UNIVERSITAT POLITÈCNICA DE CATALUNYA - BARCELONATECH

ESCOLA TÈCNICA SUPERIOR D’ARQUITECTURA DE BARCELONA

DEPARTAMENT DE TECNOLOGÍA DE LA ARQUITECTURA

PhD thesis

Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage

through Digital Representation based upon
Geographic Information Technologies
The case study of Lisbon Aqueduct System within an Augmented Reality environment

PhD Candidate: Luís Filipe do Espírito Santo Correia Marques

Thesis Supervisor: Professor Josep Roca (upc/etsab/dta – Spain)
Thesis Supervisor: Professor José António Tenedorio (unl/fcsh/dgpr – Portugal)

Doctoral Program (2017): Urban and Architectonic Management and Valuations (UPC/ETSAB/DTA – Spain)
PhD thesis

Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage

through Digital Representation based upon
Geographic Information Technologies
The case study of Lisbon Aqueduct System within an Augmented Reality environment

PhD Candidate: Luís Filipe do Espírito Santo Correia Marques

Thesis Supervisor: Professor Josep Roca (upc/etsab/dta – Spain)
Thesis Supervisor: Professor José António Tenedorio (unl/fcsh/dgpr – Portugal)
Doctoral Program (2017): Urban and Architectonic Management and Valuations (UPC/ETSAB/DTA – Spain)

Host Institutions: Centre de Política de Sòl i Valoracions (CPSV), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Spain | Centro
Interdisciplinar de Ciências Sociais CICS.NOVA - Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas - Universidade NOVA de
Lisboa (CICS.NOVA.FCSH/UNL), Portugal

UNIVERSITAT POLITÈCNICA
DE CATALUNYA
BARCELONATECH
 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Acknowledgments

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the following individuals and institutions:

Professor Architect Josep Roca Cladera (ETSAB, UPC, Spain), supervisor of this thesis, for his
availability, understanding, support, criticism, suggestions and huge enthusiasm and interest shown
throughout the completion of this course of studies.

Professor José António Tenedório (FCSH, UNL, Portugal), supervisor of this thesis, whom I have
deeply admired since the early years of my undergraduate degree in Geography (1996-2001). Words
cannot translate this deeply felt friendship, already some decades long, and the support I have
received throughout my academic, professional and personal life.

Malcolm Burns, previous supervisor of this thesis, for his criticism, suggestions and for his constant
availability to help me correcting my English.

The Centre for Land Policy and Valuation – CPSV, at ETSAB/UPC (Spain), for my integration
and warm reception, for the interest, enthusiasm, politeness they have shown, as well as for their
readiness to share knowledge, impressions and methodologies. To Professor Rolando Arenas for all
his kindness, politeness, enthusiasm, and amazing support. The Secretaria de Postgrau from UPC-
BarcelonaTECH, especially to Luz Soro for all her support.

The Interdisciplinary Centre of Social Sciences – CICS.NOVA, at FCSH/UNL (Portugal),

particularly to the coordinator of the RG4 group - Socio-Spatial Modelling and Planning, Professor
Rui Pedro Julião, for receiving me, and to the amazing Geographic Modelling, Remote Sensing and
Data Infrastructures team within the RG4 group, for their support and friendship.

To the General Inspection of Agriculture, Sea, Environment and Spatial Planning (IGAMAOT)
within the Ministry of Environment and Agriculture, especially to the General Inspector Nuno
Banza, Mario Grácio and Cássia Silva for their understanding at the professional level, while I was
developing this thesis, and to my colleagues from the first floor (they know who they are!),
essentially the Geographic Information Systems team, for all their support. To Conceição Nobre
for all the warm words and lots of paper work.

To the Architectural Heritage Information System (SIPA) team, currently at the

Directorate General for Cultural Heritage. To his former coordinator João Vieira for letting me
develop some research work at the professional level and to my colleagues and friends from the
inventory and archives teams. Special thanks to Cláudia Morgado, Rita Valadares and Teresa
Câmara, for their curiosity and enthusiasm while developing 3D models, GIS, web services, mobile

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Apps (iGEO initiative1), georeferencing ancient cartography and methodologies testing while
exchanging knowledge. To Paula Figueiredo, Teresa Ferreira and Margarida Conceição, for
developing together the first experiments of recreation of ancient structures using GIS (within the
Atlas SIPA project), including the Lisbon Aqueduct System.

The fantastic team from the Informatics Department (Computer Science) of the Faculty of
Sciences and Technology of the UNL (Portugal), especially to Professors Teresa Romão and
Fernando Birra for all their ideas, knowledge, support and enthusiasm in the programming of the
App. To Antero Pires for all his enthusiasm and support while sharing data and knowledge for the
development of the AqueductAR and AqueductGPS Apps.

To the GEODRONE, especially to its founder and CEO João Marques, for his expertise,
friendship and enthusiasm while conducting and supporting the development of the 3D models.

To Empresa Publica das Águas Livres from the group Águas de Portugal, especially to the historian
Barbara Bruno for providing all the access to the underground galleries of the Lisbon Aqueduct
System and providing the contact for the approval of the UAV flight to conduct the 3D model of
the Mãe de Água reservoir.

To all my friends, especially: Ricardo Santos, Rafael Reis and Pedro Soares for all their friendship
and support. Thanks to Ricardo for helping me to film the videos near the aqueduct structure
elements and for the thesis cover. To my friends Paulo Morgado, Filipa Ramalhete and Jorge Rocha
for sharing articles, classes, criticism and suggestions. To all the invited experts present in the
workshop held on 29th of July 2016 and to the host Belarmino, always ready to help in his pleasant
restaurant Fábulas in Chiado.

To my wonderful family, my father Luís Manuel Correia Marques, my mother Maria Olímpia do
Espírito Santo Marques, my sister Sandra Marques, my niece Beatriz Mello and my nephew Bruno
Mello, you are always in my mind and heart.

To my new family in Latvia, my wife Santa Klavina Marques and my newborn son Rafael Austris
Klavins Marques, you are just amazing.

1 The IGEO (internet portal of geographic information for Portugal) is based in Web Services (WMS/WFS) served from the official
institutions directly through internet. These services (constantly actualized from the producer to the user in near real time) are available
through online resources (via portal igeo.pt), feeding online geographical viewers and three main mobile Apps. One of these App’s was
the SIPA iGeo-Património (Heritage), available for Android and IOS, which was based in the SIPA inventory and archives (texts,
pictures and cartography) where the author worked from the year 2002 until 2014.

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Acronyms and Abbreviations

2D/3D/4D – 2/3/4 Dimensions

AdP – Grupo Águas de Portugal
AGNSS – Assisted Global Navigation Satellite Systems
App – Mobile Application
AR – Augmented Reality
AV – Augmented Virtuality
BOOM – Binocular Omni-Orientation Monitor
CAVE – Cave Automatic Virtual Environment
CCD – Charge-Coupled Devices
CH – Cultural Heritage
CICS.NOVA – Centro Interdisciplinar de Ciências Sociais
CIPA – International Committee for Heritage Documentation
CPSV – Centre de Política de Sòl i Valoracions
CS – Catalogue Service
DEM – Digital Elevation Model
DGPC – Direção Geral do Património Cultural
DGT – Direção Geral do Território
DK/NO – Don’t Know / No opinion
DR – Digital Representations
DSM – Digital Surface Model
DTM – Digital Terrain Model
EC – European Commission
EGNOS – European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service
EPAL – Empresa Portuguesa de Águas Livres
ESA – European Space Agency
ESRI – Environmental Systems Research Institute
ETSAB – Escola Tècnica Superior d'Arquitectura de Barcelona
FCSH – Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas
FCT – Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia
GIS – Geographical Information Systems
GIT – Geographic Information Technologies
GLONASS – GLObalnaya NAvigatsionnaya Sputnikovaya Sistema
GML – Geography Markup Language
GNSS – Global Navigation Satellite Systems
GPRS – General Packet Radio Service
GPS – Global Positioning System
GTIDA – Grupo de Trabalho para a Iniciativa Dados Abertos

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

HMD – Head-Mounted Displays

HSPA - High-Speed Packet Access
ICNF – Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e Florestas
ICCROM – International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property
ICOM – International Council of Museums
ICOMOS – International Council on Monuments and Sites
ICT – Information and Communication Technologies
IHRU – Instituto da Habitação e Reabilitação Urbana
IM – Image Matching
INSPIRE – Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the European Community
IRNSS – Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System
ISO – International Organization for Standardization
ISPRS – International Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
ISRO – Indian Space Research Organization
JAXA – Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
LAS – Lisbon Aqueduct System
LiDAR – Light Detection And Ranging
LoD – Level of Detail
Lx_W – Lisbon and Water App (integrates the related Apps: AqueductAR and AqueductGPS)
MEO – Medium Earth Orbit
MR – Mixed Reality
NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration
NAVSTAR – Navigation Satellite Timing and Ranging
NRC – Natural Resources (Council) Canada
NS/NR – Não Sabe / Não Responde
OGC – Open GIS Consortium
PC – Personal Computer
PIVC – Parieto-Insular Vestibular Cortex
PNT – Position, Navigation, and Timing
POI – Point Of Interest
PTAM – Parallel Tracking And Mapping
QZSS – Japanese Quasi-zenith Satellite System
RE – Real Environment
RNS – Regional Navigation Systems
ROA – Remotely Operated Aircraft
RPV – Remotely Piloted Vehicle
RS – Remote Sense(ing)
RTI – Reflectance Transformation Imaging
SDI – Spatial Data Infrastructure

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

SDK – Software Development Kit

SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitetónico
SLR - Single-Lens Reflex camera
UAV – Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
UNL – Universidade NOVA de Lisboa
UVS – Unmanned Vehicle System
UPC – Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya – BarcelonaTech
USSR – Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
US(A) – United States of America
W3C – World Wide Web Consortium
WAAS – Wide Area Augmentation System
WCS – Web Coverage Service
WFS – Web Feature Services
WMS – Web Map Services
WP – Work Program (ICT Work Programs of the EC)
VE – Virtual Environments
VGI – Volunteered Geographic Information
VR – Virtual Reality
VST – Visualization Systems Technologies
VTC – Virtual Cities and Territories
VRML – Virtual Reality Modelling Language
VRS – Virtual Reality System
VTT – Virtual Time Travel
X3D – eXtensible 3D

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Table of Contents
Acknowledgments ........................................................................................................ i
Acronyms and Abbreviations ..................................................................................... iii
Table of Contents ...................................................................................................... vii
Index of Figures ......................................................................................................... xi
Index of Tables ......................................................................................................... xiii
Index of Charts ......................................................................................................... xiii
Abstract (English) ..................................................................................................... xv
Resumen (Español) ................................................................................................. xvii
Resumo (Português) ................................................................................................ xix

Introduction................................................................................................................. 1

Chapter I – Digital Representations .......................................................................... 11

1. Representations....................................................................................................................... 11
1.1. Awareness of the Concept of Representation ............................................................ 11
1.2. (Internal/External) Representations and Spatial Processes ...................................... 15

2. Digital Representations Approach ....................................................................................... 29

Chapter II - Geographic Information Technologies for Digital Representations ... 37

1. Satellite Navigation ................................................................................................................. 37

1.1. Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)................................................................ 39
1.1.1. Global Position System (GPS) ............................................................................... 40
1.1.2. GLONASS ................................................................................................................ 41
1.1.3. Galileo........................................................................................................................ 42
1.1.4. BeiDou/COMPASS ................................................................................................ 43
1.2. Regional Navigation Systems (RNS) ............................................................................ 44
1.3. Cellular Networks (Assisted GNSS) ............................................................................. 45

2. Remote Sensing ...................................................................................................................... 45

2.1. Operation Mode Platforms ............................................................................................ 48
2.1.1. Spaceborne platforms .............................................................................................. 48
2.1.2. Aerial .......................................................................................................................... 49
2.1.2.1. Airborne Manned Vehicles ............................................................................. 49

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

2.1.2.2. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) ............................................................... 50

2.1.3. Terrestrial or Ground-Based Platforms ................................................................ 51
2.2. Sensors Systems Technology ......................................................................................... 52
2.2.1. Passive Sensors ......................................................................................................... 53
2.2.2. Active Sensors .......................................................................................................... 56

3. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) ............................................................................. 59

Chapter III - Virtual Environments, Networks and Cultural Heritage .................... 65

1. Virtual Environment ............................................................................................................. 65

2. Reality to Virtuality Continuum ........................................................................................... 68

2.1. Virtual Reality .................................................................................................................. 68
2.2. Mixed Reality and Augmented Reality ......................................................................... 70

3. Communication Networks .................................................................................................... 75

3.1. The Internet and the World Wide Web ....................................................................... 77

4. 3D and 4D Mobile GIT, Including Virtual and Augmented Reality .............................. 81

5. Cultural Heritage Representations ....................................................................................... 87

6. Technological Support for Cultural Heritage Progress ..................................................... 93

7. Geographic Information Technologies and Systems at Two-Three-Four-

Representational-Dimensions, Broadband Networks and their Value to Cultural Heritage
....................................................................................................................................................... 94

Chapter IV – Case Studies: Models and Mobile App Development ....................... 101

1. Real and Expanded Synthetized Mixed Environments .................................................. 101

2. Mobile Apps Applied to Cultural Heritage ....................................................................... 104

2.1. Virtual Environments, Gaming Technology, and Cultural Heritage ..................... 105
2.2. Relevant Apps for Cultural Heritage .......................................................................... 107
2.3. The iGeo Initiative and the App iGeo Património .................................................. 108
2.4. Augmented Reality Mobile App Applied to Cultural Heritage .............................. 112

3. Case Studies: 2D, 3D, and 4D Models (Lisbon Aqueduct)............................................ 114

3.1. Lisbon Águas Livres Aqueduct System........................................................................ 114
3.2. Mobile Applications Experimentation ....................................................................... 117

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

3.2.1. Lisbon Aqueduct Geographic Information ....................................................... 117

3.2.2. Mobile App Trials .................................................................................................. 121
3.2.3. Collecting and Modelling 3D Objects Using Terrestrial and UAV Data ...... 127
3.2.3.1. Acquired Terrestrial 3D data ........................................................................ 127
3.2.3.1. UAV Acquired 3D Data ................................................................................ 133

Chapter V - Building an App for the Lisbon Aqueduct ........................................... 143

1. LX_W App Architecture ..................................................................................................... 143

2. App Development ................................................................................................................ 147

Chapter VI – Analysis of the Lisbon Aqueduct App ................................................ 163

1. Workshop .............................................................................................................................. 163

2. Questionnaire Completed by (local) Experts ................................................................... 168

2.1. Question Relevance ...................................................................................................... 170
2.2. Analysis of the Questionnaire Completed by Experts............................................. 173

3. Questionnaire Completed by the Public in General ....................................................... 178

Chapter VII – Reflections on Cultural Heritage and its Augmented Valuation ..... 187

1. Reflections on the Hypotheses of the Thesis ................................................................... 187

1.1. Contributions from Technology to the Valuation of Cultural Heritage ............... 190
1.2. The Valuation of Cultural Heritage Digital Representations for the Agents ....... 196
1.3. The Valuation of Digitally Represented Relevant Cultural Heritage for the
Different Domains ............................................................................................................... 201

2. Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage ...................................................................... 204

Conclusions .............................................................................................................. 217

References ............................................................................................................... 227

Internet References .................................................................................................. 241
Annexes ................................................................................................................... 247

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Index of Figures
Fig. 1 – Thesis schematic approach ............................................................................................... 2
Fig. 2 – Thesis general workflow .................................................................................................... 6
Fig. 3 – Internal representations of the physical environment................................................. 12
Fig. 4 – Spatial cognition decision process.................................................................................. 20
Fig. 5 – Lynch Districts .................................................................................................................. 25
Fig. 6 – Lynch Edges ...................................................................................................................... 25
Fig. 7 – Lynch Paths ....................................................................................................................... 26
Fig. 8 – Lynch Nodes ..................................................................................................................... 26
Fig. 9 – Lynch Landmarks ............................................................................................................. 26
Fig. 10 – Digital Representations.................................................................................................. 29
Fig. 11 – Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) ............................................................... 39
Fig. 12 – Electromagnetic spectrum ............................................................................................ 53
Fig. 13 – Laser Scan of Lloret de Mar ......................................................................................... 57
Fig. 14 – GIS (georeferenced layers and associated Data Bases) ............................................. 59
Fig. 15 – 3D modelling at urban scale ......................................................................................... 59
Fig. 16 – Virtual synthetized world. Image captured in the Kraftwerk concert 2016 .......... 66
Fig. 17 – HMD ................................................................................................................................ 67
Fig. 18 – C.A.V.E. example of immersive experience ............................................................... 68
Fig. 19 – The Reality-Virtuality Continuum................................................................................ 71
Fig. 20 – Augmented Reality visualization in Almada (Lisbon Metropolitan Area) ............. 72
Fig. 21 – 3D modelling and visualization using anaglyph glasses ............................................ 81
Fig. 22 – 3D point cloud from National Palace in Sintra ......................................................... 82
Fig. 23 – 7th Virtual Cities and Territories (VTC), held in Lisbon (2011) ............................. 84
Fig. 24 – 11th VTC held in Krakow, Poland (2016).................................................................. 84
Fig. 25 – VR glasses for total immersiveness.............................................................................. 85
Fig. 26 – AR glasses enriching the real world with synthetic digital representations............ 86
Fig. 27 – Technological omnipresence through digital representations ............................... 101
Fig. 28 – The expansion of the mind through technology ..................................................... 102
Fig. 29 – Geocaching: Terras fountain ...................................................................................... 106
Fig. 30 – Pokémon Go. Século fountain ................................................................................... 106
Fig. 31 – iGEO portal with heritage information available through WMS/WFS............... 108
Fig. 32 – SIPA’s heritage inventory for Mainland Portugal .................................................... 110
Fig. 33 – App iGEO Património, available in the Android and Apple IOS ........................ 110
Fig. 34 – App iGEO Património’s architecture ....................................................................... 111
Fig. 35 – Lisbon Aqueduct in Alcântara valley ......................................................................... 114
Fig. 36 – Mãe de Água reservoir (interior) ................................................................................ 115
Fig. 37 – Lisbon Aqueduct in Amoreiras (Lisbon) .................................................................. 116
Fig. 38 – Patriarcal reservoir (interior) ....................................................................................... 116
Fig. 39 – Esperança fountain ...................................................................................................... 116
Fig. 40 – Aqueduct demolition ................................................................................................... 117
Fig. 41 – Example of georeferenced ancient cartography ...................................................... 118
Fig. 42 – Ancient cartography georeferenced with the aqueduct path ................................. 119
Fig. 43 – Lisbon Aqueduct System delimitation over Google Earth’s satellite imagery .... 119
Fig. 44 – Detail of the 3D representation of the Lisbon Digital Terrain Model ................. 121
Fig. 45 – ESRI App with geographic information overlay ..................................................... 122
Fig. 46 – ESRI Collector App with geographic information overlay .................................... 122
Fig. 47 – Sequence of examples using GIS data in an Augmented Reality .......................... 123
Fig. 48 – Using a built 3D model (from internet catalogues) in an Augmented Reality .... 124

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Fig. 49 – Final approach to model / represent 3D models and their visualisation............. 125
Fig. 50 – 360º image of the Carmo fountain............................................................................. 126
Fig. 51 – VR image of the Carmo fountain (Lisbon Aqueduct System)............................... 126
Fig. 52 – VR visualization of the Lisbon Aqueduct System elements .................................. 127
Fig. 53 – Capturing photos in Agisoft PhotoScan ................................................................... 128
Fig. 54 – 3D Model generation using the Agisoft PhotoScan software ............................... 130
Fig. 55 – Using 3D developed model in an Augmented Reality environment .................... 130
Fig. 56 – Janelas Verdes Fountain 3D developed model and graphic improvement ............ 131
Fig. 57 – 3D model of Carmo fountain ..................................................................................... 132
Fig. 58 – UAV data acquisition in Mãe de Água reservoir ..................................................... 135
Fig. 59 – Flight plan and images taken in Mãe de Água building for 3D modelling .......... 135
Fig. 60 – 3D modelling of the Mãe de Água – Agisoft software ........................................... 137
Fig. 61 – 3D modelling of the Mãe de Água - Bentley software .............................................. 137
Fig. 62 – 3D model of the Mãe de Água reservoir with data acquired using UAV ............ 138
Fig. 63 – Mãe de Água Reservoir 3D model (UAV) and graphic improvement ................. 139
Fig. 64 – Tourist in a terrace programing their tour in Lisbon .............................................. 143
Fig. 65 – Portable city free map enriched by digital thematic AR data ................................. 144
Fig. 66 – Georeferencing ancient cartography with the limits of Fernandina Wall ............ 144
Fig. 67 – Lx_W App architecture ............................................................................................... 146
Fig. 68 – App icon to view over the Official Lisbon Plan in situ ........................................... 147
Fig. 69 – Mãe de Água reservoir 3D model and AR environments ...................................... 147
Fig. 70 – Official Lisbon Plan of 2016 ...................................................................................... 148
Fig. 71 – 3D models (terrestrial, UAV) ..................................................................................... 149
Fig. 72 – App online survey with 22 questions ........................................................................ 164
Fig. 73 – Workshop indoors with a panel of experts testing and evaluating the Apps ...... 165
Fig. 74 – Workshop outdoors, near Carmo fountain .............................................................. 166
Fig. 75 – Workshop experts filling in the online questionnaire indoors with Wi-Fi........... 167
Fig. 76 – Example of question (to classify each App with values from 1 to 5) ................... 170
Fig. 77 – Word cloud of the answers to question 25 ............................................................... 181
Fig. 78 – Word cloud of the answers to question 26 ............................................................... 182
Fig. 79 – Schematic approach to the concept of Augmented Value of Cultural Heritage . 211
Fig. 80 – Composition of terms for Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage ............... 213
Fig. 81 – Representation of the concept “Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage” ... 215

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Index of Tables
Table 1 – Heritage Representations in 2D, 3D, 4D .................................................................... 7
Table 2 – Summary with questions groups ............................................................................... 175
Table 3 – Hierarchically ranked most used words ................................................................... 180

Index of Charts
Chart 1 – Bar graphic with the sum of valuation given per individual ................................. 173
Chart 2 – Questionnaire results with the higher and lower .................................................... 177

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Keywords (Eng.): Geographic Information, Augmented Reality, Digital Representations, Cultural Heritage, Lisbon,
Aqueduct

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Abstract (English)

The thesis focus in the central idea of Digital Representations and the Valuation of Cultural
Heritage, in the relation between Technology, Agents and several knowledge Domains, seeking to
analyse the Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage, based on Geographic Information
Technologies (GIT). It introduces the significance of (digital) representations through the concepts
of the individual’s spatial cognition (internal/mental representations) and physical (external
representations) perceptions and their epistemological importance, revealing what are the GIT
contributing to these representations: Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), Remote Sensing
(RS), Geographical Information Systems (GIS), 3D data Acquisition, Modelling and Visualisation
and Virtual/Mixed Environments.
The methodology involves of point clouds (x,y,z) data acquisition using terrestrial and
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), 3D modelling procedures, integration between 3D-GIS and
virtual environments applied to cultural heritage systems and elements in urban areas. The results
consist of geographical information products and 3D acquisition and modelling processes to be
visualised in an Augmented Reality environment, through mobiles platforms. It was discussed
experiments using mobile applications (App) available in the market that have enabled the
adjustment of core solutions for further development of the App Lx_W, consisting in the related
Apps: AqueductAR and AqueductGPS.
Selecting the ancient Lisbon (Aqueduct) water supply system (classified as a national
monument in 1910) as a case study and considering the fact that most of the structure is
unnoticeable, due to the large extent of underground galleries, these types of synthetized enhanced
environments enable onsite visualisation and the perception of the relation between the system and
the city. The prototype of Lx_W App was evaluate during the workshop with the purpose of
analysing the application that had been developed using the answers obtained in survey, relating this
App and some experiments carried out with other Apps available in the market. A second survey
was conduct supported by a video where the heritage system and the Lx_W App were introduced,
showing the App’s features and capabilities applied to this specific case study.
The methods used aimed to strengthen the idea of the potential application of this
technology for heritage valuation, introducing the concept of Augmented Valuation of Cultural
Heritage, associating the use of geographic information to fields commonly related to a strong
visual perception of space, providing essential data to the Agents, not only for occasional users
(public), but also for specialised technicians, opinion/decision makers, promoters and other
stakeholders, addressing solutions (or contributions) to the existing problems in the several
technical-scientific, socio-economic, political-administrative, ideological-symbolic-religious
Domains.

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Palabras clave (ES): Información Geográfica, Realidad Aumentada, Representaciones Digitales, Patrimonio
Cultural, Lisboa, Acueducto

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Resumen (Español)
La tesis se centra en la idea de las Representaciones Digitales y la Valoración del
Patrimonio Cultural, en la relación entre Tecnología, Agentes y los Dominios del conocimiento,
procurando identificar y analizar la Valoración Aumentada del Patrimonio Cultural mediante las
Tecnologías de Información Geográfica (TIG). Introduce la importancia de las representaciones
(digitales), a través de conceptos cognición espacial (representaciones internas/mentales) y la
relevancia epistemológica de las percepciones individuales del ambiente físico (representaciones
externas), revelando as TIG que contribuyen a las construcciones de estas representaciones:
Sistemas Globales de Navegación por Satélite, Detección Remota, Sistemas de Información
Geográfica, adquisición de datos/modelado en 3D y la visualización de los Ambientes Virtuales.
La metodología consiste en la adquisición de nubes de puntos (x, y, z) obtenidos en el suelo
o por medio de vehículos aéreos no tripulados (UAV) para el modelado 3D, integración en
ambientes 3D-SIG y la creación de ambientes virtuales aplicados a los elementos y conjuntos
patrimoniales en áreas urbanas. Los resultados incluyen productos y procesos de adquisición y
modelación 3D de información geográfica para ser vistos en ambientes de Realidad Aumentada a
través de plataformas móviles. Se discuten varios experimentos utilizando aplicaciones móviles
(App) disponibles en el mercado que han permitido el ajuste de soluciones para el desarrollo de la
App Lx_W, que consiste en la asociación de las aplicaciones: AqueductAR y AqueductGPS.
Seleccionando el antiguo sistema de abastecimiento de agua de Lisboa (Acueducto de Águas Livres,
clasificado como monumento nacional en 1910) como estudio de caso y teniendo en cuenta que la
mayor parte de la estructura es imperceptible, debido a la gran extensión de las galerías
subterráneas, estos tipos de ambientes sintetizados permiten la visualización y la percepción, in situ,
de la relación entre el sistema y la ciudad. El prototipo de la App Lx_W se evaluó recurriendo a un
workshop con el objetivo de analizar la aplicación desarrollada a través de las respuestas obtenidas en
cuestionario que tevé como intuito comparar esta aplicación y algunos experimentos realizados con
otras App disponibles en el mercado. Se realizó un segundo cuestionario de evaluación con suporte
en un video donde se introdujeron la estructura edificada y la App Lx_W, demostrando algunas
principales características y capacidades.
Los métodos utilizados apuntan a reforzar la idea de la potencial aplicación de esta
tecnología para la valoración del patrimonio, introduciendo el concepto de Valoración Aumentada
del Patrimonio Cultural, asociando el uso de la información geográfica a campos comúnmente
relacionados con una fuerte percepción visual del espacio, providenciando información a los
Agentes, no únicamente para los usuarios ocasionales (público), como también para los técnicos
especializados, decisores, promotores y otras interesados, criando soluciones (o contribuciones) a
los problemas existentes en los diversos Dominios Técnico-científico, Político-Administrativo y
Ideológico-Simbólico-Religioso.

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Palavras-chave (PT): Informação Geográfica, Realidade Aumentada, Representações Digitais, Património Cultural,
Lisboa, Aqueduto

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Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Resumo (Português)
A tese centra-se na ideia das Representações Digitais e Valorização do Património Cultural,
na relação entre a Tecnologia, os Agentes e os diversos Domínios do conhecimento, procurando
identificar e analisar a Valorização Aumentada do Património Cultural, com base em Tecnologias
de Informação Geográfica (GIT). Introduz a importância das representações (digitais), usando
conceitos de cognição espacial (representações internas/mentais) e a relevância epistemológica das
percepções individuais do meio físico (representações externas), revelando quais as TIG que
contribuem para a construção das referidas representações: Sistemas Globais de Navegação por
Satélite (GNSS), Deteção Remota (RS), Sistemas de Informação Geográfica (SIG),
aquisição/modelação de dados 3D e a visualização em Ambientes Virtuais/Mistos.
A metodologia consiste na aquisição de nuvens de pontos (x,y,z) obtidos no solo ou através
de veículos aéreos não tripulados (UAV) para a modelação 3D, a integração em ambientes 3D-GIS
e a criação de ambientes virtuais aplicados a elementos e conjuntos patrimoniais em áreas urbanas.
Os resultados incluem produtos de informação geográfica e processos de aquisição e modelação 3D
para serem visualizados em ambientes de Realidade Aumentada, através plataformas móveis. São
discutidas várias experiências utilizando aplicações móveis (App) disponíveis no mercado que
possibilitaram o ajuste de soluções para o desenvolvimento da App Lx_W, que consiste na
associação entre as Apps: AqueductAR e AqueductGPS. Selecionando o antigo sistema de
abastecimento de água de Lisboa (Aqueduto das Águas Livres, classificado como monumento
nacional em 1910) como caso de estudo e considerando que a maior parte da estrutura é
impercetível, devido à enorme extensão das galerias subterrâneas, esses tipos de ambientes
sintetizados possibilitam a visualização e a perceção, no local, da relação entre o sistema e a cidade.
O protótipo da App Lx_W foi avaliado recorrendo a um workshop, com o objetivo de analisar a
aplicação desenvolvida, através das respostas obtidas em inquérito, que teve o intuito de comparar a
App Lx_W e as experiências previamente realizadas com outras Apps disponíveis no mercado. Foi
realizado um segundo questionário para efeitos de avaliação com suporte em vídeo onde são
apresentados a estrutura construída e a App Lx_W, demonstrando algumas das principais
características e potencialidades.
Os métodos utilizados visam reforçar a ideia da potencial aplicação desta tecnologia na
valorização do património cultural, introduzindo o conceito de Valorização Aumentada do
Património Cultural, associando o uso da informação geográfica a campos comumente relacionados
a uma forte perceção visual do espaço, fornecendo dados essenciais aos Agentes no território, não
apenas no que concerne a utilizadores ocasionais (público), mas também para técnicos
especializados, decisores, promotores e outros interessados, criando soluções (ou contribuições)
para os problemas existentes nos vários Domínios Técnico-Científico, Socioeconómico, Político-
Administrativo e Ideológico-simbólico-religioso.

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Introduction

The increasing use, interest and heterogeneity of Geographic Information

Technologies (GIT), especially Remote Sensing, Geographical Information Systems,
Global Positioning System, Digital Cartography, and Point Clouds (XYZ), available for
Cultural Heritage2 studies has led to a vast number of international initiatives, reflected
mostly in conferences, treaties, conventions and programs (some of them with a
considerable financial support). However, there is a growing need to understand the main
usability of this technology applied to the area of cultural heritage and analyse the potential
augmented value3 for the main Agents and Domains.

