smart.werth: Take a virtual walk through Wuppertal

Choosing a culturally rich and easily accessible location

The Werth has proven to be an ideal model location for this application. Thanks to its excellent public transport connections, this site is easily accessible for both tourists and residents of Wuppertal. With its historical sculptures and monuments reflecting the rich history of Wuppertal-Barmen, the Werth offers a unique opportunity to experience the cultural and historical diversity of the city center in a vibrant way.

Merging well-known urban spaces with digital technology

The AR application enhances the real urban space with engaging digital experiences. Visitors can explore interactive and informative content that creates a captivating connection between the historical essence of the Werth and the possibilities of modern technology. This blend of tradition and innovation fosters an exciting symbiosis, enriching the city experience in a completely new way.

Broad publicity – analogue and digital

The announcement of the AR application aims to engage both digitally savvy and analog-oriented individuals. To achieve this, the team in Wuppertal has implemented a range of marketing strategies. Press events and advertising campaigns in the city center, including banners and posters, enhance the visibility of the application. The MPSC website also provides online information about smart.werth. Furthermore, the Smart City team organizes various events and meetings with the public to promote the application effectively.

Adaptable open source software

The underlying software is developed as an open source solution, making it transferable to other locations. This is especially true for the AR development environment. To adapt it for a new use case, only the 3D models and location-specific information need to be gathered and integrated. The solution is available for viewing on GitHub.

Low operating costs and easy maintenance

The low costs associated with the ongoing operation and updates of the application are crucial for its stable maintenance. The investment in development has generated lasting value for Wuppertal. The independent operation by the Office for "Information Technology and Digitization", coupled with minimal maintenance costs, ensures that the application remains current and functional. As a result, the app can be offered to users at no charge.

Local challenges

Three challenges came up during the development of smart.werth.:

Firstly, participation workshops for residents in Wuppertal revealed a significant divide in the city's population regarding the use of information and communication technologies. While some individuals regularly utilise digital technologies, others remain skeptical or have minimal interaction with them. This disparity also affects perceptions of urban digital projects, such as the digitalisation of citizen services and the online management of healthcare services. To foster digital participation and acceptance, it is essential to strengthen digital skills within the community.

Secondly, the population often becomes aware of urban development policy changes only at a late stage, leading to resistance. Effective early communication of these projects is essential, as it significantly enhances public acceptance.

Thirdly, Wuppertal, like many cities, is experiencing structural changes in its city centers. The decline in retail and trade has diminished the appeal and functionality of these areas. Therefore, it is essential to strengthen the city center as an attractive place for people to spend their time. Additionally, Wuppertal faces the unique challenge of having several disconnected centers, each requiring its own incentives to draw in visitors.
 

Planning goals

Given the challenges of the digital divide and skepticism toward technology, smart.werth provides a solution by combining what is familiar with something new. It connects users' smartphones to the familiar city center using innovative AR technology. This fun and easy introduction to the AR application helps users become familiar with similar upcoming projects, like the city’s digital twin, and can also increase acceptance of municipal digital initiatives.

In other words, smart.werth visually brings urban redevelopment measures in the city center of Barmen to life, both before construction begins and throughout the process, showcasing the planned end result. The residents of Wuppertal can not only view construction sites but also experience the space up close and realistically as it will appear after completion.

smart.werth also contributes to the revitalization of the city center in Wuppertal's Barmen district. The app provides a tangible incentive for tourists to explore the heart of Barmen. Moreover, due to its rich history, the Werth offers visitors the chance to experience Barmen's city center as a cultural and educational hub, independent of retail and dining options. This approach can enhance the multifunctionality of the city center.

Approach to measuring impact

Analyzing the number of app downloads serves as an indicator of its appeal and potential impact. Since its launch, the app has been downloaded 1,664 times (677 on Android and 987 on Apple).

Feedback from users indicates that they particularly enjoy the historical insights into the 1920s. This feature allows Wuppertal to reach a diverse audience and positively position AR technology for older, less digitally savvy individuals. However, it remains to be seen whether this engagement will lead to increased acceptance.

The city planning office plans to utilize AR applications for other projects in the city center to enhance visibility and foster acceptance among the population. This technology effectively combines virtual and physical elements, broadening the perspectives of those involved in the planning process. Evidence suggests that AR can identify planning errors and stimulate creative thinking. Furthermore, it facilitates transparent communication and equitable participation among all stakeholders, especially citizens. By enriching planning materials with additional information, AR provides added value that traditional planning documents cannot achieve.
 

Process steps

The application was developed and implemented through the following process steps:

1. Design concept for the virtual city walk, with Werth defined as the primary location
2. Initial identification of required functionalities, including three time points and three historically significant locations
3. Invitation to tender, awarding of contract to service provider
4. Detailed specification of functionalities 
5. Development of an alpha version of the tool (service provider) 
6. Feedback (Smart City team) and further development (service provider) 
7. Practical testing, feedback (Smart City team)
8. Development of a release version
9. Release in app stores for smartphones (iOS and Android). 
10. Operation by the Office for Information Technology and Digitalization (the Smart City team is located within this organizational unit)

Governance

Within the organizational structure of the City of Wuppertal, the Office for "Information Technology and Digitalization" oversees the implementation of the measure, housing the Smart City project team. The application was developed by the service provider twinC Wuppertal, which collaborated closely with the Smart City project team. This team was responsible for designing the application’s content and coordinating its development.

Historical image material, from which the 3D data was created, was provided by the city archives of Wuppertal and the local historical association. The Smart City team collects error reports and plans to address these in the next expansion. For the visualization of building projects using immersive technologies, the Smart City team collaborates with the "Urban Planning and Urban Development" departments, where two positions of the Smart City team are directly situated.

The Office for "Information, Technology and Digitalization" is responsible for ongoing operations, maintaining an independent IT infrastructure and encompassing various competencies necessary for the continued functioning of developed solutions. The specialist teams for process operation and software development will support the application in the future and were already involved in its development, ensuring a seamless transition to operation. 

Procurement and operating costs

Participation and communication

The fully developed application was publicised through various communication channels: press releases, information on the Smart City project website, information on the City of Wuppertal website, and updates on the Smart City project’s Instagram page. 
 

Technical infrastructure

A smartphone is required as a digital device to use the application. To ensure compatibility, certain requirements must be met: Apple devices need to have at least iOS 11.0 installed, while Android devices must have at least Android 8.0.

The software utilises an augmented reality (AR) development environment that integrates 3D models and functionalities, allowing users to select 'Yesterday,' 'Today,' and 'Tomorrow.' It employs the AR Foundation plugin, which combines ARCore and ARKit. The application is developed as open-source software and is licensed under the MIT License for commercial use, modification, distribution, and personal use. More information can be found at: MIT License. The code and documentation are available here: GitHub Repository.

Data collection for the creation of 3D models was conducted using a conventional laser measuring tool. The models were developed using Blender (3D graphics software for modeling and animation), 3ds Max (3D graphics and animation software for architectural modeling), and Unity (a development platform). 

Data basis

The following data is utilised for the development and use of the AR application in Wuppertal:

• Measurement data for the three locations, collected using measuring lasers (including buildings, distances, and proportions), which supports the development of 3D models.
• Location data and map information sourced from Google Maps (retrieved via the user's smartphone).
• Environmental data related to the end device (smartphone), including its position and movement, captured through the camera, gyroscope, and accelerometer.