Karnataka introduces Augmented Reality in tourism hotspots

Hampi, Karnataka

Karnataka tourism is introducing Augmented Reality (AR) technology in 20 major tourism centers.

As pilot projects, AR interventions are already active in heritage sites in the city such as Cubbon Park, Bangalore Palace, Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace, Bangalore Fort, Lalbagh and some old structures on MG Road. Budgeted cost for implementing the project in 20 identified sites is around Rs 120 crores.

“The programme will be carried out by private companies. While the research works are going on with the existing facilities, the department will formulate a master plan and look in to the provision of other infrastructural requirements,” said TK Anil Kumar, tourism secretary.

FlippAR is the institution helping the tourism department with this initiative. Vivek Jain, founder of AR said that they are identifying specific areas of interests through research.

The free mobile application of the programme uses image and object recognition. Real-time photos taken on smartphones will get the database related to the site. The free application has already be been downloaded around 30,000 times in the Android and iOs platforms.

“Most of the sites under the project are coming under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI); so getting clearances for placing floor markers usually take time,” said Jain.

“Markers are the areas where people can stand and activate AR on their smartphones,” he added.

“The locations identified for the project are already busy with tourists; introducing AR facility would enhance the tourist footfall,” said Meera Iyer, Convenor, Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage, Bengaluru,

“In Sannati, for example, you only see statues and panels of sculptures. Knowing what it means and how it looked years ago will help people engage with it better,” she added.