This thesis focuses on the valuation of cultural heritage representations in the

combined actions of different Technologies, the Domains of their applications, and the
potential benefits to the existing Agents in the territory. In this context, the following
operations are considered: identifying sources of pertinent information; evaluating the
quality, concerning reliability, accuracy, coherency, efficiency, periodicity and compatibility;
structuring the information in databases and datasets; developing several approaches to
represent cultural heritage; identifying and researching the agents and their perspective on
the augmented valuation of cultural heritage based on digital representations; gathering the
advantages of digital representations applied to the technical-scientific, social-economic,
political-administrative, ideological-religious domains within the cultural heritage concept.
This topic will contribute to increase scientific knowledge providing adequate solutions for
the enhancement of cultural heritage through representations with the support of GIT,
regarding the perceptions and needs of the agents, making available informational,

2 For a discussion of the concept of Cultural Heritage, see pages 87 to 93 and 187 to 215.
3 The value attributed to any object or place can vary with the perception of different groups of people, interests or cultures. The terms
“economic value” and “cultural value” have been used in an effort to capture the difference between the types of value a given cultural
asset might have. Economic value is ultimately used in terms of money (Throsby, 2003). This type of value can be understood as the
“money the potential consumer is willing to pay” (Navrud & Ready, 2002), however when we think of the value that a certain object or
place has for a specific culture or group of individuals, it might be priceless as part of a process, symbolic or historical fact. Cultural value
is multi-dimensional, unstable, questioned; it lacks a common unit of reason and may contain elements that cannot be easily expressed
according to any quantitative or qualitative measurement (Throsby, 2003). The value of Cultural Heritage signifies the rareness,
importance or symbolic representation of one or more specific events, milestones, achievements or historical significances. According to
Feilde in Stendebakken et al. (2015), cultural heritage might have architectural, aesthetic, historic, documentary, archaeological, economic,
social, political, spiritual and/or symbolic value. Silva & Roders in Stendebakken et al. (2015) propose the following values in heritage
(impact) assessments: social, economic, political, historic, aesthetic, scientific, age and ecological. Enhancing these aspects are not
heritage values themselves, but they indicate the relative importance of different heritage values. Enhancing aspects include uniqueness,
authenticity, representativeness and pedagogical value (Stendebakken et al., 2015). Thus, this value must be understood, assimilated and
disseminated. On the other hand, considering that for the great majority of heritage buildings the intention is to continue using them, it is
relevant to find practical solutions to make the necessary renovations while retaining their historical value. Making decisions about
approaches to upgrade or repurpose these buildings should be based on a comprehensive assessment of the consequences of and the
possibilities for different approaches to upgrading and management (Stendebakken et al., 2015). Digital representations of cultural
heritage are highly valuable for scientific study, conservation, and educational purposes (Zlot et al., 2014).

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

documentary and assessment processes to support architectonic, urban and land use
management.

The schematic approach (Fig. 1) seeks to reveal the structure of the thesis centring
the discussion on the topic of cultural heritage valuation trough digital representations,
intersecting the different domains of interest (Political-Administrative, Social-Economic,
Technical-Scientific, Symbolic-Ideological-Religious); their main agents (Opinion/Decision
Makers, Public, Technicians, Promoters, and other Stakeholders), who provide intelligence

Fig. 1 – Thesis schematic approach (source: the author).

for the processes of developing, conserving, managing, promoting and using information
for their proposes; through the use of tools such as Geographic Information Technologies
(particularly Remote Sensing, Geographical Information Systems, Global Positioning
System, and Digital Cartography at 2D/3D/4D; regarding also notions of Virtual Reality,
Augmented Reality, Mobile APPlications, Web Map Services, and Cloud Computing) in
terms of gathering, storing, managing, modelling, disseminating and using heritage
information, thus dynamically increasing the value of the object represented.

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Research Objectives

This thesis seeks to demonstrate that digital representations distinctively augment

the valuation of cultural heritage through technological resources, the perspectives of
agents, and the contributions from the different domains. The congregation of main
technological applications and the basic methods for heritage preservation, conservation
and restoration will contribute to recognize fast acquisition techniques and methods of
heritage representation, considering their advantages and disadvantages, and comparing
them with traditional methods. Thus, there will be the need to identify multi-sources of
pertinent information and designing structures of information datasets and databases,
recognizing the potential to disseminate and use dematerialized cultural heritage
(digital/virtual). After determining the main technological resources to represent cultural
heritage digitally (e.g. Remote sensing, GIS, GPS, 3D + time), several approaches to the
virtual representation of cultural heritage will be developed. Subsequently, it is essential to
involve the main agents associated with cultural heritage (e.g. public, technicians and
opinion/decision makers) and diagnose the value recognized by those agents in the case of
the examples of heritage representations developed. Therefore, it is fundamental to
understand the main areas/domains in the role of cultural heritage (e.g. conservation,
documentation, promotion, research, and dissemination), and the usability/applicability of
these technologies, analysing the potential increased value through the digital
representation.

Initial Hypothesis

The main question of the thesis is whether digital representations distinctively augment
the value of cultural heritage, considering Technology, Agents, and related Domains.
Originating from this main question, there are three other related topics.

i) Which technological means make the valuation of cultural heritage viable from the point
of view of data acquisition, processing, visualization and dissemination? Remote Sensing,
GIS, GPS, 3D, Mobile Apps, Augmented Reality, other…?

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

The culture of a society is often represented by the entire corpus of material signs
that can be either artistic or symbolic. The term heritage reflects the idea of legacy as a
constituent part of the affirmation and enrichment and the unique human experience
belonging to all mankind (UNESCO, 1989). Each region or community often uses their
heritage to distinguish their culture and what they have accomplished, expressing it with
signs, symbols or other means of representation. Technology has played an important role
in this process, using scientific knowledge, methods, materials, and devices to capture and
disseminate the representations of cultural heritage. With the evolution in terms of
geometric progression of technological resources, more accurate and detailed models have
been developed. However, it is still not clear which are the most adequate technologies to
add value to the cultural heritage, considering the available resources, type of object and
scale, data acquisition and specifications, interoperability and compatibility, quality of
information (concerning also reliability, accuracy, and coherency), efficiency, periodicity,
economic viability, contribution to scientific knowledge and end-users and for which
proposes, among many other doubts. This thesis purposes to research the technological
solutions and develop multiple experiments using GIT to verify the associated (potential)
increase of the intrinsic value of cultural heritage.

ii) What are the Agents in the territory and how do they value the digital representations of
their associated cultural heritage? Technicians, general public, opinion/decision makers?

Representations of cultural heritage involve several agents, i.e., technicians (e.g.

architects, artists, conservators, engineers, historians, geographers, and urban planners),
who are mostly concerned with preservation, conservation, planning, and providing
detailed, accurate and reliable information; decision/opinion makers (e.g. politicians,
managers, ecclesiastics, and other institutional representatives), who are commonly
concerned with economic viability, proposals, end-users, efficiency and symbolic values;
promoters (e.g. travel agents, hospitality and commerce), who are usually preoccupied with
the benefits commonly associated with the type and frequency of costumers and business
valorisation; general public (e.g. tourists, visitors, users), who frequently regard aspects such
as individual perceptions (internal versus external representations), symbolism and value
(importance), sensations through observation, gathering the fundamental issues and

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

understanding of history and the main particularities of an object. This thesis intends to
identify the principal agents involved and the value of digital representations for the main
stakeholders recognised. Through survey, it was intended to detect and typify identical
(collective) answers and acknowledged solutions adapted to their perspectives for
possible/adequate applications.

iii) What are the different Domains of valuation concerning digitally represented cultural
heritage? Technical-scientific, social-economic, political-administrative, ideological-
symbolic-religious?

The agents are closely related with the main contributions to the different domains.
This thesis proposes to recognise the valuation of cultural heritage through digital
representations, using GIT within the scope of technical-scientific, social-economic,
political-administrative and ideological-symbolic repercussions, encompassing the main
problems and solutions.

Thus, this thesis posit the hypothesis that digital representations distinctively augment the
valuation of cultural heritage through technological resources, the perspectives of agents and the contributions
to the different domains.

Methodology

The convergence between cultural heritage and the increasing use, interest and
heterogeneity of Geographic Information Technologies (GIT), especially Remote
Sensing, Geographical Information Systems, Global Positioning System, Digital
Cartography, Point Clouds (XYZ), and data visualization through Digital
Representations, particularly using mobile devices capabilities, allowing to merge the real
and virtual environments (e.g. through Augmented Reality technology) has led to a vast
number of international initiatives (conferences, conventions, directives, standards and
others) to gather, store, manipulate and disseminate information. The congregation of
these main technological applications, techniques and methods for preservation,

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

conservation and restoration has contributed to recognize heritage representations,

considering their advantages and disadvantages and comparing them with traditional
methods.

To accomplish the main objectives, the following research tasks and fluxes of
information were developed using qualitative (case studies or actions research and defining
the variables involved) and quantitative (how many/how much, and survey and
experimentation) research.

Heritage G.I.T.

Conventions / Scales Standards / Metadata

(Gathering, Storing, Manipulating, Disseminating) Information

Technologies, Techniques and Methods

Heritage Representations

Retrospective Representation Present Representation Prospective Representation (as possibility)

Experimentation (Case studies)

Inquiry the main Agents/Experts

Applications Analysis

Valuation of Cultural Heritage

Fig. 2 – Thesis general workflow.

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Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

The methodology was supported by 2D/3D and 4D case studies implemented

using digital representations of cultural heritage.

Heritage
2D 3D 4D
Representations
GIS (producing, 2D Cartography Raster/Vector Historical/Ancient Cartography
processing, managing, Raster/Vector (point, line, (Modelling) Present Cartography
storing, visualising) polygon) 3D Cartography Project Cartography

Historical/ Ancient Cartography

Geobrowser
2D Cartography 3D Cartography Present Cartography
(Visualising GI)
Project Cartography
Secondary Sources / Primary Sources

GPS (gathering GI or
searching, requesting, X/Y X/Y/Z X/Y/Z + T
identifying objects)

WMS (researching/ 2D Cartography Raster/Vector Historical/ Ancient Cartography

Visualising/ Raster/Vector (point, line, (Modelling) Present Cartography
disseminating GI) polygon) 3D Cartography Project Cartography

3D point clouds
Remote Sensing Satellite Imagery (terrestrial, aerial,
2D/3D data at different moments
(gathering, visualising GI) UAV satellite)
LiDAR
Mobile APP (Virtual / Historical/ Ancient
Raster/Vector
Augmented Reality: 2D Cartography Objects/Cartography
(Modelling)
visualising, searching, Raster/Vector Present Objects/Cartography
3D Cartography
identifying from GI) Project Objects/Cartography

Table 1 – Heritage Representations in 2D, 3D, 4D.

Heritage Representations in 2D, 3D, 4D

After developing the case study experimentations and creating a survey oriented to
the main interested agent/expert groups identified (technicians, general public,
opinion/decision makers, promoters, stakeholders, others), it is intended to detect and
typify groups of identical (collective) answers and analyse their perspectives on the digital
heritage representations and possible/adequate applications. Considering the case study
experimentations, the perspectives of the agents/experts and the contributions to the
different domains, our intention was to recognize the valuation of cultural heritage through
digital representations based on GIT.

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Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Chapter I – Digital Representations

Chapter I
Digital Representations

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Chapter I – Digital Representations

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Chapter I – Digital Representations

Chapter I – Digital Representations

1. Representations

1.1. Awareness of the Concept of Representation

The etymological origins of the term “representation” indicates making present

again (re-presentation). Generally, it means making something present which is not (Pitkin,
1967); or, to be more precise, to make something present which presently is absent
(Ankersmit, 2012). A representation is a likeness or simulation of a certain idea, concept, or
purpose. It can be considered as a sign or configuration of signs, characters or objects that
can stand for something else (to symbolize, provide an idea or to represent). Some
representations may be more detailed and express meaning in a very direct way, while
others can be more abstract (Rapp & Kurby, 2008).
According to Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave”, representations create worlds of
4
illusion leading one away from the “real things”. For Aristotle, representation becomes
Man’s way of being in the world and his method of learning. Unlike Plato, Aristotle seems
to view representation as a medium or channel through which Man gets to “the real”. To
Stuart Hall (1997), representation involves understanding how language and systems of
knowledge production work together to create and disseminate meanings. Representation
becomes the process or channel or medium through which these meanings are both

4Illusions occur when something is unlike how we perceive it to be. As well as being prey to illusions, we can also have hallucinations in
which there is nothing actually there to perceive at all. (O’Brien, 2007, Available at URL: http://www.iep.utm.edu/perc-obj/ , February,
2016).

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Chapter I – Digital Representations

created and reified5. Piaget (1951) in Golledge (1999) made a distinction between
“representation” in the sense of knowledge (conceptual representation or cognitive
representation) and in the sense of re-presentation of absent realities (symbolic
representation).
Representations of the past and future only make sense while placed in the present
(Ethington, 2007). However, Johnson & Sherman (1990) problematize the categories of
time past, present and future by opposition to before and after, discussing the assumption that if
there is a present, how long is it. These authors also refer that there are important
differences about the past and future considering construction, reconstruction, and
constraints. It would appear that the future can only be constructed and shaped rather than
reconstructed, considering that, the future is still to occur. The past can be either
constructed and shaped in the present without distortion or, on the contrary, it can be
distorted or reconstructed. A veridical representation of the past or future intent to depict
the entire universe of possibilities, appropriately weighted for corresponding probabilities.
Nevertheless, the already-happened past, as remembered, consists only of possibilities
because of the uncertainty of the past. Thus, it
is tempting to perceive the future as open as the
past.
Zhang & Norman (1994) in Khatri et al.
(2006:6) propose that “distributed cognition
that asserts that tasks require processing of
information distributed across internal minds
and external representation”. Internal
representations are associated with the mind, while
external representations with the physical
environment (Khatri et al., 2006). To provide
inputs and stimuli to the internal mind, external
representations determine cognitive behaviour.
The external representations are the shapes and
Fig. 3 – Internal representations of the physical
location of the signs, the spatial relations environment.

(among others), which can be perceived from the environment (Zhang & Norman, 1995 in

5 Available at URL: http://csmt.uchicago.edu/glossary2004/representation.htm (June, 2013).

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Chapter I – Digital Representations

Zhang, 2000). To perform this operation, individuals need to process external

representations interlinked with information retrieved from internal representations in a
dynamic way (Zhang, 2000). The effectiveness of external representation is influenced by
how it supports cognitive perceptions (Hahn & Kim, 1999 in Khatri et al., 2006).
Perceptions capture an extensive range of sensory variations having a huge
epistemological importance and being at the very source of all human empirical knowledge.
Our thoughts, especially those that express or involve propositions, are considered and
distinguished from one another depending on various facts that involve concepts and our
understating of them. Those concepts can be understood by different agents, so it seems
that the very same principle can be represented in many different minds at once (Earl,
20076).
The concept of representation has an important place in scientific theorizing about
the mind (Roth, 2010). Zhang (2000:1) refers that “knowledge representation is a
fundamental issue in cognitive science. It is impossible to imagine a cognitive system in
which representations do not play a central role”. A wide variety of cognitive and
perceptual capacities is clarified in terms of the occurrence and processing of mental
representations (Roth, 2010). However, representations have a huge diversity of different,
nonetheless identifiable, meanings depending on the circumstances, applications, and
contexts (Pitkin, 1967; Scaife & Rogers, 1996).
The following terms are examples of these complex systems of representation,
related theories and concepts7:

– Perceptions, which lie at the base of all our empirical knowledge, acquire much
of what we know about the world through testimony using our five senses:
sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell. This is true even if originally such
knowledge relies on the world having been perceived by others, through
representations;
– Illusions, that occur when the world is not how we perceive it8;
– Concepts, as they are immanent in the mind as particular mental
representations of some category or other;

6 available at URL: http://www.iep.utm.edu/epis-per/ (February, 2016).

7 In Berendt et al. (1998).
8 E.g., when a stick is partially submerged in water, it looks bent when it is actually straight.

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Chapter I – Digital Representations

– Consciousness, similarly a mental state is conscious by virtue of standing in a

representational relation to a higher-order thought, or in other words, it is not
intrinsic to their nature9;
– Intelligence, which might shape the capacity to think extensively and well,
involving suitable conceptions centrally, true representations and correct
reasoning;
– Description, which triggers the experience of mental imagery, is some sort of
representation that is explanatory or linguistic;
– Language, as a discourse representation language: usually our thoughts are
structured just like as sentences, following the same sorts of grammatical rules
that spoken languages;
– Symbolic, as while it is a standing for something and not the same as descriptive
representation;
– Imaginary, as our representations underlying the experience of imagery in
mental cognition;
– Pictorial, which underlies the experience of mental imagery, is some sort of
representation.

The previous list could continue, considering the notions of the related subjects,
such as: Exemplify, Express, Serve, Comprise, Constitute, Typify, Correspond, Describe,
Demonstrate, Present, Act, and Interpret. In this approach and regarding a branch of the
broader sense of the representation concept, spatial representations can also include an
assortment of terms, such as10: Abstract Maps (Hernandez, 1991); Cognitive Maps,
Representations, Configurations, Images, Schemata, Space, and Systems (Tolman, 1948;
Downs & Stea, 1973; Golledge, 1978; Lloyd, 1982; Lee, 1968; Montello, 1989; Canter,
1977); Conceptual Representations (Stea, 1969); Configural or Layout Representations
(Golledge, 1969; Kirasic, 1991); Environmental Images (Lynch, 1960); Imaginary Maps
(Trowbridge, 1913); Mental Images, Maps, and Representations (Pocock, 1973; Gould,
1966; Gale, 1982); Orientating and Place Schemata (Neisser, 1976; Lee, 1968); Survey
Representations (Downs & Stea, 1973); Topological Representations, and Schemata

9 For example, if someone began to address you using a nickname, no intrinsic feature of who you are would change, but you would now
be represented in a new way (Droege, 2005, available at URL: http://www.iep.utm.edu/consc-hi/ , February 2016).
10 In Berendt et al. (1998).

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(Shemyakin, 1962; Griffin, 1948); World Graphs and Cognitive Atlases (Lieblich & Arbib,
1982). These expressions can be found in the literature that discusses spatial cognition and
spatial representations. From a cognitive point of view, the structure of geographic
information and cartography can provide auspicious premises to approach how humans
perceive, represent and interact with their spatial environment, regarding the valuable
evidence provided by the properties of the underlying mental structures and processes for
spatial cognition (Berendt et al., 1998). For example, the classification and cartographic
representations of the evolution of land use and occupation are very relevant for the
quantitative analysis and studies of urban and peri-urban growth (Tenedório, 1998).
Concerning images, Gubern (1996) refers that the uniqueness of the iconic image is
that it is a representation that is presented to the viewer in two simultaneous ways,
transitive and reflexive: transitive because it represents something with its shapes and
colours, and reflective because it represents itself signifying something, which is what
semioticians have recently denominate as the double reality of images. The iconic image is a
perceptual and cognitive (representational) category that conveys information about the
world perceived visually in a way that is encoded by each human culture as iconic
expression. Therefore, iconic image is a visual communication form that represents a
physical environment or a fragment, or a mental reproduction, or a combination of both
(in space and time)11.

1.2. (Internal/External) Representations and Spatial Processes

Nadel, 1999 (in Golledge, 1999) suggests that the brain structure is the core of an
extensive neural system sub-serving the representation and the use of information about
the spatial environment. The hippocampus is the part of the brain responsible for spatial
memory/navigation and therefore critical for mapping, forming and storing information on
the external environment. The hippocampal system depends on exploration as its means of
gathering critical information to the formation of specific spatial representations. The
existence of an area in the PIVC – Parieto-Insular Vestibular Cortex (involved in the
processing of multisensory and particularly vestibular cues about head motion in space) is

11 Gubern (1996).

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probably the essential station in the transition of vestibular information12 from the nuclei
(vestibular), over the sensory thalamus13, to the cortical areas involved in the elaboration of
spatial cues. This data (i.e. head direction) reaches the hippocampus, after receiving visual
environmental information from the parietal cortex14, contributing to the reconstruction at
this level of spatial localization and orientation. The brain has at least two main pathways
that seem to carry vestibular information: the PIVC route, which codes angular head
rotation in many planes; and the head direction system, which codes static head route in all
horizontal directions. A specific discrepancy of head direction leads to a deficit in the
ability to store direction and lead, in the absence of vision or in the presence of conflicting
visual cues, to an insufficient evaluation of direction. Although the hippocampus is not
necessarily the only area involved in spatial memory, damages to the hippocampus system
invariably impairs the ability of humans and animals to learn, remember, represent and
navigate through environments, while neurons in this system organize data for location,
direction and distance, thereby providing elements needed for mapping system (Berthoz et
al., 1999 in Golledge, 1999). However, these disorders can also be attenuated after active
rehabilitation (e.g. through optokinetic stimulation).
Cognition includes mental (internal) structures and processes involved in
perception, attention, thinking and reasoning, learning, memory, linguistic and non-
linguistic communication (and the role of emotion as a growing research field). However, it
also contains external symbolic structures and processes (such as maps or the written
procedures for carrying out a formal spatial analysis), which assist internal cognition
(Montello, 2009). Mental or cognitive representations are not directly observable and often
do not represent space exhaustively. Like external maps (or any kind of representation),
internal maps only represent some aspects of the represented space and sometimes are
distorted or even inconsistent (Berendt et al., 1998).
Spatial cognition is essential to an extensive variety of human daily activities, such
as reaching for an object or finding the way home. To accomplish such tasks successfully,
our cognitive system registers and integrates relevant aspects of the available spatial

12 The vestibular system contributes to a wide range of functions, from postural and oculomotor reflexes to spatial representation and
cognition. Vestibular signals are important to maintain an internal, updated representation of the body position and movement in space
(Péruch et al., 2011, available at URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0028393211003617 April, 2014).
13 Its function includes relaying sensation, spatial sense and motor signals to the cerebral cortex, along with the regulation of

consciousness, sleep and alertness (available at Princeton University at URL:

https://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Thalamus.html , April, 2014).
14 It consists of several prominent anatomical regions in the posterior part of the human brain; although very heterogeneous stimuli and

tasks activate parietal brain regions, a large body of empirical evidence shows a particular role of the posterior parietal cortex in spatial
cognition (Sack, 2009, available at URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0166432809001582 April, 2014).

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information, while also retrieving previously acquired and stored information from short-
term and long-term memory (Gehrke & Hommel, 1998 in Freksa et al., 1998). The notion
of representation is central in Spatial Cognition studies. Understanding and modelling
people’s representations and construction of the world is a difficult challenge for cognitive
science (Lovett et al., 2008 in Freksa et al., 2008). A number of perceptual and cognitive
processes are involved in establishing mental representations, such as maps (Tversky in
Freksa et al., 2008).
Tolman (1948) introduced the notion of Cognitive Map, showing (in a set of
experiments conducted during the 1930s and 1940s) that animals and humans have the
capability to construct in their minds a representation of the external extended
environment they experience (Portugali, 1996 and 2011). The term cognitive map is used to
refer to the internal spatial representation of environmental information, while spatial
representation might be regarded as the organization of components of spatial knowledge,
metaphorically involving an “as if” quality, particularly when referring to purported Maplike
properties of representation (Golledge, 1999). According to Kaplan (1973) in O'Keefe &
Nadel (1978), Cognitive Map is a concept that has been proposed to explain how
individuals recognize the physical world. It assumes that people store information about
their surroundings in a simplified form and in relation to other information they already
possess. The information is coded in a structure in the mind and corresponds to the
environment it represents, as if an individual carried a map or model of the environment in
his head. Thus, instead of a picture or image similar to what represents, a Cognitive Map is
an information structure from which map-like images can be reconstructed and from
which behaviour dependent on place information can be generated (O'Keefe & Nadel,
1978). Thinus-Blanc and Gaunet, 1999 (in Golledge, 1999) denote that “cognitive” refers to
a dynamic processes and “map” to a static picture of the real world, considering that the
term Cognitive Mapping is functionally more correct. The simplest definition of a map is the
representation of a part of space. Thus, if the components of space are places, an
alternative definition of a map is the representation of a set of connected places, which are
systematically related to each other by a group of spatial transformation rules (O'Keefe &
Nadel, 1978). Eric Chown, 1999 (in Golledge, 1999) indicates that the world is a complex
system, which induces a necessity of higher simplicity at the internal representations level
(extremely accurate is improbable). If our internal representations of space were as detailed

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as the real world, their usage would be unfeasible, especially given the need to keep the
amount of information at a manageable level; therefore, cognitive mapping cannot be a
perfect reproduction of the real environment. Qualitative representations might ultimately
be more useful and efficient than metric representations, considering frequent changes in
space, and requiring less maintenance than precise ones, even if humans have the capacity
to learn in detail (although much information is still possible to be missed). Allen, 1999 (in
Golledge, 1999) reinforces this idea stating that the objective of a cognitive map is to
represent a great deal of information in a flexible format with a maximum economy of
effort. From a cognitive point of view, exploring the structure of maps can provide a
promising access to the approach to how humans perceive, represent and interact with
their spatial environment (Berendt et al., 1998 in Freksa et al., 1998).
It has been suggested that the map-like representations that support human spatial
memory are fragmented into sub-maps with local reference structures, rather than existing
as a global unit. However, the principles underlying the organization of these “cognitive
maps” are still not well-understood (Madl, 2016). Fragmentation into separate parts of an
environment has also been observed in electrophysiological recordings of grid cells
(Derdikman, 2010; Frank, 2000 & Moser, 2008 in Madl, 2016), which suggests that instead
of a single “cognitive map”, there is a variety of sub-maps represented in brains
(Derdikman, 2010 in Madl, 2016).
The cognitive mapping system allows humans and animals to define a place and
locate themselves in space, remember where an object is, and define how to get from one
point to another (Nadel, 1999 in Golledge, 1999). Spatial representations are fundamental
for orientation in a given environment, contributing to the organization of gathering new
incoming spatial information while exploring a familiar/new environment. Navigation
involves planning travels through the environment, updating position and orientation
during travel and in the event of becoming lost, reorienting and re-establishing travel
toward the destination. Spatial orientation naturally requires cognitive maps (Etienne, 1999
in Golledge, 1999). Human navigation and wayfinding require multiple spatial
representations. Long-term representations allow individuals to plan future movements,
recognize previously experienced environments and identify remembered locations, even
when those are obscured from view. The sensorimotor representation is thought to be
used when performing body-defined actions, such as transpose obstacles and navigate

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toward intermediary goal places, like landmarks, which can function as beacons. Because
these behaviours typically rely on egocentrically organized actions, the navigator must be
able to identify outstanding features of the surrounding environment and match those
features to the same features in long-term spatial memory, which is particularly evident
when attempting to reorient after becoming lost (Kelly & McNamara, 2008 in Fesksa et al.
2008).
Self-movement occurs in different ways that result in different types of (1) afferent
(arrival) and (2) efferent (exit) information: the first concerns the feedback from a recently
produced act and the second concerns the feed-forward from intended and soon-to-be-
produced act. According to Gibson, 1958; Lee, 1978 (Rieser in Golledge, 1999), exteroception
is known as the perception of the surrounding features and relations among them
(including spatial relations); proprioception signifies the perception of the position of the
individual in relation to another individual, as well as changes in their relative positions; and
exproprioception means the perception of the individual position in relation to the
surrounding environment, as well as changes in position. The awareness of dynamic spatial
orientation is exproprioceptive; however, the regular performance changes when access to
the environmental information is null. When traveling without multisensory data,
individuals integrate their knowledge of the surroundings with the afferent (proprioceptive)
or efferent motor information associated to their perception of self-movement. When
walking or swimming without vision, people typically have their immediate surroundings in
mind, and thus can calibrate their position in relation to their remembered surroundings.
Visual inputs specify environmental flows with more precision and across a wider range of
distances than other senses, constituting the primary source (visual system) of spatial
information in humans (adapted from Rieser & Chown, 1999 in Golledge, 1999).
People perceive differently the distances between themselves and/or objects. When
the observer perceives the distance between himself and one location in the environment,
distances originating from the observer are known as egocentric distances. Exocentric distances
are associated between two objects. While egocentric distances are judged quite accurately,
observers produce substantial errors in the comparison of exocentric distances. The
estimation of distances from memory is made using the mental representation of spatial
information (Rothkegel et al., 19998 in Freksa et al., 1998).

