The UPV develops a virtual accessibility experience at La Lonja de la Seda in Valencia

The Valencia Silk Exchange will be the subject of a visual accessibility pilot experience through the use of augmented reality, promoted by researchers from the Polytechnic University of Valencia, with which visitors to this historic building will have virtual three-dimensional models of different parts of the building within their reach., like the helical column, the vault, the key, the staircase, window tracery, the coffered ceilings and the door of the Consulate of the Sea.

Researchers from the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV) are carrying out a pilot experience of visual accessibility at the Lonja de la Seda in Valencia through the use of augmented reality. With this technology, Visitors will have virtual three-dimensional models of different parts of this emblematic Valencian Gothic building at their fingertips., informs the academic institution. The project is being directed by a team from the Department of Architectural Graphic Expression (OWNER) at the Higher Technical School of Design Engineering (YOU ARE LOOKING FOR), in collaboration with the Labhuman-I3BH group of the UPV and the Culture Department of the Valencia City Council, responsible for this monument, the university stated in a statement.

Marina Puyuelo, principal investigator of this project, has explained: “This multidisciplinary architectural research project, graphic engineering and design aims to improve the quality and sustainability of this enclave of built heritage, expanding and updating the conditions of your visit. In particular, the research aims to investigate and implement this graphic technology with the aim of making it more accessible., promoting your knowledge and enjoyment. We want the visitor to the Lonja to be able to appreciate details that are difficult to see due to the lighting in the room., the distance of the object, vertical accessibility, etc. Our work is aimed at all audiences, but especially to those groups that may have some difficulties, as adults, children or people with visual disabilities”.

In this first phase of the project, Researchers have recreated the helical column using augmented reality, the vault, the key, the staircase, window tracery, the coffered ceilings and the door of the Consulate of the Sea located at the end of the patio stairs.

“There are elements chosen for their architectural interest and others because of the impossibility of accessing them.. Augmented reality will allow visitors to get closer to each of them, putting priceless details at your fingertips and, at the same time, helping to know a little more about its construction characteristics”, Lola Merino has stood out, researcher at the DEGA of the Polytechnic of Valencia.

To make the interaction with the augmented reality tool more intuitive and facilitate the identification of the original parts of the building, UPV researchers have carried out detailed design work on the marker tokens, including in the same graphic references related to the imaginary of La Lonja and a reproduction of each of the selected elements. “The user simply has to choose a tab, place it in front of the camera and a three-dimensional model of the detail shown in the central image appears on a screen. You can observe it closely and move it freely to understand what it is like.”, Marina Puyuelo has pointed out.

Interaction

This first pilot experience is complemented with a brief usability and satisfaction questionnaire that will improve its design and obtain information about the interaction with the user and their receptivity to this type of instruments and technologies..

According to the UPV researchers, These types of applications of augmented reality technology can contribute to improving knowledge and accessibility to particular enclaves of cultural interest, highlighting their characteristics and increasing participation and the quality of the visit.. “Our work in this project focuses on bringing all types of audiences closer to heritage so that the visit is complemented with current and attractive resources that can also be very useful for tourist guides.”, Lola Merino and Marina Puyuelo add.