travelling with mobile augmented reality: A case study on the piazza dei Miracoli

This paper presents a new application in the field of cultural heritage, allowing outdoor site exploration throughout different periods of time, based on Mobile Augmented Reality (MAR) technology. The purpose of this research is to allow a free interaction metaphor between users and heritage landmarks, and to enrich their travel experience with important historic facts. We use Metaio SDK to implement this concept within an Android application. We take the specific case of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Cathedral and the Baptistery, all key landmarks from Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa, to prove the usefulness of this paradigm. Five epochs are presented within the application, together with key data about each of them. We assess the usability and engagement of this application by conducting a study with 15 users. The results obtained from the user evaluation show that the concept is not only valid, but also attracting to most of the people. The findings suggest that this kind of applications may attract more visitors while also enhancing their visiting experience.