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There are several ways in which spatial information can be learned, where perhaps,
the most natural way (by opposition to learning spatial information from texts / maps, or
present spatial stimuli like photographs, multimedia and more recently: virtual or mixed
environments) is by navigating through the
environment (e.g. walking, driving). It is conceivable
that different modes of navigation may result in
different mental representations (adapted from
Rothkegel et al., 1998 in Freksa et al., 1998).
When traveling through an environment, an
individual will need to define certain
Fig. 4 – Spatial cognition decision process.
types of decisions and choices. Making an incorrect
judgment might result in being lost and suffer the
associated psychological and physiological discomforts. Thus, the greatest amount and
highest accuracy of information may be concentrated at points where choices or decisions
have to be made or at locations where prime or signal-specific activities have to take place
(Golledge, 1999).
The internal information of a route contains information on several path segments
and turns. The representation of underlying Path Integration is constantly updated where the
traveller is continuously evaluating his current position and orientation based on travel
velocity and prior estimated and stored representations of the path (Loomis, 1999 in
Golledge, 1999). Path Integration (continuous integration of movement cues) or Dead
Reckoning (deduced reckoning) is the process by which a body continuously monitors the
route taken from a particular reference position so that the individual always knows the
distance and direction from the reference point, which constitutes an important
component of spatial wayfinding (Etienne in Golledge, 1999). Path integration or dead
reckoning is the constant update of the Egocentric coordinates of the initial position based
on instant displacement and rotation data, involving the memory of the current home-
vector (initial coordinates) and not the entire path (Mallot et al., 1998 in Freksa et al., 1998).
Even in the absence of environmental cues, humans can maintain a sense of spatial
orientation through path integration, updating perceived self-location and orientation using
internal motion cues, such as Vestibular and Proprioceptive, and external motion cues,
such as optic flow, integrating those motion signals over time to estimate self-location and

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orientation (Kelly & McNamara, 2008 in Fesksa et al. 2008). Navigation in a spatial
environment requires the brain to update information stored in spatial memory about
orientation and position (Berthoz, 1999 in Golledge, 1999). Familiar landmarks that are
associated with specific places are most appropriate to help the individual return to
particular locations (the association Landmark-place may be based in Dead Reckoning).
The recognition of landmarks near the destination through image matching allows the
establishment of an accurate retinotopic correspondence between the actually perceived
landmarks and their memorized snapshot. Once accurate image matching is achieved, the
subject only needs to turn or advance in order to reach the goal. The learning process for
identifying particular landmarks automatically implies the association of these landmarks
with specific places (Etienne, 1999 in Golledge, 1999).
Etienne, Mauer, Georgakopoulos, Griffin & Loomis, 1999 (in Golledge, 1999)
suggest that dead reckoning (which does not involve learning an environment) seems more
prevailing in nonhumans, whereas landmark-guided movement may be more dominant in
humans. According to Etienne, 1999 (in Golledge, 1999), some animals may have a simple
cognitive map that helps their memory in terms of routes and places (sources of food).
Insects reveal an important association with landmarks in their movement behaviour,
which must therefore be represented in their memory. Wiltschko, 1999 (in Golledge, 1999)
indicates that compass orientation is the basic element in avian navigation and orientation.
Birds face orientation in the following behavioural contexts: returning home, nesting, and
migration. Birds must establish contact with their goal indirectly via external references in
their long travels: such as magnetic compass (geomagnetic fields) and celestial cues (sun
and other stars). When such birds were displaced in a distorted magnetic field, they were no
longer orientated (Golledge, 1999). Some similarities in storing and processing information
give credit to the existence of different types of routes and grid cognitive maps in birds as
in humans. The process of dead reckoning plays a significant role in spatial representation
and wayfinding across the entire animal kingdom. However, whereas spatial representation
may be universal, cognitive maps may develop only in a limited number of species.
Some individuals within their kind have better orientation than others. A successful
wayfinding is reflected in the traveller’s ability to achieve a specific destination within the
confines of pertinent spatial or temporal constrains and despite uncertainty. The
examination of the main differences focuses on the attributes and abilities exhibited by

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humans and other species, adapted to environmental demands. Individuals may differ in
their success over an orientation task because they use different means, for example Path
Integration versus landmark-based navigation, or differ in their ability to apply a
particularly resource (Allen, 1999 in Golledge, 1999). The recognition of objects in different
perspectives and orientations appears intact in amnesic patients though it is disturbed by
parietal lesions. The correlation between generalized memory defects and deficits in
geographic orientation is an indication of the form of spatial representation we assign to
the hippocampus (O'Keefe & Nadel, 1978). The lack of early visual experience affects the
representation of spatial environment. Early blind individuals were less successful than late
blind or blindfolded subjects performing tasks that require a mental manipulation or
reorganization of spatial information (such as shortcuts), being unable to construct an
accurate spatial representation as non-visually impaired people would be able to do. Vision
is recognized to be the spatial sense par excellence; however, blind or visually impaired
humans can become competent independent travellers using simple cognitive processes
(Golledge, 1999). Infants learn about their dynamic spatial orientation while walking or
moving without vision, which indicates that the navigational basic system comes early in
life. The increasing precision in orientation with growing age indicates that the system is
updated to take growth into account (Rieser, 1999 in Golledge, 1999).
Locomotion and wayfinding constitute fundamental tasks of the human existence,
where a momentary disorientation and lack of recognition of immediate surrounds generate
an uncomfortable sensation of being lost. This state occurs when the wayfinding process
that is used to guide travel fails (Golledge, 1999). Spatial cognition research frequently
decomposes navigation into locomotion (perceptually guided movement through one’s
immediate surrounds - walking through and avoiding obstacles) and wayfinding (route
selection between distant locations). When attempting to understand how an individual
uses and remembers a city, wayfinding behaviour is of particular interest (Dara-Abrams,
2008 in Freksa et al., 2008). Internal spatial representations in humans are imperfect and
susceptible to error, providing distortions or fragmentations (Baird et al., 1992; Casey, 1978,
Garling et al., 1979, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1986; Golledge, 1987, Lloyd & Heivly, 1987; Presson
et al., 1989; Tversky, 1981; Warren & Scott, 1993 in Golledge, 1999). Wayfinding errors can
take a large variety of forms, including temporary or permanent damage of multisensory
system; incorrect sense of velocity, time or distance (under- or over-estimation); encoding

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and decoding errors (due to incorrect perception or implementation of spatial relations); or

improper internal manipulation (such as perspective changes or incorrectly integrating
routes to produce configurational information). Navigation is one of the most important
requirements for human existence, even if their cognitive mapping is imprecise,
incomplete, inaccurate, and based on fragments or sketches of the external environment.
However, internal representations are usually sufficient for anthropological needs (adapted
from Golledge, 1999). The majority of human navigation is made in familiar (or partly
familiar) environments, so humans tend to use cognitively stored and recalled information,
although a variety of guidance instruments and materials are available. When individuals are
in a new environment they will tend to use information provided by other individuals and
tools that aid in wayfinding (such as descriptions, images, signs, maps or 2D/3D models).
The use of external references greatly enhances the accuracy of the measurement and
estimation of direction and distance. This process involves the ability to match these
instruments and understand the symbols commonly used to represent real world features.
Human self-guiding competence is frequently good in terms of interpretation and
wayfinding ability in space. The majority of spatial knowledge of individuals and societies is
represented in map form, especially when dealing with wayfinding, which appears to be a
fundamental component of explanatory schemas (Golledge, 1999). The knowledge gained
from maps frequently differs from similar information gained through locomotor
experience (Allen, 1999 in Golledge, 1999). Route knowledge is characterized by the
information of sequential locations without the awareness of general interrelationships and
is acquired by navigating through the environment. Configurational knowledge is characterized
by the ability to generalize beyond learned routes and locate objects within a general frame
of reference. Survey knowledge is easy to obtain when looking at a map, which provides an
overview of a space that normally is too large to be seen at once (Mecklenbräuker et al.,
1998 in Freksa et al., 1998).
Cartography embraces the absolute and relative locations of places, features and
spatial relations, summarizing the physical reality (containing the fundamental references
for interpretation, such as representation reference, orientation, scale, symbols, and legend).
Semiotics is the general theory of representation and it can be defined as a theory of signs
and signification that examines communication by means of organized signification
systems. To use maps as communication media, the components are linked by the semiotic

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code shared by the people that have generated it and the ones that use the map (Berendt et
al., 1998 in Freksa et al., 1998). An aspect map is a spatial organization structure that
represents one or more characteristics of geographic entities (properties and relations
between elements). Thus, any cartographic representation can be considered an aspect
map, even if it includes only a few aspects and which restrict interpretations (Berendt et al.,
1998 in Freksa et al., 1998). Strip maps are segments of a route (that does not need scale,
orientation or reference), considered perhaps as the simplest way for humans to represent
an itinerary internally or externally and together with sketch maps and verbal descriptions
have existed for thousands of years (Bell, 1995; MacEachren, 1986 in Golledge, 1999).
A traveller’s unfamiliar background (e.g. visiting a city for the first time) is usually
learned by navigating through the new environment. This implies that the spatial awareness
will not be seen as a whole, but as different objects or landmarks learned in a certain order.
The knowledge of a new place acquired from a map, on the other hand, allows the direct
retrieval of spatial relations between objects (without reference to the routes connecting
them). As the acquisition of data and the information itself are different in the case of route
learning or map learning, there are different sequences of learning objects in a spatial
configuration. As one travels becomes more familiar with the place and intersection points,
multiple routes may be identified (Rothkegel et al., in Freksa et al., 1998). Urban areas are
more frequently visited by individuals who are there for the first time or occasional self-
driving travellers in a strange place, guiding deliberation processes involved in making
decisions under uncertainty. In most cases, the trip has been pre-planned, and deviations
from the previously planned routes of non-recurring obstacles are very common or gaps
between the cognitive network and the faced situation, which encourages the subject to
look for strengthening cues, usually by matching elements in the mind to elements in the
environment15 (Stern & Portugali, 1999 in Golledge, 1999). Urban navigation includes a
wider level of information and cues available in the sequential process of decision making
concerning route choice (behaviour), matching internal to external information while
moving between a predefined origin and destination. To become completely lost is perhaps
a rather rare experience for most people in the modern city. Individuals are supported by
the presence of others and by special wayfinding devices: maps, street numbers, route
signs, or information placards (Lynch, 1960).

15 In other words, Landmarks.

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Lynch (1960) focuses on the image of that city which is held by its citizens,
concentrating especially on one particular visual quality: the apparent clarity or “legibility” of
the urban systems. Environmental images are the result of a two-way process between
observers and their environment, with great adaptability and in light of their own purposes,
selecting, organizing and endowing with meaning to what they perceive. An environmental
image may be analysed into three components: identity (implies its distinction from other
things, with the meaning of individuality), structure (must include the spatial or pattern
relation of the object with the observer and with other objects), and meaning (must have
some meaning for the observer, whether practical or emotional). The map (or
representation), whether accurate or not, must be good enough for navigation, being
sufficiently clear and well integrated to minimize mental effort (the map must be readable).
The relation between the physical qualities and the identity and structure attributes in the
mental image lead to the definition of what might be called imageability: that quality in a
physical object which gives it a high probability of evoking a strong image in any given
observer.
Through the individual’s perception or cognitive mapping of the spatial structure of
the urban systems, the author identified five key elements:

– Districts are “medium-to-large sections

of the city”. They are typically held
together by some commonality (the
individuals often enter or pass through
Fig. 5 – Districts.
and recognize something common and
identifiable). According to Lynch, most people use this concept to define the
broader structure of their city.

– Edges provide the boundaries that separate one region from another, the seams
that join two regions together, or the
barriers that close one region from
another. They are linear elements, but are
not the paths along witch the individual
experiences the built environment. They
Fig. 6 – Edges.

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can be physical edges such as shorelines, walls, railroad cuts, linear interruptions
in continuity, or edges of development. Edges can be less well-defined barriers
that keep regions isolated from other regions or connection fronts, where
regions communicate and meet.

– Paths consist of the “channels along

which the observer customarily,
occasionally, or potentially moves”.
These can include streets, paths, transit
routes, or any other defined path of
movement. It is important to note that Fig. 7 – Paths.

the paths an individual identifies may not correspond to a traditional street

network. These are often the most predominant items in an individual’s mental
map as this is main mechanism to experience a city.

– Nodes are strategic points within the city

in which the individual enters
(constituting often the main focal point
where the subject is traveling to/from).
They are essentially junctions (crossing or
converging paths), transport Fig. 8 – Nodes.

interruptions or changes in urban structure, serving an important physical

function (e.g. agglomeration, dispersion) and individual perception (e.g.
awareness and decision). In many cases, the nodes are the centres of the
district (e.g. plaza area) and are often a popular meeting point.

– Landmarks are also a point-reference

(similar to nodes). However, unlike
nodes, which the individual enters during
his travels, landmarks remain external
Fig. 96 – Landmarks
Landmarks.
features to the individual. They are often
distinct or evident physical structures such as a building (e.g. tower, dome,

Fig. 5 – Nodes

Luís Marques, 2017 Fig. 6 26

–
Landm
arks
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church), geographic features (e.g. mountain) or a sign. The range of landmarks

is extensive (they can be distant), but the commonality is that they are used by
the individual to better understand and navigate in that environment.

Lynch (1960) refers that none of these type-elements exists isolated from reality and
they constantly stand out and interconnect. The districts contain nodes in their structure,
which is limited by edges, crossed by pathways, and includes landmarks. Chown, 1999 (in
Golledge, 1999) indicates that landmarks are unique objects that are worth learning about,
because they are not easily confused with other elements of the environment. Landmarks
are so important for navigation and spatial cognition, that humans have developed a highly
efficient object recognition system that comprises visual pathways. Distinguishing a familiar
landmark is sufficient to make the difference between being lost and knowing where we
are.
Understanding the individual’s mental images of the urban systems and their
elements (which may change if the circumstances of observation are different), the level of
those images and their quality, and the development of inter-relations, all these contribute
to build a wider satisfactory physical environment for everyone (Lynch, 1960). According
to Golledge & Stimson (1997), if we are aware of people’s preferences, perceptions and
attitudes, better matches can be made between planning and policy making, addressing the
population’s needs (for whom plans are made). Knowing something about people’s
perceptions, preferences, and images provides fundamental information that complements
planners’ and managers’ intuitive guidelines and legal restrictions (Gärling & Golledge,
1997 in Golledge & Stimson, 1997). Modelling or remodelling should be accompanied by a
definition of a “Visual Plan” for the city or metropolitan area: embracing a set of
recommendations and controls that would be concerned with the visual scale in urban
form, illustrating the relevant public images, basic visual problems, opportunities, critical
elements of the images, interrelationships of elements with their detailed qualities and
possibilities for transformation (Lynch, 1960).
Portugali (2011) states that Lynch’s (1960) relation to cognitive mapping studies has
been neglected, focusing and forging a link to Lynch’s original study, considering the role
of external representations in the overall process of cognitive mapping. Lynch’s elements
(landmarks, paths, edges, districts, and nodes) have geometry, however what makes such

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elements is not their geometry and external appearance, but the meaning attached to them
or their semantic form. The author approached the study of the city from three
perspectives: Shannon’s information theory16 (Shannon & Weaver, 1949); Haken’s
(1988/2000) study on Information and Self-Organization17 with his notion of semantic
information18; and introduced SIRN (Synergetic Inter-Representation Networks)19, which
emphasize the role of external representations in the process of cognitive mapping.
Considering cities, the author includes, in addition to Lynch’s elements, all the buildings,
roads, parks, as well as their various configurations (piazzas, neighbourhoods or the city as
a whole), also arguing that some elements transmit more information than others and are
therefore more significant in making the city legible. In a landscape (or any set of
geographical objects) where all objects are different, it is possible to compress information
by means of categorization and indices, so such objects then become elements in Lynch’s
sense. While in social theory representation refers to external representation (e.g. society or
economy), in studies of cognitive science and mapping it refers to internal representation.
According to this view, a cognitive map of a city is an internal representation in the mind
of individuals’ experiences in the city, the information they have accumulated on it by
means of these experiences, as well as by other means. Portugali suggest between
information theory and processes of categorization in the city to issues such as systematic
distortions in cognitive mapping, spatial learning and wayfinding behaviour; the
relationship between our theorization of the face of the city and urban dynamics or the
possibility of integrating information measures into Geographical Information Systems
(GIS).
The inherent mobility of humans and the fact that objects are necessary distributed
over space may argue that the primary purpose of a cognitive map is to facilitate place
recognition and wayfinding; however, a second purpose is to act as an organizer of spatial
experiences (if not more). The configurational properties of cognitive maps can consist in
combinations of places and locations (points); routes, paths, and tracks (lines); regions and
districts (areas). Places and locations form spatial distributions; paths, tracks, and roadways

16 The relevant entities in the process are the sender, the message, the channel, and the receiver(s) or processing operations of
compressing, reliably storing and communicating data. Shannonian’s information is independent from meaning.
17 As self-organizing systems, the author refers complex urban dynamics, which makes its impact on the city as a whole unpredictable

and uncontrollable and its parts are so numerous that there is no technical way to determine causal relations between them and form a
complex network of interaction, with feed-forward and feedback loops, which makes the determination of causal relations in essence
impossible.
18 Semantic information refers to meaning and is thus dependent on the receiver.
19 As presented, it suggests that many cognitive processes and tasks evolve as an interaction between internal and external representations

that emerge in the process.

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form networks; landmarks and nodes form hierarchies. These, combined, represent the
structure of spatial knowledge (Golledge, 1999). These associations resemble the five
elements referred by Lynch organized into three categories: points (nodes and landmarks),
lines (paths, edges) and polygons (districts), especially if represented in a cartographic map.
These facts allow us to understand and develop, in computer science, new approaches
concerning simulations or representations of the real world in a digital format.

2. Digital Representations Approach

Technology plays an important role in the operationalization of the concept of

digital representations. Technological advances, especially regarding the ability to extend
(represent) the physical world and computer modelling capabilities, have led to the creation
of an increasing number of models of objects and environments (Koller et al., 2009). The
use of Digital Representations (DR) in research offers a number of advantages, especially
the ability to create detailed models of possible pasts and futures. By modelling a number
of different variables, we can test and change them to explore different hypothetical
situations. This is, of course, impossible in the real world, as circumstances on site are
unpredictable and constantly changing (Eve, 2012).
Zhang (1997, 2001) in Khatri et al., (2006:6) argues that “Most work in cognition
assumes that the mind has mental representations
analogous to computer data structures”. As in
cognitive mapping, in GIS, physical objects are
usually associated with geometry and position.
Geometry represents the shape and size of an
object, usually represented by a point, a line, or a
polygon. (David, Herrewegen & Salge, 1996 in
Khatri et al., 2006). The position in space is based
on coordinates (x, y, z) in a defined reference
system (e.g. Cartesian or Geographic). In Fig. 10 – Digital Representations.

geography, space is commonly associated with

time (Parkes & Thrift, 1996 in Khatri et al., 2006), which increases the interest in adding a
temporal dimension to geographic information (Goodchild, 1997 in Khatri et al., 2006).

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Computers allow us to conduct reproducible experiments, introduce or modify variables,

and change conditions in a way that is not possible in the physical world itself. We can add
natural or cultural features and structural changes to the topography and lighting
conditions. Once we have created our model, we can run any number of experiments with
empirical results that can be measured, compared, and recreated by the scientific
community (adapted from Eve, 2012). Thus, geographic information has the ability to add
the spatial reference to a certain part of the earth surface or nearby, in other words, to
represent the spatial environment, in a certain way digitally augmenting the real world.
According to Engel et al. (2005:182), “the construction of mental images and mental
image-based reasoning can be seen as rather extreme cases in which a plethora of analogies
between mental and external representations can be drawn”. These authors refer that these
analogies created intense discussions in the scientific community about the representational
format of the mental representations. Moreover, the introduction of metaphors has led to
an increase in knowledge in various lines of research. Metaphor and analogy are among the
challenging problems posed in the field of knowledge representation (Way, 1991). They are
so pervasive in everyday dialogue that we are rarely aware of their existence. Analogy can
be considered as mapping or isomorphism between entities and relationships of systems.
Metaphor is important in moving away from known and familiar concepts or ideas to new
and unknown ones. It is a method frequently used for assimilating new knowledge. Carroll
& Mack in Way (1991:8) claim “Metaphors can facilitate active learning in this situation by
providing clues for abductive and adductive inferences through which learners construct
procedural knowledge of the computer”. The importance of metaphor for learning justifies
the seriousness that the field of Artificial Intelligence has dedicated to the subject. Metaphor
goes far beyond the scope of single words, and does not always involve similarities between
two things (Way, 1991).
Barkowsky (2001, 2002) & Engel et al. (2005) present some metaphors and their
respective authors for spatial mental knowledge processing: Cognitive Maps (Tolman,
1948); Spatial Images (Lynch, 1960); Spatial Schemata (Lee, 1968); Environmental Images
(Appleyard, 1970); Cognitive Atlases (Kuipers, 1982; Hirtle, 1998); Cognitive Collages
(Tversky, 1993); Interrepresentation Networks (Portugali, 1996); and Geographic
Information Systems – GIS (Hirtle, 1998). Montello & Freundschuh (1995) in Barkowsky
(2002:22) present a list of “common cognitive and spatial terms that allow for a

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combination of more than 200 metaphorical notions for mental spatial knowledge
representations”. These metaphors induce theoretical approaches, helping to build models
and guiding the development of hypotheses for empirical investigations (Barkowsky, 2002).
Thus, it seems reasonable to seek the most appropriate metaphor when any of these
questions is explored. However, different metaphors reveal diverse aspects of mental
spatial knowledge representation. “None of these metaphors must be taken literally, for
example, mental knowledge about geographic spaces is found to be frequently distorted,
fragmentary, and incomplete” (Tversky, 1993:183). In addition, “mental representations of
spatial knowledge are often organized hierarchically (Stevens & Coupe, 1978) or chunked
together to form more complex structures (e.g. as visual chunks, Kosslyn & Pomerantz,
1977)”20. The mental representation of spatial environment diverges from reality,
eliminating from and/or adding entities (some of them inexistent) to the real world,
inducing distortions and artificial structures (Engel et al., 2005). Occasionally, spatial
information is associated with mental representations of non-spatial information.
Nevertheless, mental representations typically preserve the topological or semantic
relationships (Barkowsky, 2002).
As an example of one of these metaphors, Hirtle (1998) in Barkowsky (2002)
emphasizes specific technical representation and processing characteristics found in GIS
that can be applied to the explanation of mental representations of spatial knowledge.
These characteristics comprise the use of raster vs. vector-based representations in GIS,
and changes of accuracy when altering representational formats. Scale and resolution
techniques of data overlays used in GIS representations to account for partial
representations can be refined on demand, as well as the application of the problem of data
integrity in GIS to representations of spatial knowledge in the human mind. GIS can be
considered as a collection of digital maps where the term map (in GIS context) should be
taken as a metaphor for digital representations of geographic entities and/or environments
(Berendt et al, 1998 in Freksa et al. 1998). Golledge (1992) stated the common
characteristics of acquiring, storing, and processing geographic knowledge in GIS and in
the human mind. The cognitive map should be viewed as internalised GIS, where data are
symbolized, coded, and further decoded (in both systems)21.

20 In Engel et al. (2005:183).

21 In Golledge & Stimson (1997).

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Virtual Environments (VEs), as representational reproductions of the spatial

knowledge with which users can interact, are particularly valuable and frequently used in
research on wayfinding. The main advantage of using VEs in research is that they allow
easier changes than are possible in real, built environments (Skorupka in Haq et al., 2008).
In the last decade, the main objectives of urban studies (laboratories, research centres,
public and private organizations) have been focused on artificial environment issues, with
special emphasis on:
– The reliance on cognitive models as a source for agent’s behaviour and decision
making;
– The intensive use of Geographical Information Technologies (GIT);
– or Virtual Environments to visualize three dimensional urban environments
and simulate their evolution.

This emergent interest is strongly related to globalization and to the very rapid
process of urban sprawl, also associated with the tendency to growth in high axis. The
number of high-rises structures has been increasing and with them a whole complexity of
urban processes has emerged and taken place in the third dimension of buildings and urban
areas. Humans have a strong tendency to perceive the territory at two dimensions, and thus
the third dimension has been neglected when compared to the greater importance of the
first two dimensions. This 2D approach was fully justified by the need for information level
reduction. In fact, the abstraction of the information about the volume has become
problematic and questionable, considering the growing importance of the third dimension
in cities (adapted from Portugali, 2010).
The most prominent manifestation of humans’ pattern recognition capabilities
concerns visualisation, revolutionising our behaviour and way of communicating, travelling,
organizing, and even managing space (Portugali, 2010). Steadman & Yichum Xie in
Portugali (2010) define three forms and purposes of model visualization: pedagogic
visualization (explicit and explicable); exploratory visualization (which enables the individuals to
explore unanticipated outcomes); and predictive visualization (enabling users such as planners
to engage in using the models for simulation, prediction, prescription, and control).
Planning is the ability to think ahead to the future and to act ahead and Cognitive Planning
is a research domain that studies planning as a basic cognitive capability of humans

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(Portugali, 2011). Modelling is assumed to enable planners to understand patterns,

experiment upcoming scenarios, represent current trends, and envision the impact of
various plans and policies. A digital model might be a beautiful mathematical construction,
or visually realistic and still constitute an incorrect representation. The principles of model
building state that the more parameters you add, the less we can understand what the
model is actually for and why. A good simulation model should be based on as few
parameters as possible (controllable and understandable)22. Regarding modelling, GIS gives
the user the option to acquire, manage and observe different data configurations, while
Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality create Virtual Environments, within which
individuals can virtually walk, drive, fly and see the world in real, past or future time
(Virtual Time Travel) and/or even communicate, meet and work (creating new forms of
human interaction and locational settlements, thus reducing the needs for transportation,
which is represented in the virtual environment)23.
Geographic Information Technologies (GIT) and Visualization Systems
Technologies (VST) provide databases and means to perceive and understand the
outcomes in a continuously growing level of high realism: global navigation satellite
systems allow us to navigate with electronic aids and function as gateways between the
virtual and the real world as mobile gadgets recognize their position; Remote Sensing
acquires spatial information in real time or near real-time, observations, and classifications
(through systematic chronological series of data); GIS stores, processes, and manages
spatial data in the form of points, lines, and polygons, within a growing 3D software
solution; and Virtual Environments create a parallel world within which it is possible to
virtually navigate and simulate scenarios, or mixed it with the real world (in 4D). Fully
integrating GIT and VST-based simulations into the visioning process makes it possible for
agents in several domains to fundament their decisions (and understand them) at policy and
experimental levels, achieving a faster and wider consensus (adapted from Portugali, 2010).

22 Portugali (2010).
23 Adapted from Portugali (2010).

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Chapter II – Geographic Information Technologies for Digital Representations

Chapter II
Geographic Information Technologies for
Digital Representations

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Chapter II – Geographic Information Technologies for Digital Representations

Chapter II - Geographic Information Technologies for Digital

Representations

1. Satellite Navigation

According to Golledge (1999), the act of locomotion helps an entity to explore and
exploit an environment in an adaptive manner as to satisfy their needs. A traveller must be
able to “plan and perform a goal-directed act of path selection by deducing an itinerary
from the memorized spatial relationships between the goal and the traveller’s current
position”24. The individual engaged in a wayfinding task must be able to define and choose
the best alternatives according to his objective when facing unfamiliar environments. To
interact successfully in the physical environment, humans need to attend selectively to
items in the extra-personal world (external representations) and to those stored in their
mind or internal/mental representations (Griffin & Nobre, 200325).
The position in space/time is a fundamental perceptual and inerrant task for digital
representations. Perceiving the location requires information about several dimensions in
space/time and the relations between objects. The position given by coordinates x, y, z (or
latitude, longitude, and altitude) are the bases to measure, refer, identify, detect, locate and
represent information. Thus, while representations and time can answer the essential
questions “what?” and “when?” respectively, the use of coordinates as a basic and
fundamental component of spatial cognition and representations answers the question
“where?”, especially when their insertion in space is desired for both real and virtual
environments and internal/external representations.

24 Golledge (1999:xv).
25 Available at URL: http://cognitrn.psych.indiana.edu/busey/eegseminar/pdfs/FromAshley/internalrep.pdf (June, 2013).

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Satellite navigation systems have become an integral part of every positioning

request, especially where mobility plays an important role. The principal advantage of
satellite navigation is the real time positioning and time synchronization. For that reason,
location services directed to wide virtual and augmented reality systems must be
highlighted, considering the possibility of significant improvement of accuracy and integrity
performance of (mobile) on-site digital representations26. The idea that led to the
development of satellite navigation systems started with the Sputnik (Satellite in Russian)
artificial satellites program implemented by the former Soviet Union, more precisely with
the launch of Sputnik 1 on October 4, 1957. Scientists at the Applied Physics Laboratory
of Johns Hopkins University (Maryland, USA)27 were monitoring the famous beeps
transmitted by the passing satellite, when they noticed that the transmitted radio frequency
had a characteristic curve when plotted into a graph (Doppler 28). The changes in the radio
frequency as the satellite moved permitted them to determine the orbit of the satellite.
Considering this idea in reverse, if the satellite orbit was known, Doppler shift
measurements could be used to determine a certain position on Earth (Lammertsma,
2005).
Satellite-based navigation systems use triangulation to locate the user, through
calculations made using information from a number of satellites. Each satellite transmits
coded signals at precise intervals. Using this information, any receiver on or near the earth's
surface can calculate the position of the transmitting satellite and the distance (from the
transmission time delay) between the satellite and the receiver. Coordinating current signal
data from four or more satellites enables the receiver to determine the position (latitude,
longitude, and altitude).

26 In Princeton University, available at URL: http://www.princeton.edu/~alaink/Orf467F07/GNSS.pdf (June, 2013).

27 Available at URL: http://www.jhuapl.edu/newscenter/pressreleases/1998/980414.asp (June, 2013).
28 Der Doppler-Effect or Doppler Shift, first described by the Austrian physicist Christian Doppler in 1842, explains theoretically how the

relative motion of the source and the detector affects the observed frequency of light and sound waves. For example, suppose a
stationary radar source emits a signal: if the target is moving toward the radar source, the number of reflected pulses received per time
unit is correspondingly higher than the number of pulses emitted. Conversely, if the target is moving away from the source, the
frequency of the reflected signal is lower than the frequency emitted. (Lowrie, 2007 and URL:
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/169325/Christian-Doppler June, 2013).

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1.1. Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)

Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) is the generic term for space-based
systems that transmit signals, which can be used to provide three services: Position,
Navigation, and Timing – known collectively as PNT (The Royal Academy of Engineering,
2011). GNSS consist of four main (global) satellite technologies: GPS (North American),
GLONASS (Russian Federation), Galileo (Europe), and Compass (China). The free
availability and accuracy of GNSS signals, combined with the low cost receiver chipsets,
have been creating abundant solutions for a very wide and growing range of applications.
These include not only transport and mobility (in aviation, nautical, rail, road, cycle, walk),
but also telecommunications, cartography, safety, environmental, economic and scientific
surveying, monitoring, managing, and research. GNSS can be classified into different core
segments/components: Space (consists in a constellation of several satellites in certain
orbital planes); Ground/Control (uploading data to the satellites, synchronizing time, and
tracking satellites); and User (consists in receivers and associated antennas used to decode
the signal and provide PNT information). However, according to Hofmann-Wellenhoof et
al. (200829), apart from the quality or transmission, the signal may be affected by errors at
different sources and segments, such as: satellite (due to the timing of the on-board atomic
clocks, an error in the transmitted location/orbit of the satellite, and/or
geometry/shadow); atmospheric (in
particular, the ionosphere and
troposphere, which affect the signals);
receiver noise (intrinsic noise within the
receiver which causes uncertainty of the
signal); multipath (reflection of satellite
signals from the ground and other
objects, causing multiple copies of the Fig. 11 – Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS).

signal or expansion of the signal); or

intentional degradation of satellite signals (safety purposes).

29Available at URL:
http://books.google.pt/books?id=Np7y43HU_m8C&pg=PA436&dq=Sources+of+error+in+GNSS&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Y1CzUe-
INej17AbB1IDgBQ&ved=0CFcQ6AEwBQ#v=snippet&q=%20error%20GNSS&f=false (June, 2013).

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The increasing investment and recent developments in navigation systems can be

justified by several arguments (i.e. military or civilian) or the confluence of the whole,
including the importance of position for different applications involving virtual and mixed
environments and representations (2D, 3D, or 4D). Nevertheless, there are also increasing
requirements for the acquisition of tri-dimensional information as well as the fast growing
necessities of technology that relies on position systems (such as mobile system navigation,
LiDAR, and other applications and systems).

1.1.1. Global Position System (GPS)

Originally called NAVSTAR (the acronym for Navigation Satellite Timing and
Ranging), the Global Positioning System (GPS) was developed to provide navigation
capabilities, initially as a military application (by the Department of Defence). This system
consisted of a space segment of 24 satellites moving at velocities of approximately 11 300
km/h, orbiting at an approximate altitude of 20 000 km, which enables the system to circle
the globe every 12 hours. The first GPS satellites were launched into space in 1978 and the
system was completed in 1994 (officially becoming operational in 1995). The incorporation
of solar panels into the system has allowed it to capture the sun’s energy for its operation,
although, alternatively, the energy may come from a battery to keep operating. These
satellites also have small rockets embedded for the maintenance and correction of their
orbits. Each satellite sends coded radio signals that enable receivers to determine their
position (Marques, 2009). GPS is not a static system and has been updating its capacity
through several generations of equipment. In June 2011, the U.S. Air Force successfully
completed the system expansion known as the Expandable 24 configuration. From the 24
slots, three were expanded and six satellites were repositioned (the extra satellites became
part of the constellation baseline). As a result, GPS now operates effectively as a 27-slot
constellation with improved coverage in most parts of the world30.
In the 1990s decade, GPS employed a feature called Selective Availability that
degraded its accuracy for civilians on a global basis and was terminated in 2000 in order to
make GPS more responsive to civilian and commercial users worldwide. The accuracy of
the GPS signal in space is actually the same for both civilians and the military. However,

30 U.S. Government, available at URL: http://www.gps.gov/systems/gps/space/ (June, 2013).

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civil broadcasts use only one frequency, while the military uses two. This means that
military users can perform ionosphere correction, a technique that reduces radio degradation
caused by the Earth's atmosphere, providing a better accuracy31.
A GPS Augmentation32 is any system that benefits GPS by providing accuracy or
any other improvement to positioning, navigation, and timing, which is external to the GPS
itself. Some examples are: Differential GPS - widely used to improve GPS precisions,
consisting in the compensation of system errors through corrections in the position of
coordinates or other variables of interest; Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) – uses
a network of ground-based reference stations to monitor GPS satellite signals, and
geostationary satellites to transmit information to users; or European Geostationary
Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) – aiming at supplementing GPS and potentially
GLONASS and Galileo by providing integrity messages, corrections, and additional
ranging signals (The Royal Academy of Engineering, 2011).
GPS constitutes the most used and reliable navigation system worldwide. It is
presently essential to not only to locate and guide users, but also to place digital
representations.

1.1.2. GLONASS

The GLONASS (GLObalnaya NAvigatsionnaya Sputnikovaya Sistema or GLObal

NAvigation Satellite System), currently operated by the Russian government, complements
and provides an alternative to the GPS (Marques, 2009). The development of GLONASS
began in the USSR in 1976, with the full constellation completed in 1995. After the system
restoration during the 2000s, it achieved full coverage of the Russian territory in 2010 and
one year later of the entire globe. The space segment is composed of 24 satellites in three
orbital planes. These satellites operate in circular 19 100 km orbits at an inclination of
64.8º, and each satellite completes the orbit in approximately 11 hours and 15 minutes. The
location of the satellites provides continuous and global coverage of the terrestrial surface
and the near-earth space. User equipment consists of receivers and processors that collect
and process the GLONASS navigation signals, which allows the operative system to

31 U.S. Government, available at URL: http://www.gps.gov/systems/gps/performance/accuracy/ (June, 2013).

32 U.S. Government, available at URL: http://www.gps.gov/systems/augmentations/ (June, 2013).

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calculate the coordinates, velocity, and time33. These systems have started to be gradually
integrated into current devices that need spatial positioning and acquiring x, y, z
coordinates, especially as a complement to the North American GPS, both cumulatively
increasing signal and precision.

1.1.3. Galileo

The Galileo34 system of the European Union and ESA (still in development) is
intended to interoperate with GPS and GLONASS, having launched its first experimental
satellite (GIOVE-A) in 2005. The first two operational satellites from the Galileo
constellation were launched in 2011 and with the additional satellites they will form a space
segment constellation of 27 operational satellites plus 3 active spares (to ensure that the
loss of one satellite has no discernible effect on the user). This system is expected to be
fully operational by 2019 (Marques, 2009 and ESA, 201335). The Galileo constellation will
be positioned in three circular Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) planes at an altitude of 23 222
km above the Earth, and at an inclination of the orbital planes of 56º to the equator. This
system will provide coverage even at latitudes around 75º north, which corresponds
approximately to Norway's North Cape (the northernmost part of Europe).
The Galileo Control Centres will be responsible for satellite management and
perform the navigation mission’s organization, using data from the sensor stations (via a
redundant communication network), computing the integrity of the information, and
synchronising the time signal of all the satellites with the ground station clocks. As an
additional feature, these satellites are also being equipped with a transponder, which is able
to transfer distress signals from the user receivers to regional rescue co-ordination centres,
which will then initiate the rescue operation (and send a response signal to the user, for
example, informing them that their situation has been detected and that help is on the way).
This system will use the user feedback feature for the first time, which is considered a
major upgrade compared with the existing systems (ESA, 2013). Thus, Galileo intends to
be more focused on civilian usage, providing essential information for digital positioning

33 Russian Institute of Space Device Engineering, 2008 (available at URL: http://gauss.gge.unb.ca/GLONASS.ICD.pdf June, 2013).
34 In a nod to the Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei.
35 European Space Agency (ESA) website at URL: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Navigation/The_future_-

_Galileo/What_is_Galileo (June 2013).

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and contributing to the development of the acquisition and placing of digital

representations in the real world.

1.1.4. BeiDou/COMPASS

BeiDou navigation system from China consists of two separate satellite

constellations. The first is BeiDou-1 is composed of one experimental regional navigation
system (for the Asia-Pacific area). The deployment of an experimental satellite navigation
system based on the twin-satellite navigation systems started in 1994. Two satellites,
BeiDou 1A and BeiDou 1B, were launched in 2000, providing position services one year
later. The successful launch of BeiDou-1C (in 2003), intended to establish the BeiDou-1
system, has made it available to civilian users since 2004 (accuracy of 100m, enhanced up to
10m with differential methods)36. The BeiDou-2 (or Compass) is the second-generation
satellite navigation system that will be capable of providing positioning, navigation, and
timing services to users worldwide. Although the upgrade of its regional navigation system
towards a global solution started in 1997, it is expected to provide global navigation
services only by 2020. Currently under construction, it is planned to contain 5 geostationary
and 30 non-geostationary orbit satellites (27 in Medium Earth Orbit and 3 in Inclined
Geosynchronous Orbit). This system was officially announced in 2011, to provide initial
operational services (positioning, navigation, and timing services) for the whole Asia-Pacific
region with a constellation of 10 satellites. During 2012, 5 additional satellites were
launched increasing to 15 the number of satellites of the constellation37.
The ground section consists of a certain number of stations, including the main
control stations, the injection stations, and the monitoring stations. The user section
includes terminators of the BeiDou system and some compatible with other navigation
satellite system38. This program has developed quite fast, revealing the importance given by
the Chinese government to technology applied to mapping and positioning, with
substantial investments until their full operationalization.

36 ESA, available at URL: http://www.navipedia.net/index.php/Other_Regional_Systems#BeiDou-2_Phase_1 (June, 2013).

37 ESA, available at URL: http://www.navipedia.net/index.php/COMPASS_General_Introduction (June, 2013).
38 BeiDou, available at URL: http://www.beidou.gov.cn/2012/12/14/201212142e8f29c30e0d464c9b34d6828706f81a.html (June, 2013).

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1.2. Regional Navigation Systems (RNS)

Beside the GNSS, several countries have shown the intention to develop their own
Regional Navigation Systems (RNS). Examples of RNS are briefly described below.
The Chinese BeiDou 1 regional network will be developed to the global Compass
Navigation System as referred before.
The Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS) is an autonomous
regional satellite navigation system that is being developed by the Indian Space Research
Organization (ISRO). Approved in 2006, this system consisting in Space, Ground, and
User segments was completed and implemented by 2016 (with the launch of the seventh
satellite 1G). The space segment will consist of a constellation of seven navigational
satellites, three of which will be placed in the geostationary equatorial orbit; two satellites
will be placed in the geosynchronous orbit with an inclination of 29 degrees; and two spare
satellites jointly provide 7 meter-position accuracy throughout India 39.
The Japanese Quasi-zenith Satellite System (QZSS) space segment consisted
initially of one satellite and ultimately three (or more) satellites for regional time transfer
system and enhancement for GPS covering in Japan (guided to expand the positioning
service provision in mountainous and urban regions in Japan40). The satellites are in the
traditional equatorial geostationary; however, they have a large orbital inclination so they do
not remain in the equatorial plane. Several Tracking Control Stations are strategically
positioned at locations that enable continuous monitoring and control of the QZSS
(JAXA, 201341).
The investment made in positioning systems not only in the most developed
countries, but also in emerging countries, attests to the importance of relying in accurate
location and the belief in their prominence in the near future applied to military or civilian
purposes, constituting a useful tool for the acquisition and display of geographical
information for digital representations.

39 Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), available at URL: http://www.isro.gov.in/newsletters/contents/spaceindia/jan2012-

jun2012/article5.htm (June, 2013) and URL: http://www.isro.gov.in/spacecraft/list-of-navigation-satellites (May, 2017).
40 Japan Aerospace eXploration Agency (JAXA), available at URL: http://www.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/qzss/index_e.html (June, 2013).
41 Available at URL: http://qz-vision.jaxa.jp/USE/is-qzss/DOCS/IS-QZSS_15_RH_E.pdf (June, 2013).

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1.3. Cellular Networks (Assisted GNSS)

According to Hofmann-Wellenhoof et al. (2008), the concept of assisted GNSS

(AGNSS) was conceived in the early 1980s and consists in a navigation module that
interacts with a communication module (cellular networks). Depending on the availability
of these different data sets, the receiver is assisted in its operation in by one or the other.
Since communication channels usually have a much higher transmission rate than GNSS
signals, the channel of information is conducted in a shorten period of time and
consecutively consuming less time to identify and fix the user location (time needed for a
GNSS receiver between power on and providing the first position information). Thus,
Cellular Networks are essential for faster acquisition and accurate positioning of user
location and positioning digital representations, especially concerning mobility and (in
particular) devices such as smartphones (considering the communications network).

2. Remote Sensing

According to Lillesand & Kiefer (1994) in Marques (2009), Remote Sensing (RS)
can be defined as the science and art of obtaining information about an object, area, or
phenomenon through the analysis of data acquired by a sensor that is not in contact with
any of these entities being considered. Digital image processing was fundamentally initiated
in the 1960s42, with the analysis of images obtained (mainly) from airplanes or satellites.
However, it was only after the mid-1980s (with the advance of computer hardware) that
there was a significant development (Jensen, 1996; Lillesand & Kiefer, 2000 in Marques,
2009). Remote sensing uses instruments/sensors that allow us to measure the
electromagnetic radiation reflected by or emitted from the Earth's surface (Jensen, 2005 in
Marques, 2009). The registration of multiple spectral bands (some of which are outside the
visible spectrum) enable the possibility to overtake the capabilities of the human eye to
distinguish objects by their spectral signature and therefore creating an improved usage of

42Before, the term RS was used. The first photograph was taken in 1827 by Joseph Niepse. Daguerre continued Niepse’s work and in
1839 took one photograph in the top of a tall building in Paris; in 1858, Gaspard Tournachon (Nadar) captured the first aerial
photograph from a balloon over Bievre Valley (Baumann, 2001 available at URL:
http://www.oneonta.edu/faculty/baumanpr/geosat2/RS%20History%20I/RS-History-Part-1.htm July, 2013).

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the detected information (Richards, 1986, Richards & Jia, 1998; Eastman, 2001 in Marques,
2009).
Electromagnetic energy, i.e. electromagnetic radiation, constitutes the support of
RS science (Tenedório, 2008 in Marques, 200943). The electromagnetic wave has patterns
that can be acquired considering their wavelength and frequency. Usually these waves
propagate in a straight line on open space; however, in the presence of objects, the
propagation direction can be altered by reflection or diffraction (Oliveira et al., ND in
Marques, 2009). From the incident energy three types of interaction may occur: absorption,
reflection, and transmission, depending on the physical characteristics of the entity, angle
of incidence, and wavelength. Sensor systems in RS can be categorized into the following
types of resolutions (Tenedório, 2008 in Marques, 2009):

– Spectral resolution, which refers to the amount (number) and the amplitude of
the bands (wavelength range) recorded by the sensor;
– Spatial resolution, which is the sensor’s ability to distinguish objects on the
planet surface or the pixel size variation of the image (depending on the spatial
resolution);
– Radiometric resolution, defined as the sensitivity of the sensor to receive
energy, determining the number of values that can be recorded by the sensor;
– Temporal resolution, which refers to the frequency in which a sensor observes
the same point (nadir) on land or the regularity of data collection in the same
area.

The analysis of the acquired data is performed remotely using a variety of image
processing techniques44. The analysis of the acquired data seeks to detect and identify
occurrences, objects or areas, which are generally measured and used for several problem
solutions (Lillesand & Kiefer, 1994; These et al., 1983; Haack et al., 1997; Jensen, 2005 in
Marques, 2009). According to Corns and Shaw (adapted, 2010)45, digital data and
representations, collected by RS, may be applied in several domains, and constitute a
powerful tool in systematically accessing fundamental information, simultaneously

43 Translated from Portuguese.

44 Such as Assisted Classifiers, Non-Assisted Classifiers, Artificial Neural Networks or Object Oriented (Marques, 2009).
45 Available at URL: http://www.earsel.org/symposia/2010-symposium-Paris/Proceedings/EARSeL-Symposium-2010_1-01.pdf (July,

2013).

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eliminating barriers, such as institutional (regarding protectionist attitudes, and a reluctance

to share resources), semantic (different techniques and methods to describe or represent
spatial information), and geographical (regarding different strategies for accessing data
internationally and depending on information type/format, scale, quality, frequency, and
temporal needs). The increasingly larger archives of satellite imagery and the progressively
higher spatial resolution of the sensors allow RS to be applied in many different domains
and solutions. Dore et al. (2010)46 mention that RS is a non-invasive technique for
monitoring cultural heritage in remote areas and/or difficult access or dangerous areas,
constituting a great support, even where political constraints or other characteristic/event
create difficulties to the surveys in situ. Sand et al. (2010:38) state that
“management and monitoring both depend on reliable access to current information
so that the tools and methods of intervention remain pertinent to existing conditions.
However, the multitude of actors intervening on these protected areas, from local
managers to international organizations, passing through researchers and non-
governmental organizations, produce and use a wide body of disparate information.
Lack of knowledge of the information resources available can even lead to the
redundant collection of similar data causing a costly loss of efficiency”.
The authors consider the advantages of using RS for monitoring and managing cultural
heritage, more specifically applied to world heritage sites.
Using RS, agents can detect systematic variations and patterns in objects, groups of
objects, areas and occurrences, which allows them to qualify and quantify progressive
evolution rates, performing valuations and creating conditions (with other GIT tools),
collecting essential information to understand the past and present, beside modelling,
simulating and predicting the future through digital representations. Stubbs & McKee
(2007) give the example of how RS can be used as the baseline dataset in documenting and
analysing the historical and contemporary effects of human activities at cultural heritage
sites. The integrated use of RS and other Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)
allows Agents to catalogue, analyse, and manage the cultural heritage, which besides
mapping, can be applied to graphic representations of space-time data. These technologies
are currently common in cultural heritage conservation and dissemination, constituting a
great advantage for planning and management (Xiaoqian, 2010).

46 Available at URL: http://www.earsel.org/symposia/2010-symposium-Paris/Abstract-Book.pdf (July, 2013).

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2.1. Operation Mode Platforms

Platforms are the structures or vehicles on which remote sensing instruments are
mounted. There are three main categories of remote sensing platforms: Spaceborne,
Airborne and Ground-based.

2.1.1. Spaceborne platforms

The most stable RS spaceborne platforms are the satellite and the Space Shuttle47,
both orbiting the planet. The first RS satellite was launched in 1960 for meteorology
purposes growing into a nowadays constellations of multinational earth observations
programs and systems, launching every year more satellites to perform multi-tasks (NASA,
200348). The satellites can be classified by their orbital geometry and timing consisting in
three main classes of orbit (NASA49):

– High Earth Orbits, which include Geostationary50 orbits, have a period of

rotation equal to the Earth’s, remaining over the same location in the planet
(commonly used for communications and weather purposes);
– Medium Earth Orbits51, as the satellite moves the Earth rotates underneath
crossing over the same two locations on the equator. This orbit is consistent
and highly predictable (it is the orbit used by GPS satellites);
– Low Earth Orbits, where the most scientific satellites are located, constituting,
for the most part, in the world Earth Observing Systems (EOS). In nearly polar
orbit (highly inclined), the satellite circulates the planet from pole to pole 52, in

47 In its operating period, the Space Shuttle also functioned as a RS platform and be reused for several missions and purposes. The most
famous project is the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) obtained elevation data on a near-global scale to generate the most
complete high-resolution digital topographic database of Earth (North American Space Agency - NASA, available at URL:
http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/srtm/ July, 2013).
48 Available at URL: http://www.ccpo.odu.edu/~lizsmith/SEES/ (July, 2013).
49 Available at URL: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/OrbitsCatalog/page2.php (July, 2013).
50 At the altitude of 42,164 kilometers from the center of the Earth (about 36,000 kilometers from the Earth’s surface), the satellite orbits

at the same speed the Earth is turning, so the satellite seems to stay in place over a single longitude, although it may drift north to south
(geosynchronous). A satellite in a circular geosynchronous orbit directly over the equator (eccentricity and inclination at zero) will have a
geostationary orbit that does not move at all in relation to the ground. It is always directly over the same place on the Earth’s surface
(NASA, available at URL: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/OrbitsCatalog/page2.php July, 2013).
51 For example, the semi-synchronous orbit is a near-circular orbit at 26,560 kilometers from the center of the Earth (about 20,200

kilometers above the surface).

52 Taking approximately 99 minutes.

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which the Sun-Synchronous Orbit is included, which means that the satellite
crosses the equator at the same local sun time, maintaining the same relative
position from the sun for all of its orbits53 (many RS satellites are Sun
Synchronous which ensures constant sun illumination conditions during
specific seasons).

RS satellites typically maintain higher orbits ranging from 600 to 1000 km, while the
Space Shuttle used to have a low orbital altitude of 300 km. In terms of spatial resolution,
the satellite imaging systems can be classified as (CRISP, 201354): Low resolution (approx. 1
km or more); Medium resolution (approx. 100 m to 1 km); High resolution (approx. 5 m to
100 m); Very high resolution (approx. 5 m or less). The data retrieved for RS satellites can
include Photographic systems, Electro-Optical Sensors, Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)
imaging, or LiDAR systems. The Optical/thermal imaging systems can be classified
according to the number of spectral bands used (CRISP, 2013): Monospectral or
panchromatic (single wavelength band, "black-and-white", grey-scale image); Multispectral
(several spectral bands); Superspectral (tens of spectral bands); Hyperspectral (hundreds of
spectral bands). The information collected by spaceborne satellites currently constitutes the
most notable development in the systematic representation of several aspects of the planet,
especially at a global level.

2.1.2. Aerial

2.1.2.1. Airborne Manned Vehicles

In airborne RS, downward or sideward looking sensors are mounted on an aircraft

in order to obtain images of the Earth’s surface. When compared to spaceborne RS,
airborne RS offers the capability to gather very high-resolution spatial images albeit with
the disadvantage of a small coverage area and high costs per unit area of ground covered
(especially for large areas and using a common manned aircraft). Airborne RS missions are

53 However, because a Sun Synchronous orbit passes nearly over the Poles and not directly, it is not always possible to acquire data for
the extreme Polar Regions.
54 Centre for Remote Imaging, Sensing and Processing, available at URL: http://www.crisp.nus.edu.sg/ July, 2013).

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often carried out as one-time operations, whereas Earth observation satellites offer the
possibility of continuous monitoring of the Earth (Adapted from CRISP, 2013).

2.1.2.2. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle refers to a class of aircrafts that can fly without the
presence of a pilot (on-board), often controlled at a Ground Control Station or directly
from the ground beneath. However, there are other expressions adopted to indicate these
types of vehicles, such as Drone, Remotely Piloted Vehicle (RPV), Remotely Operated
Aircraft (ROA), and Unmanned Vehicle System (UVS).
The development of UAVs started in the 1950s (during the Cold War) for military
purposes in many different countries, when different projects were started with the goal of
producing vehicles that were able to carry out missions without an on-board pilot (with
evident multiple advantages). The success in the military field (where the market for UAVs
has been rapidly growing) has offered valid stimuli for the development of these systems
for civilian applications. Nowadays, UAV-systems are quickly increasing in
55
photogrammetric applications (including LiDAR systems, in Lin, 2011 ), considering the
reduction of costs, especially due to the development of navigation systems and other
geographic information technologies. Based on low-cost platforms, it is subsequently
possible to set up affordable projects for civilian usage (Bendea et al., 200756). Also due to
its widespread use in civilian and commercial applications, it is fundamental to develop
guidelines and regulations that allow aeronautic authorities to include UAVs in the civilian
airspace (Doherty & Rudol, 200757).
For both military and civilian applications, there is a desire to develop more
sophisticated UAV platforms where the emphasis is placed on the development of
intelligent capabilities to interact with human operators and additional robotic or other
UAV platforms. The emerging area of Intelligent UAV research has shown rapid
development in recent years and offers a great number of research challenges for Artificial

55 Available at URL:
http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/login.jsp?tp=&arnumber=5624563&url=http%3A%2F%2Fieeexplore.ieee.org%2Fxpls%2Fabs_all.jsp%3
Farnumber%3D5624563 (July, 2013).
56 Available at URL: http://www.researchgate.net/publication/228372201_Mapping_of_archaeological_areas_using_a_low-

cost_UAV_the_Augusta_Bagiennorum_Test_site/file/9fcfd510f703c855e5.pdf (July, 2013).

57 Available at URL: http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-540-76928-6_1# (July, 2013).

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Intelligence (AI) and knowledge representation (Doherty, 200458). The development of

integrated hardware/software has been supporting fully autonomous UAV missions
(especially regarding UAV’s independent flight from one waypoint to another, rounding or
covering an area). It’s deployment in applications, such as monitoring and surveillance (e.g.
security, emergency assistance, traffic, environmental issues), photogrammetry and
geospatial data acquisition has been growing in interest. Presently, UAV can support the
survey of multispectral 3D geographic information in real-time (or catalogue information,
both on demand) through on-line distribution to the user’s multi-device application (e.g.
desktop/laptop computers, tablets, or smartphones).
There are obvious advantages in conventional airborne remote sensing and the very
high-resolution satellite imagery. However, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) data survey
introduces a flexible, low-cost and rapid response alternative to other traditional methods
such as ground acquisitions and manned vehicles, producing large-scale topography,
imagery or detailed 3D models as the main or complementary solution. The rapid and high
frequency of data acquisition, and the spread of low-cost platforms combined with SLR59
cameras and GNSS systems (e.g. GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou for navigation, point cloud
coordinates, and possibly geopositioning) constitute some of the main reasons for the
success of this technology60 (Nex and Remondino, 2013).

2.1.3. Terrestrial or Ground-Based Platforms

Wide varieties of ground-based platforms are used in remote sensing. Some of the
most common ones are handheld devices, tripods, towers, and cranes. Permanent ground
platforms are typically used to monitor real world occurrences and long-term terrestrial
features. Towers and cranes are often used to support research projects where a reasonably
stable long-term platform is necessary. Towers can be built on site and can be tall enough
to project through a forest or urban cover so that a range of measurements can be taken
from the floor level, through and above the coverage (CRISP, 2013). Field instruments are
also largely used for research purposes, often hand-held or mounted on a tripod or other

58 Available at URL: http://www.aaai.org/Papers/KR/2004/KR04-076.pdf (July, 2013).

59 Single-Lens Reflex camera.
60 Example of that is the amazing growth (e.g. sales, offices, employees) of DJI Systems (drones and software: Apps) and their successful

partnership with Apple in using their iPhone and iPad devices. Available at URL: http://www.dji.com/company (May, 2017).

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similar support (NASA, 200361). Ground-based platforms can also be classified according
to their operational range (Muriuki et al., 2009)62:

– Long range systems, can measure at distances of up to 1km and are frequently
used in open-pit mining and topographic survey applications.
– Medium range systems, operate at 150-250m, also achieving millimetre
accuracies in high definition surveying in 3D modelling applications (e.g. large
structures and buildings monitoring);
– Short range systems, operate at 50-100m with panoramic scanning and are
often used to map building interiors or small objects;

2.2. Sensors Systems Technology

Simultaneous coverage by different sensors beneficiates multiple applications,

considering more than one sensing system mounted on a single platform. In addition to
sensor systems, there are often devices for recording, pre-processing, and transmitting the
data. The Space-Aerial-Ground platforms associated with the sensors systems technology,
constitute the fundamental infrastructure of tools to acquire vital digital spatial data and
representations at two and three dimensions in several periods of time (4D).
The advances on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) regarding
the dissemination and access to information and the “process of democratization” of RS
information have been affecting how people perceive the planet at different levels and
different domains (such as research, technical-scientific, socio-economic, or political-
administrative) regarding various issues related with the people’s needs and concerns (such
as basic everyday weather forecasts or essential support tools for environment and cultural
heritage knowledge, monitoring, and modelling). Nowadays, most humans can have access
to fundamental information such as Earth’s imagery and data (2/3/4 D) collected by RS,
available for example through geo-browsers or virtual globes63 (such as Google Earth,
Yahoo Maps, or Bing Maps), connected via the Internet. Considering both passive and

61 Available at URL: http://www.ccpo.odu.edu/~lizsmith/SEES/veget/class/Chap_5/5_3.htm (July, 2013).

62 Available at URL: http://meteorology.uonbi.ac.ke/sites/default/files/cbps/sps/meteorology/space_platforms.pdf (July, 2013).
63 Mostly without costs for the software acquisition of basic available versions.

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active sensors, there is an enormous potential growth for multiple solutions in these
multiple Domains, applied to multiple Agents in the territory. Regarding the capability of
monitoring cultural heritage, concerning landscapes, sites, urban settlements and
monuments, RS can be a fundamental tool for acquiring and representing essential
information. The numerous assignments, research projects, events, and entities that
associate the cultural heritage to RS can be referred as examples of that.

2.2.1. Passive Sensors

Passive sensors measure light reflected or emitted naturally from surfaces and
objects. Such instruments merely observe, and depend primarily on solar energy as the
ultimate radiation source, illuminating surfaces and objects (NASA, 2003). They do not
emit their own radiation, but receive natural light and thermal radiation from the Earth's
surface. Most passive sensors make use of a scanner for imaging (such as LANDSAT).
Equipped with spectrometers, these measure signals on several spectral bands
simultaneously, resulting in the so-called multispectral images, which allow for numerous
interpretations (Albertz, 2007; Löffler et al., 2005 in SEOS, 200964). Built only to receive
energy, passive sensor systems are generally simpler in design.
A major limitation of the passive systems is that they mostly require sunlight in
order to acquire valid and useful data. Consequently, deployment of or data acquisition by
passive sensors is very
dependent on light (period of
day or year/season and
latitude) and weather
conditions, considering that
the atmosphere (e.g. clouds) VISIBLE
VISIBLESPECTRUM
SPECTRUM(Humans)
(Humans)
can interfere with the path of
solar radiation from the sun to
Fig. 12 – Electromagnetic spectrum
the Earth’s surface and then to
the sensor. The signals detected by passive sensors can be greatly altered, especially in the

64Science Education through Earth Observation (SEOS), available at URL: http://www.seos-

project.eu/modules/remotesensing/remotesensing-c00-p02.html (July, 2013).

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shorter wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum. These effects can be minimized (but
not eliminated) by collecting data only under very clear and dry atmospheric conditions.
There are several atmospheric correction routines to remove these effects from data
acquired by passive sensors (NASA, 2003).
The most common sensor system is the photographic camera and its basic element
systems, consisting fundamentally in optics65, film66/CCD67, and filters68. Cameras can be
used on nearly every platform (Space, Aerial and Ground-based) and consist in one of the
most common practices of (re)presenting the real world. In most aerial photographs, the
coverage depends on several factors, including optic (lens), platform altitude, and format.
At high altitudes, a camera will register a larger area on the ground than at lower altitudes,
but with reduced detail. Usually, these photographs are classified as either oblique or
vertical, depending on the orientation of the camera in relation to the ground during
acquisition. Oblique aerial photographs are taken with the camera pointed to the side of the
aircraft and because of distortions in scale from foreground to background, they are not
widely used for mapping although they can be applied to measurements of distance, area,
and elevation. Vertical photographs limit geometric distortion and therefore they are the
most common elements of aerial photography for RS and mapping purposes. Another
characteristic is the possibility of overlapping the photograph thus facilitating stereoscopic
observation to see a three-dimensional view of the area (NRC69).
Electro-optic radiometers are similar in design to a camera in that they have an
opening for the light to enter, lenses and mirrors for the light to pass through, recording
the intensity of electromagnetic energy. As energy hits the detector, a signal proportional to
the incoming irradiance is processed to either a digital or an analogue output that can be

65 Optics refers to lenses and the geometry of light retrieval in a camera. The lenses in a camera are responsible for focusing and
zooming.
66 Photographic films are sensitive to light from 0.3 μm to 0.9 μm in wavelength covering the ultraviolet (UV), visible, and near-infrared

(NIR)spectrums. Panchromatic films are sensitive to the UV and the visible portions of the spectrum, producing black and white images.
Colour and false colour (or colour infrared, CIR) photography involves the use of a three layer film with each layer sensitive to different
ranges of light (Natural Resources Canada – NRC, available at URL: http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/earth-sciences/geography-
boundary/remote-sensing/fundamentals/1815 July, 2013).
67 Instead of using film in digital cameras, Charge-Coupled Devices (CCD) respond individually to electromagnetic radiation. Energy

reaching the surface of the CCDs causes the generation of an electronic charge, in which based on magnitude, a digital number for each
spectral band is assigned to each pixel. The digital format of the output image is amenable to digital analysis and archiving in a computer
environment, as well as output as a hardcopy product similar to regular photos. Digital cameras also provide quicker turnaround for
acquisition and retrieval of data and allow greater control of the spectral resolution (Natural Resources Canada – NRC, available at URL:
http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/earth-sciences/geography-boundary/remote-sensing/fundamentals/1815 July, 2013).
68 In many remote sensing applications the use of filters can be applied to restrict the light entering the camera, working by absorbing a

range of wavelengths while allowing others to pass through, or instead altering the spectral composition of light, reducing the amount of
light of all wavelengths that pass through (Natural Resources Canada – NRC, available at URL: http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/earth-
sciences/geography-boundary/remote-sensing/fundamentals/1815 July, 2013).
69 Natural Resources Canada – NRC, available at URL: http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/earth-sciences/geography-boundary/remote-

sensing/fundamentals/1815 (July, 2013).

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recorded. The radiometer measures the intensity of electromagnetic radiation in a set of

wavebands ranging not only from the visible bands of the electromagnetic spectrum, but
also to the ultraviolet and microwave wavelengths, overcoming the natural human
capability to visualize and (re)present the world (e.g. the use of thermal or infra-red images
for multiple proposes).
Researchers have recently turned to digital representations based on local features
that can be reliably identified and detected, being also invariant to the transformations
likely to occur across images, such as geometric or radiometric transformations. Comparing
images in order to obtain a measure of their similarity or Image Matching (IM) and feature-
based matching are important digital methods with a variety of applications, such as
content-based image retrieval, object and scene recognition, texture classification, and
video data mining. Recognizing similar objects and scenes within a database of images
remains challenging due to viewpoint or deformations, lighting, colour and partial
occlusions that may exist. Global image statistics such as colour histograms or responses to
filter banks have limited utility in these real-world scenarios, and often cannot give
adequate descriptions of an image’s local structures and discriminating features (Grauman
& Darrel, 2005)70. Forstner (1986)71 refers that the Feature Based Matching (FBM)
procedures consists in three major steps:

– Selecting distinct points in the images separately (through Distinctness,

Invariance, Stability, Seldomness, and Interpretability);
– Building up a preliminary list of candidate pairs of corresponding points
assuming similarity measure (Through Invariance, Seldomness, Heuristics,
Metric);
– Deriving the final list of consistent point pairs.

IM is a key component in almost any image analysis process, and is crucial to a wide
range of applications (e.g. navigation, guidance, automatic surveillance, robot vision, and
mapping sciences)72. Regarding the real and virtual environment interchanges, IM can

70 Available at URL: http://www.cs.utexas.edu/~grauman/papers/grauman_darrell_cvpr2005.pdf (July, 2013).

71 Available at URL: http://www.ipb.uni-bonn.de/uploads/tx_ikgpublication/foerstner86.feature_gesamt.pdf (July, 2013).
72 Gruen, 1985 available at URL: http://www.idb.arch.ethz.ch/files/alsm_awgruen.pdf (July, 2013).

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contribute to recognize the characteristic features from the real world and match them with
the synthetic (virtual) world73, creating opportunities for an enhanced mixed environment.

2.2.2. Active Sensors

Active systems supply their own light energy, which can be controlled. Some
advantages that active systems have over passive sensors are that they do not require solar
illumination of surfaces or perfect weather conditions to collect useful data. Consequently,
they can be employed at night or in conditions of haze, clouds, or light rain (depending on
the wavelength of the system)74. There are two main types of active sensors, RaDAR and
LiDAR systems.
RaDAR (Radio Detection And Ranging) systems use microwave wavelengths
(ranging from 1 millimetre to 1 meter). Microwave pulses are transmitted to a target or
surface, and the timing and intensity of the return signal is recorded. Factors determining
the strength of a radar return signal are complex and varied, however the most important
are geometric and electrical properties of the surface or object that reflects the signal.
Information about the structure and composition of objects and surfaces can be detected
with radar. Radar has been used in a number of fields, including military, meteorology,
oceanography, geology, and cultural heritage, especially in archaeological studies for the
visualization of underground ruins (adapted from NASA, 2003).
LiDAR (Light Detecting And Ranging) systems use laser light as an illumination
source. A short pulse of light is emitted from a laser and a detector receives the light energy
(photons) after it has been reflected, or absorbed and remitted by an object or surface.
LiDAR systems emit pulses at specific, narrow wavelengths that depend on the type of
laser transmitter used. The possible wavelengths range from about 0.3 to 1.5 micrometres,
which covers the ultraviolet through near-infrared spectral range. The simplest LiDAR
system measure the round trip travel time of a laser pulse, which is directly related to the
distance between the sensor and the target. Basic distance measuring LiDAR are often
referred to as rangefinders or laser altimeters if deployed on an aircraft or spacecraft. These
systems typically measure elevation, slope, and roughness of land, ice, or water surfaces

73 Modelled.
74 NASA (2003).

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(NASA, 2003). However, multiple assignments of LiDAR technology are being applied to
collect three dimensional point clouds of cities and buildings.
According to Heritage et al., (2009:x) “never has our need to understand the
physical world been greater, and we are beholden to use the best technologies to help us in
our research”, referring especially to LiDAR technology. Capturing real-world properties in
digital computing produces spectacular and faithful results, constituting perhaps the most
important and successful representation of the
physical environment (Roussou & Drettakis,
2003). The principle advantages of laser
scanning are the provision of precise x, y, z and
the high level of automation (Heritage et al.,
2009), increasing data acquisition in a short
period of time, and avoiding the common
mistakes generated by traditional surveying Fig. 13 – Laser Scan of Lloret de Mar containing 46,3
million points (X,Y,Z,i,R,G,B), using RIEGL LMS
(Castillo & Almirall, 2006). In this sense, Z420i. Source: Marambio et al. 2011 (7VTC – Lisbon,
Portugal).
LiDAR systems have established a new era in
terms of the three-dimensional (Gambino et al., 2005) to register, measure, and model, even
if the application of this technology in architectural survey does not replace the widely
accepted methods to register architectural heritage (Castillo & Almirall, 2006). Paraizo
(2004) recognize the necessity to consider the proper scale for each survey regarding the
difficulty for ordinary computers to manipulate models with some complexity versus the
level of detail. Fuentes et al. (2007) present the results of several experiments performed
using 3D Laser Scanning to assisting in restoration efforts and to evaluate damage in
cultural heritage, stating that
“The recent incorporation of laser devices provides advanced tools for assisting the
conservation and restoration of Cultural Heritage. It is necessary to have as complete
as possible understanding of the object state before evaluating or defining the reach of
the restoration process. Thus, a special effort is devoted to surveying, measuring and
generating a high-resolution 3D model prior to restoration planning”75.
The authors Mateus & Ferreira (2013) refer that they recognize 3D digitalization as a merge
of Laser Scanning and Digital Photogrammetry, often linked to architectural (and
archaeological) heritage documentation.

75 Fuentes et al. (2007:65).

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Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI) is a digital acquisition process that

captures a set of images of a subject from a single view under varying lighting conditions.
This kind of technology has significant potential in the Cultural Heritage field. The
characteristics of the material, reflectance behaviour, and texture offer major perceptual
and cognitive hints for the study of these kinds of objects. Digital models encoding only
3D shapes are not able to capture every noteworthy and interesting aspect of the artwork.
In many cases, the ability to interactively play with the light is often more useful than the
manipulation of an accurately sampled 3D shape. Moreover, there is a wide difference in
terms of cost and precision that can be achieved with current RTI technologies compared
to 3D scanning techniques: RTI techniques use inexpensive and widely available hardware
(in many cases, just a digital camera and light (Mudge et al., 2006 in Palma, 2010)); scale well
to both large (Dellepiane et al., 2006 in Palma, 2010) and very small objects (Mudge et al.,
2005 in Palma, 2010); and are able to easily achieve a sampling density and a precision that
most current 3D scanners are unable to reach, even under optimal acquisition conditions.
For those reasons, RTI techniques are widely used in the Cultural Heritage field for
documentation tools (Mudge et al., 2008; Padfield et al., 2005 in Palma, 2010) and to
support detailed visual analysis (Freeth et al., 2006 in Palma, 2010). While there is an
increasing interest in RTI technologies, the study of advanced visual analysis methodologies
for this kind of data is in its infancy, since few enhancement techniques have been
proposed (Palma, 2010).
Cultural heritage is increasingly associated with imaging systems such as
multispectral cameras and 3D scanners76. Though these acquisition systems are often used
independently, collecting complementary information (spectral vs. spatial) used to study,
archive, and visualize cultural heritage. Recording 3D and multispectral data in a single
coordinate system enhances the potential insights in data analysis. Cultural heritage is a
favourite application of the image processing and computer graphics community (Chane,
2013).

76Not only using Remote Sensing sensors, but also terrestrial laser scanners with different resolutions are increasingly used in the field of
cultural heritage, such as: Faro Focus systems, Leica geosystems, Konica Minolta Range7, Riegl systems or Trimble.

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Chapter II – Geographic Information Technologies for Digital Representations

3. Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

The development of Geographic Information System

(GIS) started in the mid-1960s and in the past years it has
produced a vast collection of data models and structures. GIS
science deal with the accurate processing of map contents,
thinking about the process of representing and characterizing
the world. Discovering methods to represent the infinite
complexity of the real geographic environments, in the limited
Fig. 14 – GIS (georeferenced
space and binary language of a computing system, is perhaps layers and associated Data Bases).

the greatest challenge that GIS research faces. Thus, the core of
a GIS is a system of representation in which features of the real world are coded in the
binary alphabet of the digital computer, including three aspects of real world features: their
locations on the Earth’s surface (using coordinates); their attributes; and relationships of
importance between them (Goodchild, 2010).
GIS have been gathering massive interest worldwide. Their recent and fast
development, commercial orientation and diversity of applications have made it difficult to
produce a clear and unambiguous definition (Maguire,
199177). Although different definitions of geographic
information and GIS can be found in the literature, they
mostly focus on the concept of georeferencing78.
However, in the many proposed definitions79, some
authors believe that the core components of GIS are
software, hardware, liveware, and data. Other authors
argue that the most relevant features in GIS are
information processing and applications (adapted from Fig. 15 – 3D modelling at urban scale,
typology representation and alphanumeric
Maguire, 199180). According to Longley et al., (1999, data access. Lisbon, 2007. Image by the
author.
2010) in Goodchild (2012:1)81, GIS “can be defined as a

77 Available at URL: http://www.journalism.wisc.edu/~gdowney/courses/lis-gis/PDF/Maguire%20D%201991.pdf (June, 2013).

78 The term Georeferencing means the process of connecting a dataset with spatial reference information (coordinates) in Neumann,
2005, available at URL:
http://geodata.ethz.ch/geovite/tutorials/L3GeodataAndSpatialRelation/en/text/L3GeodataAndSpatialRelation.pdf (June, 2013).
79 Introduced and discussed by Maguire, 1991.
80 Available at URL: http://www.journalism.wisc.edu/~gdowney/courses/lis-gis/PDF/Maguire%20D%201991.pdf (June, 2013).
81 Available at URL: http://www.geog.ucsb.edu/~good/Goodchild-CV.html or URL:

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computer application capable of performing virtually any conceivable operation on

geographic information82, from acquisition and compilation through visualization, query,
and analysis to modelling, sharing, and archiving”. Other authors define GIS as designed to
capture, store, manipulate, analyse, manage, and present all types of geographically
referenced data, built in a computer-based digital system (Foote & Lynch 2000; Burrough
& McDonnell 1998; Bernhardsen 2008 in Schatz et al., 2013)83.
Conventional GIS employ two-dimensional (2D) digital maps as a user interface to
display geographic information. Layers of data are usually built on a digital map to establish
links between geographic information from various sources. To construct a digital map,
many methods have been developed (Lin, 2008). The integration of the processes with
geospatial technologies, mainly GIS, has already shown that it can simplify procedures in
multiple ways. Many authors have demonstrated the importance of using conventional
two-dimensional (2D) GIS technologies applied to urban scenarios, understanding the
territory by visualising and analysing fundamental geospatial data and then contributing to
decision-making processes (Hanzl 2007, Batty 1998 in St-Aubin et al., 2010). Hamilton et
al., 2001 (in Zhang, 2004) also argued that interpreting 2D plans to form mental pictures of
physical entities, like buildings, is a skill that has to be learnt. Yu et al. (2012) refer that
traditional 2D GIS analysis has been an excellent tool for planners (Chapin 2003; Ramsey
2009; Riveira & Maseda 2006; Riveira, Maseda & Barros 2008 in Yu et al., 201284).
However, traditional 2D GIS mapping is not able to meet the visualization needs of
various agents, especially for citizens who are non-experts (Yu et al., 2012). Zhang (2004)
showed in his research85 that 2D maps might not be as good as tree-dimensional (3D)
virtual models to present detailed information on a small area. Technological developments
in 3D visualization allow the generation of a 3D virtual world from the GIS dataset, which
improves communication between technicians, the general public, and decision makers (Yu
et al., 2012). 3D representation increases the engagement of the user and it becomes easier
to understand and interact, considering its similarity with reality (Zhang, 2004). 3D

http://www.geog.ucsb.edu/~good/papers/515.pdf (June, 2013).

82 Geographic Information is defined as information linking locations on or near the Earth’s surface to the properties, characteristics, and

phenomena found at those locations (Goodchild, 2012). Eighty-five per cent or more of all information could be regarded as geographic
data because it can be spatially referenced (Stillwell et al., 1999).
83 Available at URL: http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-642-37030-4_2#page-1 (June, 2013).
84Available at URL: http://www.questia.com/library/1G1-303450150/a-hybrid-system-of-expanding-2d-gis-into-3d-space#articleDetails

(June, 2013).
85 PhD thesis (School of Construction and Property Management, University of Salford, UK) that presents a theoretical framework based

on the Learning System Theory, integrating GIS, Virtual Reality, and Internet technologies thus facilitating participation in the planning
activity. This work was based on a local urban renovation project in Salford, UK.

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visualization is currently used in many applications; nevertheless it is still separated from

2D GIS. While 2D GIS is applied to data management and analysis, 3D visualization is
only used to present the results. Several common analytic functions in 2D GIS are still
unavailable in 3D visualization. Thus, a true 3D GIS besides providing realistic
representations should enable other GIS capabilities (Yu et al., 2012).
GIS are growing to involve higher real-time assessment and will need new kinds of
functions and tools to interoperate and manage information while it is continually
changing, shifting from processes of analysing static data to a futuristic dynamic process of
real-time monitoring and decision making, having several relevant applications. Examples
of this predisposition of GIS might be the use of GNSS fed by sensors to show traffic in
the road system on a computer (or on a smartphone, tablet, goggles, or projected hologram
device) in real time; aircraft traffic information shown to the air-traffic controller; disaster
response in real time, or monitoring the state of a disease event in real time (Goodchild,
201186). According to Yang et al. (2011)87 the challenges in GIS are related with the intensity
of information, datasets, concurrent access, and computing and spatiotemporal issues.
These challenges require the readiness of a computing infrastructure that can support
research, access and use of information and data processing so as to relieve technicians and
researchers of ICT tasks to focus on technical-scientific achievements, providing real-time
resources to enable in-time responses and applications, offering more reliable and scalable
services for massive numbers of users, and contributing to public knowledge. This demand
for geospatial implementation of standards and interoperability is shifting GIS from
traditional client-server architecture to web service architecture. In the web service
infrastructure, there are diverse capabilities including not only sharing data, but also geo-
processing functionalities that can be enclosed in interoperable web services (Anderson &
Moreno 2003 in Zhang & Li, 200588). The Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC89) plays an
important role in terms of geographic information web services (via the Internet). OGC
web services provide a neutral interoperable agenda for web-based requests, research,
access, integration, analysis and visualization of multiple online geospatial data sources.

86 ESRI website, available at URL: http://www.esri.com/news/arcwatch/0211/future-of-gis.html (June, 2013).

87 Available at URL: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/17538947.2011.587547 (June, 2013).
88 Available at URL: http://www.cp-idea.org/documentos/tecnologia/8_zhang.pdf (June, 2013).
89 The OGC is an international industry consortium of several companies, government agencies and universities participating in a

consensus process to develop publicly available interface standards. OGC standards support interoperable solutions that geo-enable the
web, wireless and location-based services and mainstream information technology. These standards empower technology developers to
make complex spatial information and services accessible and useful for all kinds of applications (Available at URL:
http://www.opengeospatial.org/ogc June, 2013).

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Examples of OGC Web Service standards90 include Web Map Services (WMS), Web
Feature Services (WFS), Web Coverage Service (WCS), and Catalogue Service (CS). These
services not only allow to exchange relevant information that is constantly updated (with
direct access from producer to user), but also eliminate time-consuming tasks in terms of
data translation, while simultaneously reducing physical allocation, integration
requirements, and avoiding numerous static datasets catalogues and their associated costs
(adapted from Zhang & Li, 2005). The emergence of Spatial Cloud Computing91 provides a
potential solution with a flexible, on-demand computing platform, integrating systems,
parameters, simulations, analytical visualizations and decision support, simultaneously
providing social impact and user feedback (Yang et al., 2011).
Advances in computer graphics hardware, software, algorithms, visualization, and
interactive techniques for analysis offer the components for a highly integrated, efficient
real-time 3D GIS. By connecting these capabilities, users are able to develop Virtual GIS,
with truly immersive ability for digital representations, interacting, and understanding the
complex and dynamic world (adapted from Koller, 1995)92.

90 According to OGC in Zhang (2006), WFS is an OpenGIS implementation specification that allows a client to retrieve, query, and
manipulate feature-level geospatial data encoded in Geography Markup Language (GML - XML grammar defined by the OGC to
express geographical features) from multiple sources. The OGC WMS specification is capable of creating and displaying maps that come
simultaneously from multiple heterogeneous sources in a standard image format. WCS provides access to potentially detailed and rich
sets of geospatial information, in forms that are useful for client-side rendering multi-valued coverage, and input into scientific models
and other clients. CS provides catalogues for OGC web services and supports the ability to publish and search collections of descriptive
information (metadata) for data, services, and related information objects.
91 SCC refers to the paradigm that is driven by geospatial sciences, and optimized by spatiotemporal principles to enable geospatial

science and cloud computing within a computing environment (Yang et al., 2011).
92 Available at URL: http://smartech.gatech.edu/bitstream/1853/3559/1/95-14.pdf (June, 2013).

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Chapter III – Virtual Environments, Networks and Cultural Heritage

Chapter III
Virtual Environments, Networks and
Cultural Heritage

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Chapter III – Virtual Environments, Networks and Cultural Heritage

Chapter III - Virtual Environments, Networks and Cultural

Heritage

1. Virtual Environment

Representations can transmit the idea of a presence or sense that is there to be

embodied, which corresponds to the notion of meaning; above and beyond different signs
or signifiers there is a sense of ideal content (Colebrook in Pløger, 2010). Presence can be
defined as a psychological state in which virtual objects are experienced as actual objects in
either sensory or non-sensory ways; it is the extent to which humans feel being in the
intermediary environment rather than in the immediate physical world (Steuer, 1992 in
Ch’ng, 2009); a state of consciousness, the (psychological) sense of being in the Virtual
Environment (VE)93.
According to the Chicago University Glossary94, “the word virtual derives from the
Latin virtus, which means strength”. The Oxford English Dictionary, besides other
definitions, refers the most “common usage of the word, is ‘a virtual (as opposed to an
actual) thing, capacity, etc.; a potentiality.’ but in such a way as to be as effective in terms of
representation as the actual thing”95. In other dictionaries, the term virtual means usually
the loss of the materiality of objects. With the widespread of media technology, the
emphasis on television as the main system of circulation of images and world
representations has introduced an ontological confusion in terms of the image that is not
present. For Baudrillard in Goorich (2002)96,
“the virtual does not indicate a difference across orders, but indeed the complete
collapse of orders, so that the real and the virtual become indistinguishable (on an

93 Slater & Wilbur in Ch’ng (2009).

94 Available at URL: http://lucian.uchicago.edu/blogs/mediatheory/keywords/virtuality (November, 2011).
95 Available at URL: http://csmt.uchicago.edu/glossary2004/virtuality.htm (December 2011).
96 Available at URL: http://csmt.uchicago.edu/glossary2004/virtuality.htm (February, 2016).

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ontological level) […] what once was designated as virtual is now more present than
reality itself (or reality is so imbricated with these images that the difference becomes
moot)”.
The author gives the example of building replicas of an environment97 while protecting the
original, sealed from the public contact (the public can access the replica in a place nearby).
A computer-generated or a computer-synthesized VE dimension is one in which a
plurality of human participants, appropriately interfaced, may engage and operate simulated
physical elements in the environment, and interact
with representations of other individuals in past,
present or fictional beings, giving the user a strong
sense of presence (Nugnet, 1991; Warburton 2009 in
Mallan et al., 2010). Through technology, humans
have the ability to present or represent VE, which can
exist (i.e., be real), sometimes in a way that goes Fig. 16 – Virtual synthetized world. Image
98 captured in the Kraftwerk concert 2016.
beyond reality itself: e.g., social networks , where the
virtual relations or digital representation between people and/or entities/agents can reach a
vast number of individuals, stakeholders (in different domains) or the society as a whole
(regardless of their physical location on Earth99) in a continuous structure system (real-time
based). VE does not replace the real world, but in some aspects it can be an alternative
since it is (re-)present. Nowadays, VE are contributing to (re)shape anthropological
relations and organizational systems in the planet100, mostly through mobility (and physical
allocation of people and data)101. In some cases, this has shortened distances (up to no
distance at all) and has been able to be (re-)presented in multiple VE at the same time. The
ultimate representational system would allow the observer to interact naturally with objects
and other individuals within a simulated environment, as an experience indistinguishable
from reality. Although, such a representational system might conceivably use direct brain
stimulation in the future, it will more likely use digitally controlled outputs that stimulate
the human senses (Loomis et al., 1999).

97 More precisely the Caves at Lascaux in southwestern France (which contain its Paleolithic cave paintings, estimated to be around
17300 years old).
98 Or other technological means, such as Chat Rooms, Skype or the Internet itself.
99 If reached by these technological networks, such as the Internet, considering that not every area in the world is covered, even if there

have been recent developments to solve this issue. A good example is Google’s project called Loon (filled balloons carry antennas,
computers, batteries and navigational equipment, collecting power from solar panels that dangle below. Each can provide internet
coverage over an area of 1200 km2. The first test from this project was realized with success in June 15, 2013 in New Zealand).
100 And outside the planet in digital representations for example of the Moon or Mars (e.g. Google Moon or Google Mars).
101 Positively or negatively.

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VE can offer enhanced opportunities and provide additional tools for people to
communicate with others and interact with urban models (Sarjakoski, 1998 in Zhang,
2004). Many authors (Myers et al., 1995; Weiner et al., 1995; Harris & Weiner, 1998;
Kellogy, 1999; Stillwell et al., 1999; Nedovic-Budic, 2000; Sieber, 2000 in Zhang, 2004) refer
that this technology102 could be used to improve public access to information and increase
public participation in the planning and policy-making process. The sense of place can be
enhanced by generating and developing the virtual world with buildings, objects, and
settings, which are expected to be found in the real situation. The importance of 3D quality
(realism103) is highlighted in several research results,104 showing that users in highly realistic
3D reconstructions experience significantly higher levels of reaction (based on
physiological measures) and higher levels of reported presence (adapted from Bellotti et al.,
2009). There is a growing interest among technicians to use 3D virtual reality models for
the designing and planning of buildings, neighbourhoods and cities, providing
opportunities for people to move through and interact with spaces, as virtual
representations of people or avatars (Mallan et al., 2010).
Luck & Aylett, 2000 (in Ch’ng, 2009) showed that the use of artificial intelligence in
VE can provide a valuable and effective way for research within specific application areas.
Some researchers in the field of virtual reality and computer graphics
information seek to progress beyond visually compelling,
incorporating other aspects of physical reality that require
intelligence or agents with characteristics of life. Computer
environments endowed with intelligence are beginning to change the
contents of virtual worlds, especially the ability to learn and adapt Fig. 17 – HMD
(Immersive environment).
using artificial intelligence techniques, such as neural networks,
simulating the processes of the human brain. However, according to Pawlik (2001), it is still
difficult to categorize VE considering the different types of technologies and (other
possible) sub-categories. Generally, according to immersivity, VE can be categorized
(Jackson, 1994 in Pawlik, 2001) as:

102 Particularly GIS,

103 Which usually requires high performance computer graphics (Hugues, 2011).
104 Regarding serious games (Bellotti et al., 2009) [considered by Foni (2010) as computer games for education and training].

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– Non-immersive (e.g. PC based systems, where the VE is displayed on the

monitor);
– Partially immersive (e.g. Binocular Omni-Orientation Monitor105, or Projection
VE Systems);
– Fully immersive (e.g. Head-Mounted Displays (HMD)106or Cave Automatic
Virtual Environment / CAVE107).

Immersive is related with the digital

technologies or representations that intensely
involve human senses and may create an altered
mental state. For example, while an Augmented
Fig. 18 – C.A.V.E. example of immersive
Reality (AR) system augments the real world scene experience in the Portuguese Environment
Ministry headquarters with the collaboration of
requiring that the user maintains a sense of presence the author. Evolution of the environment
policies in 30 years with support of geographic
in that world, by contrast, Virtual Reality (VR) information. Lisbon, 2015. Image by the author.

strives for a totally immersive environment, where

the visual and in some systems aural and proprioceptive senses are under control of the
system (Hugues, 2011).

2. Reality to Virtuality Continuum

2.1. Virtual Reality

The term Virtual Reality (VR) is an oxymoron, a deliberately provocative verbal

paradox, it is formed by two contradictory and mutually exclusive concepts, since
something cannot be real and virtual at once (Gubern, 1996). VR has become a mainstream
term for referring to the creation and manipulation of a VE within a computer context
(Eve, 2012). For Gubern (1996), it is like a mirror, entering an alternative reality (illusionary
105 Binocular Omni-Orientation Monitor is a head-coupled stereoscopic display device, which consists in screens and an optical system
fixed in a box that is attached to a multi-link arm. The user sees the VE and can guide the box to any possible position of the device
(Beier, 2000 available at URL: http://www-vrl.umich.edu/intro/ June, 2013).
106 The Head-Mounted Display was the first device providing its user with an immersive experience [According to Beier (2000), it is an

helmet that contais two miniature display screens and an optical system that channels images from the screens to the eyes, thereby,
presenting a stereo view of a virtual world; available at URL: http://www-vrl.umich.edu/intro/ June, 2013)].
107 It provides the illusion of immersion by projecting stereo images on the walls and floor of a room-sized cube (Beier, 2000 available at

URL: http://www-vrl.umich.edu/intro/ June, 2013).

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and represented) that seems to possess all the attributes of reality, truly and objective. The
term was defined as “a computer generated, interactive, three-dimensional environment in
which a person is immersed” (Aukstakalnis & Blatner, 1992 in Hugues, 2011:5). This
definition involves several key points related with a VE generated in computer, 3D
environment, iterative and immersive, increasing the engagement of the user by providing a
natural interface between human and machine (Teylingon et al., 1997; Burdea & Coiffet,
2003 in Zhang, 2004) and getting closer to natural ways of interacting with the world, rather
than with maps or other static models (Jacobson, 1992; Neves & Camara, 1999 in Zhang,
2004).
Devices such as HMD held by users are identifying features of a VR System (VRS).
These displays intend to block out the entire external world and instead present a view that
is under the complete control of the computer. The user is totally immersed in an
artificial/created world and becomes disconnected from the real world. For a realistic
immersion, the VRS must accurately interpret the user movements and actions,
determining what consequence it will input onto the scene to be rendered back in the
device (Hugues, 2011). Langendorf (1999) in Shen & Kawakami (2010) evaluated VR
technologies for public involvement, emphasizing that the virtual image is more persuasive
and more effective than traditional representations such as common planning documents.
VR technology also contributes to approximate agents working on the field (e.g.
technicians, citizens, and politicians) especially in cases where mutually distrusting parties
must collaborate. The digital representation of scientific data within a VE aims to provide
access to relevant local and global data, with the ability to access, visualize, compare,
interact, manipulate, transform, and project data within a certain case study. These tools
constitute an opportunity and a powerful ally for online collaboration, technical
experimentation, and divulgation for researchers, also applied in environments that are
either remote or no longer exist (Magerko, 2010).
Virtual Time Travel (VTT) in experimental research is becoming possible through
the progress of the networks, available data and technology (Ch’ng, 2009). In the near
future108, VTT will be able to provide more than an enhanced experience of a historical
situation for the full engagement of all the five senses109 into a physically based experience.
This assumption is supported by the argument that all physical matter, including living

108 Due to present technological limitations.

109 Looking, sounding, smelling, tasting, and feeling real.

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beings, can be represented digitally in the VRS, which culminates in the reconstruction of
the ancient past (Ch’ng, 2009). VR simulations on real-time applications provide users with
the possibility of freely manipulating the visualized items and directly exploring the
modelled VE by allowing the modification at will of the elements featured in the simulation
and the generation of real-time visual feedbacks for their performed actions and choices.
However, in stereoscopic representations, the level of presence, as well as the overall
perceived consistency, can be considered slightly superior to basic real-time simulations.
The capacity to stimulate in the VRS user depth perception implies, in fact, both the
availability of an increased amount of information, allowing the system to generate properly
the stereographic pairs, and an enhancement of the photorealistic potential exhibited by the
digital representation (Foni, 2010).
The current debate highlights the similarities and differences between VR and
Augmented Reality (AR) systems. A very visible difference between these two types of
systems is the immersiveness of the system. VR strives for a total immersive
environment110, while AR technology has been advancing to the possibility of merging
computer-generated environment with the real world, creating Mixed Reality (Ohta &
Tamura 1999 in Eve, 2012).

2.2. Mixed Reality and Augmented Reality

Several authors and studies suggest that the frontier between virtual and real worlds
may be more diffuse and permeable than experts had previously imagined (Ch’ng, 2009).
The real environment and the VE are at the two opposite ends (Fig. 17) of one
continuum,111 while the middle region is called Mixed Reality (MR). Unlike VR, which
provides a synthetic environment as a replacement for (represented) reality to the user, MR
ensures that the user sees the real/virtual environment augmented and mixed with
information from the opposite environment (Milosavljevic et al., 2010).

110Available at URL: http://www.se.rit.edu/~jrv/research/ar/index.html (June, 2013).

111The “Reality-Virtuality Continuum” can be considered as a scale of realities, ranging from a pure virtual reality at one end to a pure
physical reality at the other end, with a continuous scale of augmented realities in between. First introduced in 1994, in the paper:
“Augmented Reality: A class of displays on the reality-virtuality continuum” by the four authors Paul Milgram, Haruo Takemura, Akira Utsumi, &
Fumio Kishino, the concept of reality-virtuality continuum has become essential to classify the notions of Virtual, Mixed and Augmented
reality (Milgram et al. 1995, available at URL: http://proceedings.spiedigitallibrary.org/proceeding.aspx?articleid=981543, June 2013).

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Mixed Reality
(MR)
(MR)
Real Augmented Augmented Virtual
Environment (RE) Reality (AR) Virtuality (AV) Environment (VE)

Fig. 19 – The Reality-Virtuality Continuum (adapted from Milgram et al., 1995).

Thus, MR includes both virtual and real-world elements, dealing with the
combination of real world and computer-generated (represented) data (Che et al., 2012). In
the MR, Augmented Reality (AR) is near the real-environment, while Augmented Virtuality
(AV) is closer to the virtual-environment (Milosavljevic et al., 2010).
MR complements reality/virtuality rather than completely replacing it, appearing to
the user that the virtual and real coexist in the same space (Ch’ng, 2009). This technology is
becoming increasingly popular at overcoming numerous issues, such as the obstacles
related with the successful public participation, regarding, for example, flexible solutions
adapted to different scenarios that may arise112 (e.g. public consultation meetings). MR as a
tool has the potential to assist decisional processes in the context of urban design and
planning, adding the capability to increase representational information (virtual or real) into
the selected environment presented (also virtual or real). These characteristics are also valid
to understand temporal and spatial changes, manipulate geographical data and navigate
through this alternative space (Che et al., 2012).
The integration of AR technology to basic 3D GIS functionalities allows the quick
and simple creation of a 3D geospatial scene and implements intuitive methods of
interaction assisting for example, public participation, creating a fully collaborative solution
system (St-Aubin et al., 2010).

Augmented Reality (AR)

The term Augmented Reality (AR) refers to the enrichment of the real world with a
complementary virtual world (Robinett, 1992; Caudell & Mizell, 1992; Bajura & Neumann,
1995 in Hugues, 2011). The digital information or representations are merged with the real

112 Adapted from St-Aubin et al. (2010).

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view via a device that combines both real and virtual. An AR system expands the real world
scene allowing the user to maintain the sense of presence in that world (Hugues, 2011).
Azuma (1997113), in his review, defines AR as a system that has the following three
characteristics:

– It combines real and virtual elements;

– It is interactive in space (position) and time (past, real-time, future);
– It operates in a 3D environment.

The fast development of computing systems has allowed for more sophisticated
equipment interfaces to be employed, particularly the alignment and combination of real
and virtual objects in a device that runs interactively
(Correia, 2005 in Foni, 2010). Currently, the main
procedure is based on simplified digital
representations (usually geometrical models) to
achieve real-time capabilities even if perhaps
sacrificing its overall quality, visual consistency, and
precision114. However, despite all the limitations
(associated to technology resources), AR digital
Fig. 20 – Augmented Reality visualization in
representations, restitutions and simulations can Almada (Lisbon Metropolitan Area). Image by
the author. 2013.
offer interesting possibilities and useful
applications, due to their fairly good interactive capabilities and their capacity to visually
stimulate and engage the user, for example, when applied to cultural heritage on-site
visualization and exploration tools (Foni, 2010).
According to Riera (2013), AR software systems and libraries like ARToolKit115,
MXRToolKit116, ARtag117, Studierstube118 or Osgart119 have been extremely relevant for the

113 Adapted from Milosavljevic et al. (2010).

114 In general.
115 ARToolKit was first demonstrated publicly at SIGGRAPH in 1999. Released open source in 2001 and commercialized by

ARToolworks under a dual licensing model, ARToolKit and its variants have been downloaded nearly 1 million times. RToolKit SDK
empowers programmers to develop open source augmented reality applications. Available at URL: https://artoolkit.org/about-
artoolkit (October, 2016). FLARToolKit is an ActionScript port of NyARToolKit, a Java/C#/Android port of
ARToolKit. Available at URL: http://www.artoolworks.com/support/library/FLARToolKit (October, 2016).
116 MXRToolKit: Library of routines to help with all aspects of building mixed reality applications. Available at URL:

http://mxrtoolkit.sourceforge.net/ (October, 2016).

117 ARtag is an AR system where virtual objects, games, and animations appear to enter the real world. Available at URL:

https://web.archive.org/web/20120814082107/http://www.artag.net:80/ (October, 2016).

118 STUDIERSTUBE software framework for the development of AR applications, developed at Graz University of Technology for

Windows and is freely available. Available at URL: http://studierstube.icg.tugraz.at/main.php (October, 2016).

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generation of AR scenes and the development of AR applications. Considering the mobile

devices technology, the most significant examples of AR technology initiated in 2007 with
the introduction of iPhone, especially the appearance of multiple AR applications,
practically all based in GPS and recognition markers. In that same year, Parallel Tracking
And Mapping (PTAM) was presented to estimate the position of the camera. In 2008, the
Wikitude120 Software Development Kit (SDK) and BuildAR121 were launched. In 2009, the
Layar122 platform as an AR navigator was launched, using virtual information positioned
and superimposed allowing the users to create and publish their own data. In 2010, the
Google Googles123 App was presented to search relevant information over image
recognition as other Apps such as Augmented ID124, individual recognition, and data
association. In 2011, the introduction of the Vuforia platform allowed to create AR Apps
for mobile devices, based on optical recognition supporting the Android OS and Unity125.
More recently, a vast number of innovative software (e.g. SDK and multiple Apps using
AR, such as Augment126 or Locus127) and hardware (e.g. Google Glasses) have contributed
to the advance of AR technology, allowing it to combine the virtual and the real
environments applied to many different purposes.
Riera (2013) presented some AR studies and applications implemented in the past
few years and their respective authors, showing the potential of AR technology for
domains such as Medicine (Vidal et al. 2006; Lamounier Jr. et al. 2010; Essig et al. 2011;
Shamir et al. 2011; Paiva et al. 2012; Ashab et al. 2012); Advertising and Marketing (Honken
et al. 2012; de Sa et al. 2011; Valjus et al. 2012); Maintenance and Assembly Operations
(Benbelkacem et al. 2009; Hincapie et al. 2011; S. Henderson & Steven Feiner 2011);

119 OSGART is a library that simplifies the development of AR applications by combining the well-known ARToolKit tracking library
with OpenSceneGraph. Available at URL: http://www.artoolworks.com/community/osgart/(October, 2016)
120 Presented as the world’s easiest augmented reality tool to publish AR projects: to the Wikitude app or your very

own app. With Wikitude Studio, no programming skills are needed. Simply hop on to your web browser, login and
create your first AR project in a minute (Andr oid, IOS and Smart Glasses). Available at URL:
http://www.wikitude.com (October, 2016).
121 BuildAR (renamed as Envisage now) is a tool for building Augmented Reality scenes in seconds, with no programming required.

Available at URL: http://www.buildar.org/ (October, 2016).

122 Layar: based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, intents to easily create the user own interactive AR experience. Available at URL:

https://www.layar.com/ (October, 2016). Subsequently, other Apps with similar characteristics were launched, such as
the Bionic Eye or Locus.
123 Google Googles: Recognize images and present relevant information. Available at URL:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.unveil&hl=pt_PT (October, 2016).
124 Facial Recognition. Available at URL: https://www.technologyreview.com/s/417655/augmented-identity/ (February, 2016).
125 Unity: Renowned throughout the industry as the multiplatform game engine, Unity allows you to target more devices more easily.

With Unity, users get one-click deployment to the full range of mobile, VR, desktop, Web, Console and TV platforms. Available at URL:
https://unity3d.com/unity (October, 2016).
126 Augmented: end-to-end augmented reality platform to configure, manage and view 3D content. Available at URL:

http://www.augment.com/ (October, 2016).

127 Locus Map was developed by an independent software company called Asamm Software, focusing on the development of mobile

applications for the Android platform. Multi-functional mobile outdoor navigation app for sports activities and traveling. Available at
URL: http://www.locusmap.eu/ (October, 2016).

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Museums (Woods et al. 2004; Zimmermann & Lorenz 2008; Tillon et al. 2011); Tourism
(Linaza et al. 2008; Guttentag 2010; Hsu 2011), especially for great visual experiences;
Spatial Planning and Urbanism (J. R. Sánchez & Borro 2007; Allen et al. 2011); Building
Rehabilitation (Tonn et al. 2008) as the impact of edifications in the territory; Interior
Design (Harasaki 2001; X. Wang 2008) experimenting indoors object implementation; or
Cultural/Historic Heritage (Benko et al. 2004; Haydar et al. 2008) for virtual
reconstructions128. This author refers that AR as a tool that superimposes data generated
digitally over a real space may produce higher knowledge and better interpretation of the
objects and space around us. Consequently, this technology has certain characteristics that
are highly relevant for the domains of pedagogy and education, helping to improve the
motivation and comprehension, with the advantages of having a collaborative experience
(verifying in the real space and promoting a real-time interaction); tangible interactions
(possible to change and manipulate scale, position and place of virtual objects allowing an
active participation in the formation and communication abilities, considering that mistakes
do not have a real consequence). Riera (2013) refers that this technology is already robust
enough for teaching activities, especially using mobile devices and as a complement to the
traditional methods.
According to Milosavljevic et al. (2010), AR systems can be divided into two main
categories based on the environments in which they are used:

– Indoor AR;
– Outdoor AR.

Indoor AR systems usually accomplish registration by tracking artificial symbols or

marks and representing virtual features in the real environment. An outdoor AR system
also uses these marks or optical recognition for vision tracking in order to accomplish
stable registration. However, outdoor scenes are usually much more complex and dynamic,
making it difficult to capture the natural features in a stable and consistent form.
Nevertheless, outdoor AR research is growing in interest considering its large spectrum of
applications using geographical information as their basic recourse to provide a digital
platform in the AR system (Min et al. 2007 in Milosavljevic et al., 2010).

128 In Riera (2013).

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Incorporation of GIS database into a VR or AR system is potentially suitable for

navigation systems, urban and environmental planning, cultural and natural heritage
modelling, impact or disaster assessment, military simulation, education, among other
applications (adapted from Haklay, 2002 in Lin, 2008). The range of AR systems is
especially useful to update field maps and databases or to measure, reconstruct, and analyse
existing objects or areas from acquired field images (Lin, 2008). A pertinent application of
this idea is the ability to take a device, like a smartphone or tablet, to a site and using of its
technical features, such as the inbuilt GNSS129 (e.g. GPS and/or GLONASS),
gyroscope/compass, acceleration sensors, microphone, speakers and (photo/video)
camera, accessing virtual information, representations, simulations, reconstructions of that
site, directly over the real environment where we are looking. For instance, we can point
the camera at the real ancient heritage position and see in the device’s display its full virtual
reconstruction. It is then possible to walk around the site in the real world and view that
representation from different angles and distances, and even to change the reconstruction
to experiment with different colours, designs, heights, and so on (adapted from Eve, 2012).
Another example is to understand the dynamics of temporal changes in the territory and
their characteristics to support both representation and planning (regarding 3D in space
and time, concerning observation, reconstruction or simulation), when compared the
(spatial-temporal) models aligned and merged with the real view in the device’s display.

3. Communication Networks

Regarding Guber’s (1996) reflexions, iconic images130 are characterized for their
semantic, i.e. what they represent, and have existed as cultural manifestations and ways of
communication since the Palaeolithic drawings. These representations have been improved
by pictographic technics131, photographs, mass media television and cinema, videogames,
and cyberspace132.

129 The physical conditions on site, GNSS systems and device features (e.g. computation capacity) can influence the precision and
accuracy.
130 Image-Scene (Isomorphic and Ostensive) and Image-Labyrinth (Sensory and Symbolic).
131 We can find examples in religion, allowing the revival of the memory of historical facts, encouraging imitation of the characters

represented and veneration; or secret societies and many professional codes and icons.
132 Introduced by writer William Gibson in 1984, defining appropriately as "a consensual hallucination", adding that it is not really a

place. It is not really a space. It is a conceptual space. Gubern, 1996.

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The development of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), and

more specifically the Internet133 and the World Wide Web134 (henceforth simply Web), has
originated major digital changes that have revolutionized the concept and usage of spatial
representations. The production of geographical information and cartography is no longer
exclusive to professionals, considering, for instance, the availability of Digital Globes
(Goodchild, 2001; 2007 in Marques, 2009) or Geobrowsers135 (e.g. Google Earth, Yahoo
Maps, or the Microsoft Bing Maps). This democratization of digital cartography is partly
due to the development of the GeoWeb, which refers to the merging between the Web,
Geographic Information Technologies and geospatial data, presently relying on a
continuous evolving Web136 infrastructure (Roche et al., 2011137). Thus, regarding the main
communication networks, the Internet and the Web constitute the essential basic
infrastructure and resource for the gradual improvement of digital representations, and
therefore GIT developments (including their applications to heritage and its value for the
main agents in the different domains). GIS usually consumes enormous data resources and
is therefore an excellent example to understand the importance of communication
networks such as Internet, providing information on demand. In connection with the
Internet, it would be extremely hard to have an application (mobile or not) with all the
data, for example of the world street or imagery maps at all scales available. However, it is
applied to any kind of information that heavily consumes the resources of a device. To
illustrate this idea, it might be extremely relevant for mobile applications to divide essential
data available in the App installation and complementary data constantly available in the
Cloud via the Internet.

133 The Internet is a massive network connecting millions of computers worldwide (Peng & Tsou, 2003).
134 The World Wide Web is a system of interlinked digital documents and programs that can be accessed via the Internet.
135 Analogous to a Browser. Geo-Browser may be understood as a geographic browser or referent to spatial data (Marques, 2009).
136 Such as the concept of WEB 2.0 (understood as a more interactive Web or one that uses technology beyond the static pages of earlier

websites) or Cloud Computing (defined as “a model for enabling ubiquitous, convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of
configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and
released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction” (National Institute of Standards and Technology, 2011,
available at URL: http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/nistpubs/800-145/SP800-145.pdf (June, 2013).
137 Available at URL: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10708-011-9423-9#page-2 (June, 2013).

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3.1. The Internet and the World Wide Web

The Internet did not gain popularity until the 1990s, although it was complex to
use, its content was not nearly as rich as it is today, and its users were mostly restricted to
research institutes and government agencies. The advent of the Internet and the Web
represents a gigantic milestone in the evolution of human civilization, allowing an
unprecedented information-based society and changing the human behaviour, especially
when it comes to sharing information/knowledge and communication, metaphorically
developing one virtual world parallel to the real one138. The field of GIT and digital
representations is no exception (ESRI, 2010139). While the progress of ICT has highly
influenced the expansion of the Internet, the Web and GIT, their development provided
fast access to various geographic databases. The Internet and the Web have become an
immensely valuable information resource and been widely recognized as an important
means to rapidly disseminating information and acquire spatial data from diverse sources
(Crowder, 1996; Greenwood, 1997; Green & Massie, 1997; Plewe, 1997; Rohrer & Swing
1997; Craig, 1998; David et al., 1998; Doyle et al., 1998; Carver, 2001; Zhu, 2001; Pundt &
Bishr, 2002; Peng & Tsou 2003 in Zhang, 2004).
Since the creation of early GIS, different types of software140, Spatial Data
Infrastructures (SDI), geographic information models and formats, have been evaluated
and adapted to the development of ICT and especially the Internet and Web resources.
Consequently, GIS offers several online solutions141 to share spatial data, mostly for
viewing, analysing, manipulating, or downloading data (Peng & Zhang, 2004; Zhang et al.,
2003 in Zhang, 2004). However, this relatively abundant offer has raised numerous
difficulties regarding data interoperability, communication, and integration. The
geographical information based on this wide range of software, could not communicate
without data conversion, an imperative to exchange information and share computational
geo-database resources. The data interchange, assisted by the advances of network
technologies is then vulnerable, considering the incompatibility of a variety of data models

138 Sometimes, the virtual world becomes even more present than the real one (e.g. social relations and communication forms through e-
mail, stakeholders’ online lists/forums, official websites or social networks; online promotion, submission and communication of
documents such as articles, scholarships applications or job opportunities or even the huge investment/market in advertising
products/sales, sometimes exclusively online, associated to a progressive usage of Internet).
139 Available at URL: http://downloads2.esri.com/ESRIpress/images/188/115391_WebGIS_Chapter01.pdf (June, 2013).
140 Both proprietary software of commercial vendors or open source software.
141 Such as ESRI MapObject IMS and ArcIMS, AutoDesk’s MapGuide, Intergraph’s Geomedia WebMap, MapInfo’s MapXtreme, GE

SmallWorld’s Internet Application Server and ER Mapper’s Image Web Server.

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and formats used (Choicki, 1999; Zhu, 2001 in Zhang, 2004). Thus, distributing
interoperable geographic information became imperative (Doyle, 1997; OGC, 1998;
Ackland, 1999; Bennett, 2000; Zhu, 2001; Zhang et al., 2003 in Zhang, 2004). The use of
open standards, protocols and technologies suggests the potential to overcome the
difficulties of data interoperability and therefore simplifying the feature-level spatial data
sharing over the web. Various organizations and initiatives such as World Wide Web
Consortium (W3C142), International Organization for Standardization (ISO143), OGC or the
INSPIRE144 initiative, have dedicated to developing and promoting the adoption of open
standards to achieve data and metadata interoperability, simultaneously contributing to
reduce the duplication of datasets and providing catalogues of relevant available geographic
information. W3C provides the information technology baseline standards, ISO/TC211
has developed abstract nevertheless detailed baseline standards, the OGC focuses on the
implementation of oriented standards that fit into the abstract frameset defined by
ISO/TC211, and the INSPIRE initiative intends to implement a European Spatial Data
Infrastructure (adapted from Kresse, 2004 in Zhang 2004). Currently, GIS communities,
vendors and open source projects are adopting the open standards developed by W3C,
ISO/TC 211 and OGC. The rapid development and adoption of open standards has
provided a stable foundation for making GIS interoperable. The recent development in
Web Services145 makes the construction of interoperable GIS possible. With Web Services
it became possible for applications to acquire and integrate spatial data from heterogeneous
sources in real-time over the Web. Thus, the Internet and the Web established the
foundations for ubiquity, lower risks of obsolescence and isolation, higher flexibility,
reduction of costs and accessing geographical information (in real-time), through an inner
network form, reforming the idea of an existing physical support, such as CD-ROM, pen
drives and systematic versions of cartographic series datasets (adapted from Anderson &
Moreno, 2003 in Zhang, 2004).

142 The W3C is an international community where member organizations, a full-time staff, and the public work together to develop Web
standards (W3C, 2012, available at URL: http://www.w3.org/Consortium June, 2013).
143 ISO is the largest developer of voluntary International Standards in the world. International Standards provide state of the art

specifications for products, services and good practice, contributing to make the industry more efficient and effective (Available at URL:
http://www.iso.org/iso/home/about.htm June, 2013). Regarding ISO, standards from the Technical Committee 211 (TC/211),
concerning geographic information are extremely relevant (more information available at URL: http://www.isotc211.org/ June, 2013).
It is also important to refer that CEN / TC 287 (European committee for Standardization / Technical Committee) will support the
consistent use of geographic information in Europe in collaboration with ISO/TC211 and the INSPIRE initiative (Marques, 2009).
144 Directive 2007/2/EC from the EU Parliament and the Council establishes an Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the European

Community (INSPIRE) available at URL: http://inspire.jrc.ec.europa.eu (June, 2013).

145 Such as: WMS, WFS, WCS.

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The combination of the Web and geographic information science has grown146 into
a rapidly developing field, stimulating people to take advantage of the Web (ESRI, 2010).
Internet GIS become a research and application area that utilizes the networking systems
(including besides the Internet, wireless communication and intranets) to promote the
access, processing and dissemination of geographic information and spatial analysis
knowledge. The Internet supports GIS in three major areas (Peng & Tsou, 2003147):

– GIT data access, considered an infrastructure that provides access148 to acquire

geographic information, e.g. through visualization, downloading, or web service
catalogues149, available from different data providers [regardless of the
platforms used: e.g. desktop/laptop computers, Personal Digital Assistants
(PDA), tablets and mobile phones];
– Dissemination of geographical information, enabling a wider audience to access
directly spatial data and project results, conducting the users to search on-line,
make queries, and analyse spatial information;
– GIS processing/modelling, enhancing the accessibility and reusability of GIS
analysis tools150 by dynamically downloading or uploading GIS processing
components, so users can work on GIS data interactively, even without
installing GIS software on their local machines151.

The multilateral effect and intimate relation between ICT, Internet, Web, GIT and
their self-influenced development, evolved from Mainframe GIS to Desktop GIS or
Distributed GIS152, which includes Mobile GIS or Internet GIS (Peng & Tsou, 2003).
Distributed GIS take advantage of the Internet as a giant distributed system so that GIS
data and analysis tools can reside in different locations (computers and/or servers and/or

146 From static raster maps, interactive vector maps (with alphanumeric information databases); visualizers and platforms WebGIS, or
GeoWeb Services, such as Web Map Service, Web Features Service or Web Coverage Service, including their normalization and
standardization, Marques (2009).
147 Available at URL: http://www.google.pt/books?hl=en&lr=&id=sk5UHK-

FJM8C&oi=fnd&pg=PR25&dq=geographic+information+mobile&ots=FvTugmIMac&sig=03oA21CHPOQmZneknovhF6k7kE8&re
dir_esc=y#v=snippet&q=%22gis%20data%20access%22&f=false (July, 2013).
148 With or without coasts, even if supposedly significantly reduced.
149 E.g. the Portuguese iGeo Portal (www.igeo.pt), launched in 2014 or Monumentos website (IHRU), catalogues (www.monumentos.pt)

of geographical information (about heritage).

150 Reducing duplication of systematic tasks and research by contributing to knowledge creation.
151 Resorting for example to portable software or to Cloud Computing.
152 Relies on the Internet and wireless networks for data and processing communication, which allows the user to access geographical

information and GIS analysis tools from anywhere with access to Internet or to the Cloud.

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in the Cloud153). Users can access those data and applications on demand from anywhere.
Distributed GIS can take advantage of these distributed data systems and potentially query
and extract these distributed databases or even geospatial analysis tools in situ rather than
simply download the data directly into end user local machines or devices to combine with
local data. Because it is a distributed system, it is dynamically linked to the data sources,
allowing it to be more capable of linking real-time information (e.g. gathering real-time
satellite information, images or events/hazards, such as traffic movements, earthquakes,
fires, floods, pollution).
The challenge that Distributed GIS face is the ability to access many forms of GIS
data and functions in the heterogeneous environment, to be able to access and share
remote GIS data and functions, answering the request of Internet GIS programs
interoperability (Bishr, 1996 in Peng & Tsou, 2003). The Open Geodata Interoperability
Specification and Geography Markup Language (GML) by the OGC are attempting to lay
the base standards for GIS interoperability (Peng & Tsou, 2003).
The OGC and the Web3D Consortium154 have been working together for digital
tree-dimensional geographical representations, building cohesive and durable standards.
This effort provides a membership sharing and enables OGC and Web3D Consortium
members to collaborate in cooperating Working Group development activities, aiming to
align the Web3D Consortium’s X3D (eXtensible 3D) standard with OGC standards to
improve location-based 3D visualization (Hetherington, 2006). Considering the evolution
to enable three-dimensional models to be displayed over the Internet, the Virtual Reality
Modelling Language (VRML) was developed in the early 1990s and more recently a new
standard, X3D, has been established by the Web3D Consortium. This new standard
received International Standards Organization (ISO) approval in August 2004.
The Internet is an infrastructure that can hosts all type of information and
applications (usually based on the client/server model) as well as additionally more
advanced client/server applications that are yet to emerge (Peng & Tsou, 2003). The
benefits of the association between GIT tools and the use of these types of networks (such

153 Cloud Computing consists of interchangeable parts providing computation, data storage, and communications. This vast system is
cheaper to operate than many individual computers scattered among different businesses and agencies, because both the hardware and
the administrative staff can be utilized much more efficiently (Garfinkel, 2011, available at URL:
http://www.technologyreview.com/news/425623/the-cloud-imperative/ July, 2013).
154 Web3D is a “nonprofit organization that develops and maintains the X3D, VRML, and H-Anim international standards.

These are 3D graphics file formats and run-time specifications for the delivery and integration of interactive 3D data over networks.
Web3D Consortium members work together to produce open, royalty-free and ISO-ratified capabilities for the Web.” (Web3D
Consortium, 2013, available at URL: http://www.web3d.org/realtime-3d/ July, 2013).

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as the Internet and the Web and/or Cloud computing) constitutes the essential basis to
access and transmit distributed data and analysis tools, conducting spatial analysis and
creating multimedia and multidevice GIT digital 2D, 3D and 4D (re)presentations (adapted
from Peng & Tsou, 2003).

4. 3D and 4D Mobile GIT, Including Virtual and Augmented

Reality

The mobile market is expanding and exceeding by far computer sales. Within this
scenario, smartphones and tablets are undoubtedly the most interesting platforms, since
they combine in a small device features and functions with multiple advantages, such as
portability (size and weight); battery life (longer than laptops); computational and graphical
capabilities (when compared with traditional phones); wide range of connectivity spanning
form 3G, 4G, GPRS155, HSPA(HSPA+)156 to Wi-Fi; Bluetooth and Infrared interfaces,
built in GPS/GLONASS receivers (plus Assisted capability); electronic compass;
gyroscope; accelerometers; touch screen capability; light and proximity sensors; front and
rear cameras; microphone; speaker; possibility to run non-proprietary Operating Systems –
OS (such as Android OS, iPhone OS or Windows
Mobile); and a varied offer of applications and
functions with or without cost for the end user and
further developments157 (adapted from
158
Magliochheti et al., 2012 ). Progress in geographic
information acquisition and development
(hardware and software) has allowed for innovative Fig. 21 – 3D modelling and visualization using
anaglyph glasses (university NOVA of Lisbon).
perspectives for territorial management using 3D, Image by the author. 2016.
enabling advanced possibilities of visualisation and
analysis in virtual, immersive, or mixed environments (Valencia et al., 2015).
Three-dimension (3D) DR are generating innovative forms of visualisation and
conceptualisation in the field of territorial and urban management enabling the observation

155 System for mobile communication network (data service).

156 Mobile protocols.
157 Such as hologram or interactive projection capabilities, which may considerably reduce the size of the device, regarding the display

and operating (through the projection).

158 Available at URL: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12008-012-0150-3#page-1 (June, 2013).

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of objects and structures at different distances, angles and scales (space/time – 4D). The
concept of Augmented Reality is often referred to as the enrichment of the existing world
through the virtual environment, expanding it without requiring the observer to change the
sense of presence in reality as opposed to total virtual immersion. This (mixed)
environment is often generated on site using mobile platforms. The AR environment,
based on GIT and Mobile Platforms, contributes to the construction of external
representations. The association of 3D modelling and cultural heritage has been growing in
interest, partly due to the broader use of LiDAR (laser scanning) and photogrammetry.
These technologies allow to record objects remotely, efficiently and accurately, which was
often difficult to perform with previous survey methods (Dore et al., 2012).
There are obvious advantages in conventional airborne remote sensing and the very
high-resolution satellite imagery. However, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) has
introduced a flexible, low-cost and rapid response as an alternative to other traditional
methods, such as ground acquisitions and manned vehicles, allowing to collect data to
generate diverse types of geographical information products, and particularly very detailed
3D models, practically on demand. The fast acquisition data, high frequency attainment,
simplicity in setting the flight parameters and operation, combined with very high
resolution cameras, GNSS systems
(predetermined flights and georeferenced
outputs), and powerful data processing
algorithms/software, constitute some of the
main features behind the success of this
technology (Nex & Remondino, 2013).
3D point cloud data automatically
generate 3D models, including Digital Terrain
Models (DTM - simple terrain), Digital Fig. 22 – 3D point cloud from National Palace in Sintra.
Image by the author. 2003.
Surface Models (DSM - including the
elevations of objects above the ground), and 3D models (from isolated or collective
objects). 3D point clouds are mostly generated directly from a laser scan or through stereo
image matching, processing imagery algorithms by overlapping (terrestrial or airborne).
This means that it is possible to acquire relevant urban parameters at low-cost, from 3D
point cloud data acquisition (Tenedório et al., 2014). Presently, there is an enormous variety

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of tools able to acquire 3D information, and at the same time, the solutions for rendering
and displaying it are at an advanced stage of development (Valencia et al., 2015).
Using mobile devices for exploring and interacting with the user’s physical
environment is among the most promising improvements for commercially successful
future telecommunication services and applications. This trend is confirmed by the rollout
of latest mobile devices equipped with advanced navigation features (like built-in GPS159).
The positioning features are essential for mobile devices that need to identify their accurate
position systematically, and resorting to geographical information offering multiple
solutions to operate interactively answering several requests, such as viewing the position in
a map; multiple navigation and transportation types and schedules (vehicles or on foot); or
showing nearby objects in different representational ways160. This capability is especially
relevant in mixed environments where the device needs to present virtual information in
the real place (or vice versa) and thus it may be considered as the fundamental base
connection feature between the synthetized and the real world. Presently, numerous
producers of geographical information161 are developing location-based services, offering a
great number of basic services for mobile applications. These solutions are often based on
existing GIS tools and complementary functionalities (Schilling, 2003162). Recent research
projects are dealing with how mobile devices can be used as an interface with this growing
body of geographical information to enable direct access and interaction for the user near
the environment and their surroundings. The development of location-based data has
moved cyber-information to the real place (Sui & Goodchild, 2011). Currently, new forms
of georeferenced data and services, such as map-mashups163 or navigation systems164, are
emerging almost on a daily basis (adapted from Fröhlich et al., 2008). Thus, the idea of
combining geospatial information with mobile communicational, informational and
representational technologies is growing in interest concerning the agents (especially in the
Academia and Industry) and user communities, applied to the different existing domains.

159 Fröhlich et al. (2008).

160 E.g. the Portuguese iGeo – Património App for IOS and Android (launched in 2014).
161 Also driven by virtual globes, such as Google Earth or Microsoft Virtual Earth.
162 Available at URL: http://webcache.gisline.no/documentation/imc2003-schilling-et-al-final.pdf (June, 2013).
163 Mashups typically function through an application programming interface (API), which facilitates communication between

technologies. Mapping mashups interoperate with an online mapping service (e.g. Google Maps or Yahoo Maps), combining data with
the mapping application’s locating service, available at URL: http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/eli7016.pdf (June, 2013).
164 Such as NDrive, which was founded as a spin-off of a digital map player in 2007, has headquarters in Porto, Portugal. NDrive is an

independent developer and provider of state-of-the art Turn-by-Turn navigation software for Smartphones and Personal Navigation
Devices and has developed a customer base of several million active users in more than 30 countries. More information available at URL:
http://www.ndrive.com/about (June, 2013).

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Since the popularization of the Web in the early 1990s, GIS have developed
towards more powerful, flexible and mobile platforms, being able to share and
communicate geographic knowledge (Goodchild, 2003). GIT are traditionally involved in
mapping the world in two spatial dimensions, focusing on aspects related with geographic
territories that are essentially static, such as topography, soils, and land cover (Goodchild,
2011). Two-dimensional digital representations of a 3D environment
require cognitive resources and topological reasoning in order to
read the mobile representation and relate it to reality. The
development of new techniques that bring together location-aware
Fig. 23 – 7th Virtual Cities
portable devices and visualization of interactive 3D representations and Territories (VTC),
held in Lisbon (2011).
is interesting and it is an exciting pervasive environment for users.
Examples of that are the recent sequences of conferences such as Virtual Cities and
Territories – VTC165, or the Mobile World Congress166. However, there are severe technical
and technological limitations that have precluded the widespread adoption of 3D
representations on portable devices. Computational resources in these tools are usually
smaller than the hardware
commonly used in normal
computers (adapted from
Noguera et al., 2012a167). With the
advent of low energy-
Fig. 24 – 11th VTC held in Krakow, Poland (2016).
consumption Graphic Processing
Units (GPU), the graphics capabilities of mobile devices are being boosted, opening new
perspectives for the development of interactive 3D applications that were inconceivable
just a few years ago. As a result, mobile devices manufacturers have rapidly adopted this
new hardware and the market is now demanding new applications, featuring advanced 3D
graphics and interactive virtual worlds (Noguera et al., 2012b168).

165 Proposed as an annual meeting point to present virtual model developments and tools for representing the built environment. The
first VCT took place in Barcelona in 2004, followed by other cities in sequential order: Concepción, Bilbao, Guadalajara, Barcelona,
Mexicali, Lisboa, Rio de Janeiro and Roma (already in 2013). It is also important to refer that this project was born within CPSV / UPC,
to which this thesis is associated. More information available at URL: http://www.9cvtroma2013.com/en/index.html (June, 2013).
166 Conference involving the mobile market company leaders, held annually in Barcelona. More information at URL:

http://www.mobileworldcongress.com/industry-learning/ (June, 2013).

167 Available at URL: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00779-012-0598-y#page-2 (June, 2013).
168 Available at URL: http://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2Fs00779-012-0595-1.pdf (June, 2013).

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High-quality geographic data sources are becoming increasingly more consistent as

a resource that contributes to territorial management and the
creation of detailed 3D models of the real environment (Goetz,
2012169). Prototypical representations for mobile devices can be
developed in order to experiment different input types depending
on the device technical features. Examples of this are the digital
representations on low-end devices, which may be rotated using
the numerical or cursor keys; if the device is equipped with Fig. 25 – VR glasses for total
immersiveness.
acceleration sensors, then the view can be adapted to the
measured angle; or if a digital compass enables a really intuitive orientation it can rotate the
view mimicking the user’s movement. Independent from the chosen type of interaction,
the importance is the possibilities of adaptation of representation prototypes to these
devices in which the Point Of Interest (POI) closest to the display can be dynamically
selected and activated pressing a certain button (Fröhlich et al., 2008). The availability of
extensive and detailed 3D models, offers completely new visualization possibilities on
mobile devices, e.g. in navigation or guidance (video or audio) and representation of geo-
referenced content. Presently, there have been major advances in the ability to characterize
and monitor the world in real-time, through the use of networks of sensors and
information through the Internet. Thus, the third spatial dimension is becoming more
important in an extensive range of applications and it seems likely that in the future
geospatial technologies will operate in the full four dimensions (three spatial dimensions
plus time) of the geographic environment (Goodchild, 2011170).
VE and VR representations were until now limited to desktop computers.
Nowadays, they can take full advantage of the unique attributes provided by mobile
computing (as the examples referred before, such as portability, connectivity, context-
awareness, and multimodal interfaces). However, these advantages have created a major
challenge considering the capacity to improve their performance that is affected severely by
their characteristics171. Mobile devices must be small and powered by batteries, which limits
their computing power and graphics capabilities (when compared with a current desktop
computer). Thus, power-efficient and adequate techniques will be required, considering the

169 Available at URL: http://www.igi-global.com/article/content/66861 (June, 2013).

170 Available at URL: http://www.geog.ucsb.edu/~good/papers/499.pdf (June, 2013).
171 Even if in constant improvement, considering that any smartphone has more computing capability than early computers [e.g. such as

ENIAC, considered as the first computer, announced in 1946 and occupying around 162 m2 (Marques, 2009)].

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applications requirements for handling larger and more complex virtual 3D scenes. The
small display sizes coupled with the limited input technologies have motivated the study of
new ways of interacting with 3D applications (Noguera et al., 2012b). In the AR system, the
main key problem is to determine the position and orientation of the camera to enable
overlaying the real world image with virtual 3D digital representations (Chen et al., 1999172).
However, while VE or VR require features that are more associated with immersiveness,
usually demanding more static background and higher
level of realism in order to embrace a larger amount of
human senses to activate the user’s absence from that
place and feel existing in the VE; by contrast, AR
requires a more dynamic system that is portable and in
continuous interaction with the real world in order to
Fig. 26 – AR glasses enriching the real
world with synthetic digital view the physical environment augmented with digital
representations.
representations (Pinto et al., 2013173).
Recently, users were only able to carry out very limited modifications on the
available applications offer, modifying only some symbolism or types of augmentations.
However, several applications have evolved, which enable users to define their own AR,
through their geographic datasets and other digital representations. Over web interfaces or
creation modules directly integrated into applications, certain solutions allow users to build
their own augmentations of the territory174, available as AR search engines. These
applications offer users the ability to define layers of information or POI by themselves.
When these layers are activated in the interface of the different respective applications, the
device uses the hardware capability to show the position of the POI on the mobile screen
(this representation has indeterminate ways of presentation). Managing their own
information or searching/requesting the Internet to gather the latest available services of
information, the user can obtain not only the current position and the nearest location of
relevant POI, but also ways to navigate towards the selected POI, learn, observe, present,
simulate, or reconstruct digital representations175. Thus, allowing each individual user to
create their own Augmented Territory on demand, these tools provide the basis and

172Available at URL:
http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/login.jsp?tp=&arnumber=815705&url=http%3A%2F%2Fieeexplore.ieee.org%2Fxpls%2Fabs_all.jsp%3
Farnumber%3D815705.
173 Example given considering visualization through 3D Augmented Reality.
174 E.g. Layar, Locus, Wikitude, Tonchidot, Qualcomm or Junaio.
175 Through image and sound.

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constitute a powerful ally to support decision-making, simultaneously contributing to

technical-scientific knowledge and human development (adapted from Hugues, 2011).

5. Cultural Heritage Representations

Heritage176 preservation includes mainly research, field exploration, archive

management, conservation, data visualization, and utilization. Technology has been playing
an important role in a transversal way, especially in terms of data acquisition, management,
and visualization177. Considering the advances of technology, their contributions for
representational heritage (register and visualization) and their relevancy for the cultural
aspects of humanity, it is possible to synthetize some main chronological events and
relevant documents regarding this concern.
The acquisition of precise information has been involved in the knowledge of the
natural and built environment. With the production of usable photographs (heritage
representations) by Niepce & Daguerre in the beginning of the 19th century (Mateus, 2007),
graphic representations (besides painterly drawings, paintings or other form of art
representations) of the most valuable constructions could be gathered, stored, and
visualized. In fact, “one of the first applications of the image was the catalogues of
monuments and their surroundings. Meydenbauer remains the most representative author
of them. Thanks to him and his work many monuments could be reconstructed after the
World Wars” (Andrés & Pozuelo, 2009:105). This awareness indicates the importance of
cultural heritage representations as documents themselves and their value for the agents in
the several domains.
In 1931, The Athens Charter for the Restoration of Historic Monuments expressed
the wish that “Each country, or the institutions created or recognized competent for this
purpose, publish an inventory of ancient monuments, with photographs and explanatory
notes”178. This wish reflects the need of preserving faithfully the memory of the object,
regarding its representation and recommending that “the historic and artistic work of the
past should be respected”, referring also that “Modern techniques and materials may be
176 Concept identified at the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage held in 1972, from
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) available at URL:
http://whc.unesco.org/en/conventiontext ( July, 2011).
177 Example of the Portuguese iGeo Portal (launched in 2014) or the Monumentos website (from IHRU/SIPA) catalogues about

heritage.
178 Available at URL: http://www.icomos.org/docs/athens_charter.html (July, 2011).

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used in restoration work”179, thus engaging the use of new approaches and techniques and
the available technology.
Since World War II, policies, techniques and science of the modern conservation
movement have evolved in an international context, increasingly involving all sectors of
society, with the establishment of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO, 1946) and the International Council of Museums (ICOM, 1946),
followed by the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of
Cultural Property (ICCROM, 1956), and later the International Council on Monuments
and Sites (ICOMOS, based on the principles enshrined in 1964 with the Venice Charter),
promoting international collaboration and policy guidelines applicable to different realities
(Jokilemto, 1998). These strategies often resort to the use of existing resources, techniques
and accessible technology to acquire, record, and promote the heritage through their
representations.
The Venice Charter (1964) determines that
“In all works of preservation, restoration or excavation, there should always be precise
documentation in the form of analytical and critical reports, illustrated with drawings
and photographs (regarding the importance of representations for the heritage
management). Every stage of the work of clearing, consolidation, rearrangement and
integration, as well as technical and formal features identified during the course of
work, should be included. This record should be placed in the archives of a public
institution and made available to research workers (showing the importance of
registering, cataloguing and documenting heritage through their representational
information). It is recommended that the report should be published” 180
concerning the importance of the documentation for preservation, restoration and
publication.
In 1969, the ICOMOS and the International Society of Photogrammetry and
Remote Sensing (ISPRS) joined efforts and created the International Committee for
Heritage Documentation (CIPA), with the main objective of improving all the methods for
surveying, considered as an important contribution to record and monitor cultural heritage
(for preservation, restoration, support, and research)181, emphasizing the value of heritage
representations.

179 Available at URL: http://www.icomos.org/docs/athens_charter.html (July, 2011).

180 Available at URL: http://www.international.icomos.org/charters/venice_e.htm (July, 2011).
181 Available at URL: http://cipa.icomos.org/OBJECTIVES.HTML (December, 2011).

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The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural
Heritage (1972 - World Heritage Convention; UNESCO General Conference) drew
attention to the problem of the deterioration or disappearance of cultural or natural
heritage and their protection at national level often remains incomplete because of the lack
of (economic, scientific and technological) resources even if the importance of
safeguarding them is evident for all mankind (WHC, 1972). In fact, the importance of
“identification, protection, conservation, presentation and rehabilitation of the cultural and
natural heritage”182 is constantly mentioned. Lu & Pan (2010:3) noted that “Authenticity
and integrity are two important concepts conceived in the Convention […], and also are
the basic objectives of cultural heritage preservation”. These statements argue for the
importance of investment especially regarding the technological resources needed to
accurately document the cultural heritage, not only as a contribution towards knowledge,
but also avoiding the deterioration of what this information (re)presents, concerning
preservation. In this General Conference form UNESCO, Cultural Heritage is defined183
as:
– “Monuments: architectural works, works of monumental sculpture and painting,
elements or structures of an archaeological nature, inscriptions, cave dwellings and
combinations of features, which are of outstanding universal value from the point
of view of history, art or science;
– Groups of buildings: groups of separate or connected buildings which, because of
their architecture, their homogeneity or their place in the landscape, are of
outstanding universal value from the point of view of history, art or science;
– Sites: works of man or the combined works of nature and man, and areas including
archaeological sites which are of outstanding universal value from the historical,
aesthetic, ethnological or anthropological point of view.”

The European Charter of the Architectural Heritage (1975, Amsterdam) refers that
architectural heritage is “a capital of irreplaceable spiritual, cultural, social and economic
value”, calling for an “integrated conservation depending on legal, administrative, financial
and technical support”184. These aims were strengthened by the Convention for the
Protection of the Architectural Heritage of Europe signed in Granada, in 1985, identifying

182 Available at URL: http://whc.unesco.org/en/conventiontext (July, 2011).

183 Available at URL: http://whc.unesco.org/en/conventiontext/#Article1 (January, 2017).
184 Available at URL: http://www.icomos.org/docs/euroch_e.html (January, 2012).

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the need for all conservation issues to be considered in urban and regional planning,
advising for coordinated European actions on the matter. Thus, the importance of using
technical and scientific resources applied to cultural heritage is referred.
When the ICOMOS185 launched the “Principles for the Recording of Monuments,
Groups of Buildings and Sites” in 1996, the term “Recording” was defined as “capture of
information which describes the physical configuration, condition and use of monuments,
groups of buildings and sites, at points in time, and it is an essential part of the
conservation process”. This document also establishes the principal reasons to record
“Monuments, Groups of Buildings and Sites”, considering: essential actions, level of detail
in providing information, and definition of priorities for recording186. Furthermore, the
following issues were also developed: Responsibility for Recording, Planning for
Recording, Content of Records and Management, Dissemination and Sharing of Records.
These principles lead directly to the fundamental issue of the important use of
technological, technical and scientific means available to capture, record, plan, manage, and
spread cultural information.
In the ICOMOS International Cultural Tourism Charter, approved in 1999,
Cultural Heritage is defined as “an expression of the ways of living developed by a
community and passed on from generation to generation, including customs, practices,
places, objects, artistic expression and values. Cultural Heritage is often expressed as either
Intangible or Tangible Cultural Heritage”187.
The International Conference on Cultural Heritage Management and Urban
Development, which was held in Beijing (China) in July 2000 (UNESCO, World Bank and
China Government) highlighted the relevance of regulations as a prerequisite for the
protection of cultural heritage that need to involve both decision-makers and local
communities. As Luxen (2000) in Giaoutzi & NijKamp (2006:203) stated in Beijing, the
preservation of cultural heritage has been usually perceived as a “public expenditure
therefore excluded from cost/benefit analysis”. These authors further state that a new

185 The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) provides the World Heritage Committee with evaluations of cultural
and mixed properties proposed for inscription on the World Heritage List. It is an international, non-governmental organization founded
in 1965, with an international secretariat in Paris. Together with The International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and
Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM) and The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), constitute the
Advisory Bodies of named in the UNESCO World Heritage Convention to the Committee in its deliberations. More information
available at URL: http://whc.unesco.org/en/advisorybodies/ (July, 2011).
186 Adapted from the document, available at URL: http://www.international.icomos.org/charters/recording_e.htm (July, 2011).
187 ICOMOS, ICTC, 2002, available at URL: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:9PpaYP3apuoJ:www.charts-

interreg4c.eu/app/download/5796628919/ICOMOS%2BInternational%2BCultural%2BTourism%2BCharter%2B1999.pdf+&cd=6&hl
=pt-PT&ct=clnk&gl=pt (January, 2017).

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strategic attitude needs to be developed, where “preservation and restoration works may be
perceived as real investments”; that the acknowledgment of the valuation of cultural
heritage is strategic in order to modify the current uninterested attitude; and that the role
that valuation methods can play is therefore contributing towards more integrative and
policy-oriented actions.
The several events, treaties or documents mentioned above reveal the continuous
need of preserving heritage through technology, especially applied to gather, record,
manage, and disseminate heritage representations, documentation and other information.
Presently, the increasing use, interest and heterogeneity of GIT available on cultural
heritage are leading to a vast number of international initiatives. The growing number of
conferences, seminars, symposiums, workshops, programs, and many other initiatives held
worldwide188 discloses not only the current focus on this issue, but it also indicates that
digital representations are becoming gradually more important for the preservation of
heritage. In the context of these events, several approaches and available proceedings
establish cooperation channels and knowledge connections between different fields that
involve cultural heritage preservation. The publication of Digital Heritage (2010) comprises
the proceedings of the Third International Euro-Mediterranean Conference (EuroMed,
2010)189, held in Cyprus, reflecting “the benefits of exploiting modern technological
advances for the restoration, preservation and e-documentation of any kind of cultural
heritage” (Ioannides et al., 2010:VI).
Following the major concerns expressed in this and other events and initiatives, the
European Parliament and the Council launched Directive 2007/2/EC190 that establishes an
Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the European Community (INSPIRE) to ensure
the compatibility and usability of spatial data in a community and trans-boundary context,
requiring common implementing rules (metadata, data specifications, network services,
data and service sharing and monitoring and reporting) for several spatial data themes,

188 Such as the “Conference on Cultural Heritage and New Technologies” URL: http://www.stadtarchaeologie.at/?page_id=889); The “Digital
Media and its Applications in Cultural Heritage” (URL: http://www.csaar-center.org/conference/DMACH2011); The several European
Association of Remote Sense Laboratories (EARSeL) Symposiums with special emphasis on topics usually invited in the area of
“Heritage and New Technologies” (URL: http://www.earsel.org/symposia/2011-symposium-Prague/topics.php); And the growing
number of conferences taking place considering Virtual Cities, such as the “International Workshop for Virtual Historic Cities” (held in
Lisbon, 2010 URL: http://www.uevora.pt/index.php/a_ue/destaques/virtual_historic_cities_reinventing_
urban research), or the “International Conference on Virtual Cities and Territories” (URL: http://www.7vct.dec.uc.pt/). To protect the
values upheld by several international treaties, such as those set out by UNESCO and its Advisory Bodies, mandated by the World
Heritage Convention: ICCROM, ICOMOS and IUCN, inventories of cultural and natural heritage will be necessary (e.g., monuments,
historic centres, archeological sites, biotic species, habitats or landscapes). In order to complete this task proper data and documentation
will be necessary (all website links in this footnote were last accessed on July 10, 2011).
189 Available at URL: http://www.informatik.uni-trier.de/~ley/db/conf/euromed/euromed2010.html (July, 2011).
190 INSPIRE Directive (14 March, 2007) available at URL: http://inspire.jrc.ec.europa.eu (January, 2012).

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which include (among others): Protected Sites and Buildings (INSPIRE directive, annexes I
and III, respectively). The main priorities defined in the Work Program (WP) of the
Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) of the European Commission (EC)
rely on several Challenges that mostly include considerations and crucial developments in
aspects connected with Network and Infrastructures191, digital content and preservation192;
Enhancing the meaning and experiences of digital, cultural, and scientific resources
responding to societal and economical needs of the agents (individuals and organizations),
regarding networking technology and mobile computing, including “tools for virtual
reconstructions”193; Creative experience tools194 that make use of all our senses and allow
for richer, more collaborative and interactive experiences; More efficient and affordable
solutions for digital preservation195; High quality cloud computing196. The Horizon 2020 in
the Reflective Societies: Cultural Heritage and European Identities (H2020-
REFLECTIVE-7-2014197) also stresses the importance of advanced 3D modelling for
accessing and understanding European cultural assets, stating that
“Given the key role the digital model now plays, it is vital that its representation
benefits new scholarship, research and developments in interpretation alongside the
practical elements of curation, display and dissemination of knowledge. The 3D
representations should go beyond current levels of visual depictions, support
information integration/linking, shape-related analysis and provide the necessary
semantic information for in-depth studies by researchers and users. This will offer
new perspectives to researchers and new understandings to citizens, research users
and the cultural and creative industries”.
In terms of future initiatives, large-scale integrating collaborative projects are often revealed
as objective-driven research projects, which aim to generate new knowledge, including new
technology or resources for research in order to improve competitiveness addressing major
societal needs.
The synthesis of these examples of actions, purposes and documents expose the
increase of the frequency of the events (congresses, summits, conventions, others) and the
191 2011-12 and 2013 ICT WP – Challenge 1 – Network and Service Infrastructures (2011-12); Pervasive and Trusted Network and
Service Infrastructures (2013).
192 2011-12 ICT WP – Challenge 4 - Digital Content and Preservation: representing cultural and scientific content in digital form
193 2011-12 ICT WP – Challenge 8: Access to Cultural Resources, available at URL: ftp://ftp.cordis.europa.eu/pub/fp7/ict/docs/ict-

wp-2011-12_en.pdf (June, 2013).

194 2013 ICT WP – Challenge 8: Real time simulation and visualisation, augmented reality, 3D animation, visual computing, games

engines, and immersive experiences.

195 2013 ICT WP – Horizontal actions, 11.2, available at URL: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/ict/docs/ict-wp2013-10-7-2013-with-cover-

issn.pdf (June 2013).

196 2013 ICT WP – Horizontal actions 11.3
197 H2020 REFLECTIVE-7-2014, available at URL: http://cordis.europa.eu/programme/rcn/664971_en.html (May, 2017).

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growing number of entities associated with the permanent concern over the confluence of
these issues. The development of Technology and the evolution of the techniques used
play an important role to meet the progressive growing needs of new tools for several
scientific Domains and their related Agents.

6. Technological Support for Cultural Heritage Progress

Technological developments have facilitated faster and more efficient acquisition of

ever more accurate field data. A good example of this idea is the simple process of
digitalization that allows the expansion of the capacity of storing heritage information (in
terms of physical space in the archives) prolonging the lifecycle (promoting security), easy
duplication and access to the documents. Digital utilization can synthetically apply the
historical, cultural and scientific values of cultural heritage items by applying modern
science and technology to heritage preservation, and the research has further extended to
heritage information acquisition, digitally aided research, digital conservation, and digital
exhibition and utilization.
Heritage management information practices are currently associated with two-
dimensional imaging, mapping and analysis, usually resorting to GIS. This capability has
great advantages when compared with the also relevant heritage inventories, based on
entries and registers that are exclusively descriptive, albeit less dynamic and interactive.
Nevertheless, with the addition of 3D visualization and modelling capabilities it is now
easier for planners to communicate simultaneously simplifying the study of complex urban
environments in their full spatial extent including shape, size, volume, and the spatial
configuration in all x, y and z dimensions (adapted from Yao et al., 2006 in Yin, 2010).
Virtual or Augmented Heritage or 3D GIS Cultural Heritage are relatively new
branches of knowledge that use information technology to digitally capture or represent the
data studied by several domains. These data include 3D objects, such as works of art,
buildings and even entire villages, cities, or cultural landscapes. Whereas the cultural
heritage community previously used static 2D forms of documentation (plans, sections,
elevations, reconstructions) created on paper and published, it is now increasingly using 3D
interactive digital tools, also adding the time dimension (4D). The transformation of the
expression and publication of heritage representations may disclose that virtual heritage

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spreads rapidly through a large, well-established field, which has generally embraced the
new technologies in recognition of their obvious superiority to what they have replaced
(Eve, 2012).
The technical-scientific advances of measuring the physical world and computer
modelling capabilities have led to the creation of an increasing number of high-quality 3D
models of existing cultural heritage objects and environments. These are often
supplemented by additional metadata information, as well as synthetic reconstructions of
missing data. This growing collection of models provides new opportunities for the
academic community and the public alike. Heritage representations depend on efficient
access, interoperability, and scientific endorsement of the 3D models. A long-term
objective, then, should be the creation of centralised, open repositories of cultural heritage
virtual environments with high technical-scientific value, underlying design documents and
metadata, published along with the model. Uncertainties in the 3D data and hypotheses in
the reconstructions must be clearly documented and communicated to users. The creation
of 3D cultural heritage archives also requires new solutions for the interoperability of these
models among themselves in the archive, as well as with external sources (Koller et al.,
2009).
AR applications are currently used at some heritage sites. These are mostly aimed at
enriching the tourist’s experience, adding information to the real environment merged and
over the device display (e.g. Virtual Time Travel) or through audio (e.g. museum audio
guides). Nevertheless, new forms of DR are becoming available on a daily basis, consisting
basically of 3D models (reconstitutions) used to explore the present, past or future
experiences, or approach research questions (Eve, 2012).

7. Geographic Information Technologies and Systems at Two-

Three-Four-Representational-Dimensions, Broadband
Networks and their Value to Cultural Heritage

Generally, interactive 2D maps are exceptional to represent information, which has

a limited or no vertical element, e.g. land use and occupation cartography (adapted form
Zhang, 2004). Most GIS users have been operating with 2D GIS datasets, representing

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urban characteristics in the form of points, lines or polygons, challenging the human
capacity to visualise (the complex) built environment198. However, urban planning is
intimately connoted with spatial relationships between objects, buildings, blocks, streets,
neighbourhoods, and cities, and often 2D representations are considered insufficient to
address real 3D planning problems, especially at the scale (in area and height) of the
modern city (Hernandez & Hernandez, 1997; Evans & Hudson-Smith, 2001 in Yin, 2010).
3D representations generate more intuitive methods of interaction between the user and
the represented data. Considering that the general public does not possess GIS skills, 3D
environments can increase the engagement of the user, making it much easier to
understand, interact, and participate by visualizing interactively, for example, volumes,
textures, shadows, sights and their relation. This principally occurs because of its high level
of similarity to reality, congregating detailed information (Level of Detail - LoD) and
volume property, stimulating more enthusiasm and simplifying creative solutions for
detected problems after a walk-drive-fly-through re-presentation (embodying the user in
that environment or presence), improving understanding and communication (adapted
from Geertman, 2002; Crampton, 2001; Neves & Camara, 1999; Jacobson, 1992 in Zhang,
2004). Thus, 3D representations and analysis tools are more adequate for volume variation
and enriching spatial representations (Zhang, 2004).
While 3D modelling has a strong visual representational capability and corresponds
to a faithful exemplification of reality, GIS has a powerful capacity for querying and
analysis (Yin, 2010). Li et al., (2004) in St-Aubin et al. (2010) expressed the necessity for 3D
GIS for urban environments in order to understand the territory three-dimensionally,
particularly regarding form, components, and texture. Coors (2003) in St-Aubin et al. (2010)
stated that there is a strong need for 3D GIS to manage 3D geometry and topology,
integrating semantic information to analyse both spatial and topological relationships, and
visualise data in a suitable form. Therefore, it is not difficult to assume that 3D modelling
will gradually become more common, especially concerning hardware and software
developments. However, the interoperability between 3D and GIS systems is still difficult
to perform, considering the multiplicity of formats (Valencia et al., 2015).
Regarding 3D modelling and GIS (3D GIS), the user can acquire, manage, and
observe different data configurations, creating Virtual Environments (Virtual, Augmented

198E.g. the difficulty of representing thematic cartography for an urban area with information per accommodation and the relations
between each floor of a building vertically.

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and Mixed Reality), within which individuals can virtually walk, drive, fly and see the world
in real, past or future time (Virtual Time Travel) and/or even communicate, meet and work
(creating new forms of human interaction and locational settlements, reducing the needs
for transportation, being represented in the virtual environment). 3D GIS representations
can also be linked to the attributes of a database, allowing, for example, to query the spatial
data infrastructure and visualise the results also in a 3D form, or conducting spatial
analysis, such as visibility analysis enabling a fully interactive 3D environment that allow
users to navigate in the built VE. The integration of data acquisition, 3D modelling and 3D
GIS data into an AR environment through mobile platforms provides the opportunity for
DR, interaction and dissemination, enabling dynamic 3D contents to be built, visualized
and interacted with, supporting attributes and spatial analytical features, and being more
powerful than traditional methods (Yin, 2010). The construction of virtual objects and
models that can be visualized in situ create conditions that can be compared with pre-
existing experience and knowledge simplifying their understanding, offering potential
advantages in all stages of a planning process, from the initial problem to its representation
and verification within the same place where the proposal will be implemented (Riera,
2013).
There are several methods to combine GIS and Virtual Reality (VR)/Mixed Reality
(MR), although it is still difficult to achieve full integration, considering technical
limitations, which restrict the distribution and display of 3D representations on personal
computers and mobile devices. However, hardware developments (especially graphic
capabilities, related with rendering 3D models) together with broadband networks have
created the conditions towards making it possible to advance in the field of 3D GIS and
the resulting production of DR within VE/MR systems over the Internet, including
portable devices (adapted from Zhang, 2004). Efforts have been made to model the built
environment and planning scenarios using 3D GIS and VE/MR platforms to envision, for
example, the protection of buildings, sites, urban settlements, and landscapes (e.g. changing
use), as well as to explore and understand the potential impacts and interplay between
adjacent structures or adulterations (adapted from Bosselman, 1998; Kwartler & Bernard,
2001; Al-Kodmany, 2001; Arefi & Triantafillou, 2005; Steinicke et al., 2006 in Yin, 2010).
3D visualisation requires appropriate resources to visualise 3D spatial analysis as
tools to effortlessly explore and navigate through large models in real time (Zlatanova et al.,

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2002 in Milosavljevic et al., 2010). 3D GIS digital representations can provide information
on heritage, which is extremely valuable for several agents in the territory (e.g.
decision/opinion-makers, technicians, public, and promoters) in different domains (e.g.
political-administrative, social-economic, technical-scientific, and ideological-symbolic-
religious). One example of that is the value added to planning at different scales in real-
time (through web services/broadband networks) in their past, present and future (fourth
dimension), producing unprecedented opportunities for communication and collaboration
in different fields of knowledge. 4D GIS digital representations can be built to reflect the
past, existing and possible future conditions of cultural heritage with the current or
proposed appearance, façade, style, material and size, applied to buildings, urban
settlements, sites and landscapes (Yin, 2010).
DR bring the agents from different domains closer to a virtual/mixed/real site and
(re)present, for example, the impacts/consequences of a heritage analysis199 and
intervention, regarding for instance the relations between objects or use, function,
proportion, texture, volume, light and colour of a proposed development from any
perspective or navigation form that the stakeholder might select/decide.
According to Roussou & Drettakis (2003:1), “The area of virtual heritage has long
been concentrated on generating digital reconstructions […] to be truly accurate
representations of their real-world counterparts”. For Le et al. (2005:579), “Recently, virtual
heritage has emerged as a promising technology for conservation, preservation, and
interpretation of our culture and natural history”. According to Andrés & Pozuelo
(2009:105), “Discrete and subjective techniques to acquire information led to other massive
data acquisition techniques, including space and theme-related” in the article with the
suggestive title “Evolution of the Architectural and Heritage Representation”. Those
technologies reproduce faithfully the real world, going far beyond geometry or spatial
position (Andrés & Pozuelo, 2009). Salinas & Almirall (2010) reproduced a virtual 3D
model of Barcelona for the year 1714, creating a database with a wide variety of
information from ancient cartographic plans, drawings and other documents up until the
present. The Rome Reborn (Frisher, 2008) project uses 3D digital technology to represent
the evolution from the late Bronze Age (~BC 1000) to the Middle Ages (~ 552 AC), with
the peak of its development in 320 AC. The Rome Reborn project has several versions

199E.g. the work developed for the morphological analysis of heritage façades with the survey Terrestrial Laser Scanner Technology
(Sarmiento et al., 2013).

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available through Google Earth software (without cost) and it has over 650 million
polygons200. Another example of using these tools is the project PATRAC201 made for the
Barcelona Museum developing a 3D model creation and incorporating virtual and
augmented reality to improve the accessibility and user experience of a museum in a
wheelchair (Marambio Castillo et al., 2010).
The digital representations of cultural heritage have implications, perhaps
stimulating more travel (e.g. tourism) as a result of the initial available interaction (thus
potentially damaging the heritage) or maybe help to collect information, create better
accessibility and planning, managing, and coordinating human activities and conservation
(in a 4D real-time monitoring and assessment situation). The advances in GIT are placing
the world in a fast track to the knowledge of where all physical objects are located on Earth
in the present, but also in the past or future, especially regarding the interaction of Web-
based and mobile technologies (Sui & Goodchild, 2011). These emerging representations
of the physical world (regarding external affordances at different moments) and even the
mental world (through internal minds or imagined/simulated/synthetized) are also creating
opportunities for the development of virtual and real space realities (mixing digital
representations with the real world), not only on desktop computers, but increasingly also
on the people’s daily use of mobile devices.

200 Version 2.1. (October 2010) available at URL: http://vimeo.com/11805593 and

http://www.romereborn.virginia.edu/project_news.php (July, 2011).
201 Accessible Heritage: Patrimonio accesible: I+D+i para una cultura sin barreras.

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Chapter IV
Case Studies: Models and Mobile App
Development

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Chapter IV – Case Studies: Models and Mobile App

Development

1. Real and Expanded Synthetized Mixed Environments

Information and Communication Technologies have had important impacts in

recent decades, ranging from people’s lifestyles and ways of learning and working to the
interaction between institutions and society. Technology has transformed the procedures
involved in searching for information into a more interactive and fast process, increasing
the range of data dissemination and individual expectations (Fritz, 2005). Large amounts of
information in digital format have become more accessible to the user through the Internet
at fast growing speed and broadband access (increasing amount and size of transmitted
content). Social networks and other tools provide instruments to communicate and share
information within a synthetized virtual environment (parallel and associated with the real
environment), where people interact with each other in nearly real time. Several tasks that
once could only be done at the desk of an institution or, more recently, using a computer
(e.g. mail, bank transfers, and searching data) are now possible to realize everywhere, for
example, while in transport (Celewicz, 2016). Thus, there is an expansion of the public
(virtual) space and the users become “omnipresent” (e.g.
re-presented online through Skype) while meeting and
communicating, being physically almost anywhere.
However, this space is invisible, creating an invisible
society and technology is the link between the real and
virtual spaces. Mobility increased the influence of (social) Fig. 27 – Technological omnipresence
through digital representations
networks through individuals, being able to react or share
instantaneously posts, events or photos, allowing the fast and global dissemination of

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information and, as a consequence, making these structures apparently alive and vital.
These social networks might be dangerous for human privacy, isolation and physical
absence; however, on the other hand, they have allowed for the development of new forms
of human interaction, sometimes promoting previously inexistent contact between people
and creating new opportunities for humans (such as people meeting/finding each other or
getting together through technology).
Recent technical-scientific research has tried do analyse, replicate, and develop
technological structures and aptitudes analogous to the human brain. Several technological
innovations and concepts have been introducing significant words, such as smart or
intelligence, tied with the human brain and its capabilities (e.g. Smart building, Smart house,
Smart cities, Smartphone, Smart watch, Smart TV, Artificial Intelligence, Business
Intelligence). Cities are becoming “smart” and in many ways the kind of science reported
here can describe how they might become smarter, particularly through the dissemination
of this science using new forms of visualization and offering new ways of thinking about
the form and design of future built spaces (Batty, 2013). Townsend (2013) says that the
Smart city concept is hard to define because “smart” is an adjective that can convey several
meanings; however, this author refers that information technology makes part of it. Smart
city is then defined as a place where information technology is combined with
infrastructure, architecture, everyday objects, and even our bodies to address social,
economic, and environmental issues. Computers have been promoting digital data
acquisition, processing, and dissemination; however, with the emergence of mobile devices
a revolution in Human-Machine or Real-Virtual environment interfaces was initiated,
regarding multiple functions and
applications and their special features,
such as portability and mobility (fitting in
the pocket and taken almost anywhere by
its user). The use of smartphones had a
Fig. 28 – The expansion of the mind through technology. huge impact on society, changing human
behaviour, individually and between each
other, with information and communication technologies, and their perception of the
virtual and real spatial environment. As cognitive mapping, these devices can assist the user
in their position, relation to surroundings (knowing which objects, facilities, services, or

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people are near us) and help in navigation (e.g. Navigation Systems, such as GPS or
GLONASS). Moreover, they can also allow us to geotag or report a situation in a specific
place feeding powerful databases (such as Goodchild’s concept of “Human as Sensors”
and Volunteered Geographic Information - VGI), including the relatively new concept of
Big Data. The digital revolution has now penetrated our culture so deeply that the many
new forms of communication that have been transforming spatial environments are now
revealing previously unknown aspects in the form of large databases, providing us with
opportunities for analysis and modelling, quite different from the methods applied earlier
(Batty, 2013).
The use of a navigational coordinate system allows linking virtual data to the real
environment (the device knows where the user is) as a camera permits capturing real
images and mixing them with virtual synthetized digital representations, visualizing in real
time in the device screen. 3D virtual representations of objects allow us to model and
(virtual) travel through time, creating new methods of special analysis and visualization as
we perceive them in our heads (e.g. internal representations or imagination). Through
technology, both the virtual and the real worlds can be combined expanding the
space/time dimensions, human connectivity, and information/intelligence. Thus, through
technology individuals are able to expand the mind (adapted from Celewicz, 2016).
Rather than immersing a person into a completely synthetic world, Augmented
Reality (AR) attempts to embed synthetic supplements into the real world. This leads to a
fundamental problem: a real environment is more difficult to control than a completely
synthetic one (introducing unknown variables in a dynamic system). Augmented Reality
enhances the real world instead of replacing it. The users can view the real world enriched
with additional 3D graphics superimposed to their field of view. The possibility of
combining real and virtual objects will allow a huge amount of applications. In the field of
Cultural Heritage, AR is of the most outstanding technologies, considering the possibilities
to recreate 3D representations, to Virtual Time Travel (fundamental for cultural elements
that are often historically relevant), and Combine the virtual with the real world (e.g.
recreate some object from the past or viewing several phases of construction). This is more
valuable when using mobile devices since these are portable and can be used on site,
knowing the user’s position through navigation systems. Thus, AR made it possible to
enhance the real world with data and synthetized 3D detailed representations, changing the

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way we perceived the world and having spatial aids to navigate and alert us to our interests’
proximity in the field (e.g. emitting a sound or vibrating while navigating near some
relevant object), virtual time travel on site, and recreate or foresee objects in evolution or
that are nor even there. Therefore, technology is surely relevant for Cultural Heritage,
increasing its intrinsic value.

2. Mobile Apps Applied to Cultural Heritage

The phenomenon of smartphones and their capability to congregate broadband

Internet access, touch screen (allowing to access and perform several different tasks),
navigation systems with built-in GPS/GLONASS receivers (plus Assisted capability),
electronic compass, gyroscope, accelerometers, light and proximity sensors, front and rear
cameras, microphone, speakers, and other features, within a mobile device used every day
is remarkable, especially when combining virtual and real spatial information on site.
Moreover, society has been revealing to be extremely open and interested in these main
capacities (e.g. network connection as the Internet, mixed environments or navigation
support), demonstrated by the number of smartphone sales (estimations point to one third
of the world population shall possess a smartphone by 2017)202. Thus, mobile technology
cannot be ignored and the potential of growth is tremendous when it is clearly easy to
envision futuristic capabilities, such as using innovative materials (e.g. organic and/or
flexible screens); modular abilities; built-in projection capability (3D projection or
holograms203); potential brain connection or other similar concept of innovative “smart
connection”. Consequently, in the field of cultural heritage, it is important to embrace and
develop systems or applications with mobile capability to promote, enrich, and add value to
the existing (or not: projected/vanished) heritage.

202 In 2009, the number of smartphones sold worldwide was up to 170 million. By 2015, smartphones sold globally were more than 1.4
billion. By 2017, it is estimated that over a third of the world’s population will own a smartphone. Symbian’s sales (larger operating
system used in 2009) declined to about 28 million units in 2012, and later on were discontinued while the number of Android
smartphones sales increased from about 220 million units in 2011 to around 1.2 billion in 2015. Android’s market share jumped from 2%
in early 2009 to nearly 85% by 2016. Apple’s iOS is presently the second most popular operating system in the world, accounting for
around 17% to 24% market share (in the last few years). In 2015, Apple sold about 225 million iPhones (IOS). Microsoft’s operating
system is the third most popular operating system in the world, as the company sold around 26 million Windows Phone smartphones in
2015. Available at URL: http://www.statista.com/statistics/266219/global-smartphone-sales-since-1st-quarter-2009-by-operating-
system/ (September, 2016).
203 Special type of three-dimensional image made with a laser or other coherent light source in which the objects shown looks solid, as if

it were real, rather than flat. Adapted from Cambridge and Oxford dictionaries, available at URL:
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/hologram and http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/hologram
(September, 2016).

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2.1. Virtual Environments, Gaming Technology, and Cultural

Heritage

Gaming technology has been relevant for the development of AR capacities.

Devices such as consoles have incorporated the detection of movements and voice
recognition as input technology (e.g. Sony Play Station, Microsoft Xbox, or Nintendo Wii -
Wiimote). These examples of new system interfaces allow users to interact with
applications using voice commands, gestures, and body actions (Riera, 2013). A higher level
of interactivity204, mobile capacity, and AR capability allowed the release of games where
the user plays interactively in the real environment, using virtual or augmented data,
introducing new perspectives in gaming and connecting the virtual goals achieved with the
real world205. As these games became more popular, the limitations of the commonly called
labyrinth games referred by Gubern (1996) were tied with the fact that the structure of the
game is highly reduced: it is a path with a beginning, a sequence of movements peppered
with redundant incidents that the operator must try to control, and finally the users
punctuation will reward or disqualifies the user206. Using the real environment as a support
for the game can still be limited; however, it offers new choices and itineraries and presents
the user with real spatial location of, for example, points of interest, landmarks and icons
(contributing to the spatial recognition and navigation, while transmitting information
about the environment).
The geochaching207 game is an example of how to use real coordinates to find
several containers (similar to a treasure hunt). Commonly, the containers are placed in real
spaces, associated with relevant cultural or natural heritage, memories, legends, or scenic
views, attracting users and other people (revealing also the society’s demand for spatial data
and digital information on cultural/natural sites).

204 Such as “serious games” (Bellotti et al., 2009) [considered by Foni (2010) as computer games for education and training and by other
authors as interactive games].
205 E.g. the numerous Apps available on the market to view in real time through the device camera some fun drawings over the real user’s

face (e.g. Face Swap; Animal Face; Snap Filter; Snap Photo; Camera PIP).
206 This structure has many similarities to the labyrinth; it is also an itinerary-puzzle where you must save yourself from threats and

consecutive obstacles.
207 “Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. Participants navigate to a specific set of GPS

coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache (container) hidden at that location.” Available at URL:
https://www.geocaching.com/guide/.

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Fig. 29 – Geocaching map and register (description, coordinates and hints for the game quest). Example of the Lisbon
Aqueduct System element: Terras fountain.

This game was launched in 2000 and coincided with the decision of turning off the
GPS Selective Availability (SA) feature, making available an accuracy of 10 meters to
civilians (before, it was around 100 m), which led to the use of computers with internet
access to search for geocaches (with tips and descriptive texts), entering the coordinates
into a GPS receiver. Presently it is easier to access to all data using a smartphone with
Internet access, a GPS, or other navigation systems. There are several Apps available in the
market and we can access all the data, being online (or saving for offline use), and navigate
with the GNSS systems embedded in the mobile device. This game enables the user to find
interesting locations where the geocaches are positioned, helping them to navigate through
space, presenting relevant data about objects, regions, landscapes, or territories.
The phenomenon of the game
Pokémon Go208, introduced a mass
smartphone playing game with a huge
rate of downloads in a really short
period of time. This game announced
several new approaches combining
virtual and real worlds, using GNSS
navigation systems to locate the user in
the real environment and the Internet
to access virtual data superimposed Fig. 30 – Pokémon Go. Image of a map quest and AR
environment hunt for Pokémon’s (over Século fountain).
through the device camera in an AR
environment. This game has had a huge impact on society, probably due to the strong
208According to the website of the Guinness World of Records, the game Pokémon Go beat several records: the most downloaded game
in the first month (130 million times, even if was not launched in the same date across the world – launched in the US on July 6, 2016);
the most profitable game (206 million dollars in the first month); it featured in most international top charts in the first month
simultaneously (reaching the top of the charts in 70 countries and the top income in 55 countries); it took the fastest time to gross 100
million dollars by a mobile game (20 days).

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transition between common games, that used 2D virtual graphics, to a more exiting and
mixed environment interaction between the user physical (and mental) skills, the real world,
and the synthetized (virtual) world. This application intends to have the user navigating
through the real world determining spatially relevant locations represented in the device
screen. There are Pokémon Stops and Gyms that correspond to relevant landmarks in the
territory, simulating navigational skills, such as path integration and using spatial key
elements, such as the ones mentioned by Lynch, providing the user with knowledge of an
important location, such as Cultural Heritage elements. While “hunting Pokémons” the
device might alert the user to the proximity of a Pokémon (to catch), which can be done in
an augmented reality environment. This application can also identify if the user is walking
or in a transport considering the speed, asking if you are a passenger or else blocking the
game if the user is driving. Because of AR, and the success of games such as Pokémon Go,
users are gradually becoming aware of what it is like to play games or Apps using
smartphones merging the real and virtual environments. Therefore, the development of
other games and similar experiences using AR is stimulating the production of Apps that
are technologically advanced and engaging people209. These games can trigger several new
capabilities that might be applied to other purposes. The potential of applying Apps for
cultural heritage, especially for visitors, or for example considering tourism is enormous
and might take an individual to travel through an environment helping them to define a
certain type of decisions and choices, perhaps even aiding visually impaired people or
people with other disabilities.

2.2. Relevant Apps for Cultural Heritage

In the mobile device App markets, there are numerous offers suitable for using the
information required for a given request. There are several Apps that allow us to produce
interoperable information using our own data to Navigate (e.g. Sygic, NDrive, Meo Drive);
Access aerial imagery or other base cartography and visualize our own data online or
offline in a 2D, 3D, or even AR environment (e.g. Orux maps, ESRI, Collector, Google
Earth, Locus); Capture, process, and represent 3D models (e.g DJI Apps, Autodesk 123D

209 Augment App blog. Available at URL: http://www.augment.com/blog/augmented-reality-changing-the-gaming-landscape/

(October, 2016).

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Catch210); Represent 3D models in an AR environment (e.g. Augment); and Access specific

heritage data (e.g. IGeo Património, Rewind Cities Lisboa, Barcino). However, these
applications do not have always count on the support of official entities and the
information is sometimes outdated, which originates public distrust.

2.3. The iGeo Initiative and the App iGeo Património

In 2013, the former Portuguese Secretary of State of Ordenamento do Território e

Conservação da Natureza (Laduse Management and Nature Conservation) created a work team
called “Grupo de Trabalho para a Iniciativa Dados Abertos” (GTIDA - Open Data Initiative Work
Team) and invited the institution Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico – SIPA
(Architectural Heritage Information System) to participate in the development of the IGEO
initiative (iGEO).

Fig. 31 – iGEO portal with heritage information available through WMS/WFS web services (SIPA Heritage Inventory).

2103D modeling software from Autodesk, discontinued in January 2017 as reported in its official website: http://www.123dapp.com/
(April, 2017).

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Considering the previous work developed in SIPA’s Spatial Data Infrastructure,

geographic information and tools development, web services and viewers, the author of
this thesis was invited to represent and being SIPA’s spokesperson within the GTIDA
group. This initiative has been collecting several geographic data from the institutions
within the Ministry of the Environment, making this information available for companies,
education entities, and the public in general. The IGEO is based on geographic Web
Services (WMS/WFS) supported from the official institutions directly through the Internet.
These services (constantly updated by the producer in near real time) are available to users
through online resources (via portal igeo.pt), assisting geographic information users (mainly
GIS users), feeding online geographical viewers and three main mobile Apps:
– iGeo Natureza (“Nature”, using data from the ICNF – Institute for Nature
Conservation211, such as Protected Areas and Habitats);
– iGeo Ordenamento (“Spatial Planning”, using data from the DGT - General
Directorate for Territorial Management212, such as spatial planning plans);
– iGeo Património (“Heritage”, using data from the SIPA, such as protected / non
protected Heritage).

The iGeo Património App213 had information from the Natural and Cultural Heritage
from the SIPA Inventory214 within the Open Data Initiative Work Team and iGeo Initiative
(concerning the geographical data associated with SIPA’s Inventory) within the scope of a
partnership between the Secretary of State’s Office and Bitcliq (a private company) for the
development of the source code (open source and available). The assignment of the
GTIDA group was to develop the institutional geospatial data/metadata and collaborate in
the definition and implementation of iGEO portal (e.g. accessible data, contents, useful
links, FAQ, web service instructions) and iGEO mobile Apps (e.g. adapting geospatial and
digital resources for mobile search: protected/non-protected; updating administrative

211 Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e Florestas.

212 Direção-Geral do Território.
213 Available for Android and IOS (in the respective markets).
214 Managed since 2007 by the former IHRU, presently DGPC – Direção Geral do Património Cultural (Directorate-General for Cultural

Heritage ), the SIPA is characterized as a set of specialized information and documentation resources and interrelated architectural /
urban / landscape heritage. One of the key components of SIPA is the inventory, composed of about 40,000 records that include several
categories: building / structure, green space, urban and landscape together. Each of these registers is associated with photographs,
drawings and 63 alphanumeric data fields that characterize the inventoried object (e.g. designation, protection, type, location,
coordinates, or metadata). Within the INSPIRE directive, the need to create additional fields for the automatic extraction of BDSIPA
information was identified (subject, category, and type). Thus, it promotes the availability and geographic information visualization
through www.monumentos.pt website (Download Catalog, Web Map; WMS / WFS Services and Geographical viewer).

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boundaries, direct URL access to images and cartography, operation with the App, menus,
contents). In case of SIPA’s inventory, it only required data for mainland Portugal
(excluding islands and the Portuguese heritage in the world).

Fig. 32 – SIPA’s heritage inventory for Mainland Portugal, integrating 34145 registers; 26359 georeferenced, 3665
protected elements.

The App iGeo Património allows searching for heritage in Portugal (mainland215) by
administrative boundaries or by proximity to the current position, within two main data

Fig. 33 – App iGEO Património, available in the Android and Apple IOS App markets. 2016.

215Although the SIPA Inventory and repositories have data for the whole Portuguese territory, including islands. Moreover, includes also
the Portuguese heritage in the world, with special focus on the former Portuguese colonies (e.g. Angola, Brazil, Cabo Verde, East-Timor,
Goa-Damão-Diu India, Guinea-Bissau, Macau-China, Mozambique, and São Tomé e Principe).

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Fig. 34 – App iGEO Património’s architecture. Image by the author, 2013.

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sources: Protected and Non-Protected. Then, we can visualise a map with the
location of our search (and our position in the map through GPS) or in a list, giving access
to a small register for each element with picture and cartography, ensuring also the
possibility to link it with more information through the SIPA website (Fig. 33 and 34).
These three Apps were developed with the same basic structure source code (open
and available in GitHub for Android and IOS) and shared the same goals: promoting the
use of open data through web services and intentionally triggering the idea of using official
data to feed mobile apps (launching a challenge for the best mobile App using data from
the iGeo initiative).

2.4. Augmented Reality Mobile App Applied to Cultural

Heritage

The idea of whether technology increases or influences the value of Cultural

Heritage has led us to analyse and research a combination of current available technology
to be applied to cultural heritage, namely Remote Sensing, Unmanned Aircraft Vehicles
(UAV), 3D data acquisition, processing and representation, Geographic Information
Systems (GIS), Navigation Systems, Augmented Reality (AR), and Mobile Devices and
Applications.
Developing an AR App for Cultural heritage required a large amount of data
acquired from producers of geographic information, and creating datasets from base
cartography or acquired on field. Remote Sensing imagery supported all the spatial base
data, for example to georeference old cartography and to be able to identify ancient cultural
heritage systems (Lisbon Aqueduct System): paths and related elements (above ground or
underground), and verifying and validating the sections on the surface (with satellite/aerial
imagery). GIS supported the georeference process and vectorization of the path/objects
(lines and points) from the cultural heritage object, associating alphanumeric data (and
coding) within a database. The process involved drawing vectors and dots over the limits
shown in the ancient cartography and associating a database that identified the type of
object (e.g. aqueduct, fountain, other), title (official name given), building process
(projected, built, displaced), brief characterization (historical and descriptive), and

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possibility of visits for each element. 3D data was acquired using photography captured in
the field for this purpose (photographs with a minimum of 30% overlap around the object,
covering all the desired area), building 3D point clouds and meshes using a 3D modelling
processing software, and treating and defining 3D modelling parameters. To provide more
consistency to the model a base with a strong visible colour was created to facilitate the
identification of the model orientation when superimposed on the AR marker. UAV was
used to collect (aerial) data and 3D modelling of taller and larger objects harder to acquire
(from ground). Navigation Systems (GPS and GLONASS) supported the UAV position in
the field for the determination of the path and row, also placing the images taken and
permitting the fundamental (longitudinal and lateral) overlapping. Then, within the
application, the navigational systems were needed to recognize the position of the user in
space, when walking through the environment. The texts and ancient photographs were
based on analogic and digital bibliography research (especially books and heritage
inventories) and complemented with (georeferenced) photographs made in the field. Using
a 3D model App builder software and an AR platform, it was possible to construct one
prototype to visualise this information within a mobile device. Thus, we were able to use a
common and costless available plan of the city (Lisbon) as a marker and augment (through
the smartphone camera) the represented data with the path of the aqueduct and associated
elements, animate the water distribution over the city, represent over the map the 3D
models for each element of the structure, recognise the city morphology with the Digital
Terrain Model, understand the water flow by means of the gravity or visualise ancient
cartography from the city at the time the aqueduct system was built, recognizing the city
boundaries and further developments. Each element of the structure has access (pressing
the 3D model or represented vector) to a record that contains simple information, such as
text, ancient and present pictures. Beside this AR environment, it is possible to visualise the
cultural heritage elements in a digital detailed map and recognize our position in relation to
the system through the GNSS position. It is also possible to receive alerts from the device
when we are close to one of these elements with a vibration or sound (e.g. you are 150m
from object “x”).

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3. Case Studies: 2D, 3D, and 4D Models (Lisbon Aqueduct)

3.1. Lisbon Águas Livres Aqueduct System

The foundation of the city of Lisbon started in the hill of “São Jorge” castle (which
remained significant until the Middle Ages). The implantation in this location was due to
the defensive position associated with the fact that there were water resources, mostly
supplied by wells, fountains or existing tanks in the surroundings (“Alfama”). The Tagus
River would not be an alternative, since it is an estuary of reasonable dimensions, where
fresh river water is mixed with the salt water from the ocean. With the expansion and
modernization of the city towards the west (“Bairro Alto hill”) and the consequent
population growth, the water supply problem worsened. On the other hand, the hygiene
habits that came with the Renaissance, as well as the period of the Portuguese Discoveries
that required supplying ships, emphasized the lack of drinking water in Lisbon. According
to Chaves (1989) in Bruno and Inácio (2012), in 1720 at the period of the implementation
of the tax assessment (mainly on products such as wine, meat, olive oil, salt, or straw) for
the construction of the Aqueduct, the number of inhabitants of the city was estimated
around 200 000. The “Águas Livres” Aqueduct System was projected as one of the boldest

a) b)

c) d)
Fig. 35 – Lisbon Aqueduct in Alcântara valley: a) in 1912 (source - Arquivo Municipal de Lisboa: doc.
PT/AMLSB/PAG/000402; b) in 1930 (source - Arquivo Municipal de Lisboa: doc. PT/AMLSB/PAG/000401; c) in
2013 (source - FCT-UNL at URL http://eventos.fct.unl.pt/enterface13); d) in 2015 (source - from author).

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hydraulic engineering structures built in Portugal, crossing the municipalities of

Loures, Sintra, Amadora, and Lisbon. The works for the construction of this complex
system were iniciated in the 18th century. The appointment of Antonio
Canevari (an Italian architect) to direct the works in the aqueduct (in
1731) especially surprised the military engineer Manuel da Maia, who had
made much of the preparatory work accompanied by the Engineer-Major
Manuel de Azevedo Fortes, who was sceptical about the transportation
flows to Lisbon. In 1745, the direction of the works was handed to
Carlos Mardel (a Hungarian Architect) who developed a subsequent stage
in the inner city with the creation of 4 (from 5) supply galleries within the Fig. 36 – Mãe de
Água reservoir
city (“Rato”, “Loreto”, “Esperança”, and “Necessidades”). In 1763, the (interior). 2016.
architect Carlos Mardel died, and Miguel Angelo Blasco was appointed to
the position (prolonging and/or building subsidiary aqueducts of “Salrego”, “Rascoeira”,
“Bertão”, “Salgueiro Grande”, and “Francesas”). In 1771, Reinaldo Manuel dos Santos
became the director and architect of the works of the “Águas Livres”, accomplishing the
aqueducts of “Salgueiro Grande”, “Moura Grande”, “Moura Pequena”, “Carvalheiros”,
and “Olival Santissímo” (and a derivation from “Pia do Penalva” in the “Loreto” Gallery
to “Praça da Alegria” and to “Passeio Público” gardens - nowadays Av. da Liberdade). He
also intervened in the “Necessidades” Gallery and initiated the works of “Campo de
Santana” Gallery. In 1777, King Joseph I died and Maria I was crowned. After the death of
the architect Reinaldo Manuel dos Santos, the works continued under the direction of
Francisco Cangalhas (from 1792), who was replaced by his assistants, with a brief
interruption during the French governance period (when the works were directed by José
Therésio Michelotti). The works were completed in 1799, although the construction of
fountains and extensions continued up to the first half of the 19th century.
Built in limestone, the Águas Livres Aqueduct System, which has been deactivated
for 50 years, is presently an important historical and cultural heritage landmark in Lisbon.
The Lisbon aqueduct collected, transported, accumulated, and distributed water by gravity
(with a descent of ~3 mm per metre); it included the general aqueduct (14 km), the
subsidiary extensions, reservoirs, underground galleries and fountains, which in total
extended for a length of approximately 58 km. The highest point of the system is the
“Águas Livres” main spring, located in the municipality of Sintra, at a height of ~172

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a) b)

c) d)
Fig. 37 – Lisbon Aqueduct in Amoreiras (Lisbon): a) Inside the aqueduct section over Alcântara valley; b) Aqueduct at
surface, near Mãe de Água reservoir; c) Entrance for Loreto Galery (underground); d) Overview of Loreto Galery
(underground).

meters, and the main reservoir, Mãe de Água (Fig. 36 and Fig. 37b), is located in the centre
of Lisbon, at a height of 94 metres, culminating in the
various fountains that provided water to the population of
Lisbon. When the aqueduct was completed in 1799, it
distributed daily around 1300 m3 of water (tripling the
initial resources). However, the structure had a problem Fig. 38 – Patriarcal reservoir (interior).
associated with the lack of flow and therefore it still needed
to incorporate more water sources (springs) into the
system. The aqueduct was built to overcome the
growing need for water at that time, especially in the
western part of the city, contributing to the definition
of Lisbon’s urban morphology, although it
Fig. 39 – Esperança fountain. 2016. subsequently became insufficient to meet the city’s
water demand. The system was extended repeatedly
throughout the 19th century and this problem was only solved with the introduction of the
“Alviela” system in 1880. The aqueduct system remained in operation until 1967 and was
totally deactivated in 1968.

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The aqueduct was classified as a National

Monument in 1910 and its most remarkable section is
located in the Alcântara Valley (Fig. 35 and 37a). It is
also registered in the Guinness book of records as the
largest stone ogive arch in the world (65m high and 29m
wide). The existence of this structure in the city is not
obvious, especially because it is not visible (it is mostly Fig. 40 – Aqueduct demolition to give
space to what would be nowadays Infante
underground), although it has contributed to define in Santo Street. 1949. (source - AML:
PT_AMLSB_FMC_000006).
part the evolution of the territory (with regard to water
supply, but especially considering the impact of the implementation of the aqueduct
system). The use of technology applied to cultural heritage has enormous advantages to
better visualise and understand the importance of such elements, recognising the
connection between the structural elements (visible) and areas (known by its path). In view
of the importance of the Lisbon Aqueduct monument, research was undertaken for the
elaboration of a mobile device App (Android) that enables the visualisation of GIS
information and 3D modelling in the AR environment on site.

3.2. Mobile Applications Experimentation

Several trials were developed in the first experiment to analyse the potential and availability
of the mobile App constellation aiming at gathering, visualising, and representing cultural
heritage.

3.2.1. Lisbon Aqueduct Geographic Information

The structure of the aqueduct, mostly invisible in Lisbon, is only over ground in
Campo de Ourique and Infante Santo and is visible also in the fountains (Baroque). These
elements, despite their functional character connected to the urban water supply, still play
an important role in the scenic squares designed for that purpose by Carlos Mardel. Less

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exuberant are the fountains that deduct water along the main section of the structure,
mainly by the architect Reinaldo Manuel dos Santos.
The project of georeferencing “Planta Topográfica do Aqueduto Geral das Águas
Livres” (PTAGAL1856), from 1856, the “Planta Geral da Cidade de Lisboa”, from 1868

Fig. 41 – Example of georeferenced ancient cartography in several transparency stages over satellite imagery (Cartography
source – Planta Topográfica do Aqueduto Geral das Águas Livres, Lisboa, 1856: PTAGAL - IHRU/DSID, Desenho n.º
0131731, DGPC/SIPA).

(PGCL1868) and the mosaic of “Atlas da Carta Topográfica da Cidade de Lisboa”

(ACTCL1856), from 1856/58, directed by Filipe Folque, constituted the primary resources
to obtain the path of the aqueduct and were subsequently enriched with the research on
associated elements (through Remote Sensing or acquired on site) and spatial analysis,
enabling us to understand the infrastructure as a whole, regarding the different stages of its
implementation and the constraints overlaying land use and planning information. After
the survey of the required information and comparative analysis with various geographic
information themes at different time scales, we found new possibilities of approaches
concerning the study and analysis of missing elements and the location in situ by
geographical coordinates. Regarding the Águas Livres Aqueduct, a complex structure
several kilometres long and with numerous sections, the use of cartography PTAGAL
1856, PGCL1968, and ACTCL1856, scanned (and mosaic built for ACTCL1856) and
positioned, revealed to be extremely useful for the identification of much of the path of the
main aqueduct, adductors, distribution galleries and associated elements, enabling the
delimitation of traces on the territory, as well as missing objects, displaced or projected but
never executed.

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Fig. 42 – Ancient cartography georeferenced with the aqueduct path (Source of cartography: Planta Geral da Cidade de
Lisboa (1868), Lisbon Municipality).

The identification of the Lisbon Aqueduct System structure and associated

elements was conducted to develop a dataset (location) within the GIS project, consisting
mainly of georeferenced segments and dots (X, Y). The identification of the aqueduct
system was obtained through the ancient cartography (built mosaics) georeferenced using
the ESRI ArcGIS 10.1/2/3 and QGIS Lisboa /Valmiera GIS software (Fig. 42 and 43).

Fig. 43 – Lisbon Aqueduct System delimitation over Google Earth’s satellite imagery and 3D terrain model (vectored in
GIS software and imported to Google Earth KML format).

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The Aqueduct System (path and elements) was vectorised (lines and dots) with the
support not only of ancient cartography, but also of current satellite imagery (from ESRI
Web Services and Google Earth Pro, as complementary data sources)216 and Google Earth
Street View. Different colours and symbols were defined to better recognize the main
aqueduct section, subsidiary galleries and elements, such as fountains (projected but never
built, built, displaced, and vanished), reservoirs, and ventilation. Official institutional217
alphanumeric information about each element and gallery of the aqueduct was added to the
final dataset (e.g. identification of the element, author/architect, description, chronology,
link to an online institutional register).
After integrating this dataset within the markets available for mobile apps (e.g.
Google Play, IOS218), individuals can use the device’s GPS/GLONASS,
gyroscope/compass, acceleration sensors and camera, for the on-site visualisation of the
elements of the aqueduct location, not only over ground but also underground (therefore
not visible).

Digital Terrain Model (DTM)

The DTM was built using the contours (lines) and heights (dots) for the Lisbon
municipality terrain dataset and the results can be viewed interactively using a fly through
tool (3D Scene from ESRI ArcGIS 10 software). The general aqueduct was drawn in
orange and the distributing galleries (mostly underground) in yellow. The reservoirs were
represented with red squares and the fountains with circles, with different symbols to
denote their current condition: existing, demolished, moved, or projected (and not built).
Considering that the demonstration of this 3D scene has a higher impact when visualised
in an interactive digital form (3D GIS software), to visualise this representation in a static
image, the content was simplified showing the terrain surface (DTM) with 50%
transparency, allowing to see the extent of the infrastructure and existing fountains (Fig.
44).
This 3D Scene enables users to have an impressive overview of the entire structure
and better understand the aqueduct system throughout the city and the base terrain

216 With the support of the former team, Architectural Heritage Information System (SIPA) integrated in Housing and Urban
Rehabilitation Institute, nowadays Directorate-General for Cultural Heritage.
217 www.monumentos.pt- Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitetónico da Direção-Geral do Património.
218 App markets for Apple IOS and Android mobile operating systems.

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(verifying the water distribution through gravity), and of pertinent associated information
(e.g. author, description, or chronology) and operating principles (e.g. elements that can or
cannot be visited). This experience gives the users a faithful correspondence of the reality

Fig. 44 – Detail of the 3D representation of the Lisbon Digital Terrain Model and the plan of the Lisbon Águas Livres
Aqueduct.

and in some cases, where the path or elements were interrupted or vanished (demolished or
changed), it provides them with a perspective from the past, understanding the complex
linkages and transport/distribution of water in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.

3.2.2. Mobile App Trials

The first application used was the ESRI App, available in the market within the
Android mobile operating system. Considering ArcGIS users it is extremely simple to
connect a (MXD219) project (already built or created for this purpose) to ArcGIS online and
make a map (or web map) available through the Internet, which is possible to visualise
within a mobile platform. The shapefiles created within the MXD ArcGIS project for the
aqueduct system were divided in lines (e.g. main collector and galleries) and dots (e.g.
fountains, air vents, system entrances). The base data was satellite imagery and the
alphanumeric information associated was the type of object, title, schedule/cost of visits

219 ESRI ArcGIS software project file.

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and a link to the object register available in SIPA’s official online data (with text, photos,
and cartography).

Fig. 45 – ESRI App with geographic information overlay, capability to search, measure, access alphanumeric data, and
available links to official website register (SIPA).

The ESRI also developed the Collector App, which allows visualising data in a
mobile device, but with the particularity of working offline and editing or adding
information in the field, e.g. changing the text (e.g. updating data) or adding a picture and
later synchronising it online and uploading (updating) all the data. It is also possible to
convert georeferenced raster (in TPK file format), add it to the App and altering these data
in the field (rasters and vectors) turning the geographical themes on or off.

Fig. 46 – ESRI Collector App with geographic information overlay, capability to search offline, measure, access
alphanumeric data, and edit (further synchronization through ArcGIS online).

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The Locus Map App reveals an enormous potential to recognise on-site the
configuration of the very complex aqueduct structure, having dynamic information, such as
the distance and azimuth or (when installed) the possibility to use a common navigation
application (e.g. CoPilot, MeoDrive, NDrive, Sygic).
As with many other applications available in the market, it is possible to visualise
the dataset in an online/offline map and with the availability of GNSS, we can identify
one’s relative position to the elements on site. This trial was particularly relevant
considering the use of the App’s augmented features, especially because the main elements
are located under the city and the aqueduct system can be recognised while the user is
walking above ground. Thus, the objects can be identified by visualizing the designation
and location using the mobile device camera while walking (Fig. 47).
Additionally, the radius can be enlarged, adapting the amount of data displayed (in
the area around the current position) and finally accessing several relevant datasets

Fig. 47 – Sequence of examples using GIS data in an Augmented Reality environment (Janelas Verdes Fountain).

associated with that element (including an Internet link to additional institutional online
information) by pressing the displayed identification dot.
Another trial consisted of carrying out research for the existence of 3D models in
Internet catalogues with a relevant LoD and visualise them in the Augment Mobile App.

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The procedures involved the adaptation and conversion formats, compatible with the AR
application to be used in the mobile device. Once imported, an AR marker (e.g. satellite
imagery as in the example used in Fig. 48) can be defined or visualised over any chosen
surface. However, in the case of not using AR markers, the visualisation in the field may be
associated with real coordinates (a georeferenced 3D model) and eventually enable the
possibility to access more information about the object. This application is extremely
useful, especially when the available data is of a high quality. It therefore enables the
visualisation of 3D models in an AR environment, allowing to augment the

Fig. 48 – Using a built 3D model (from internet catalogues) in an Augmented Reality environment. Example of Lisbon
Águas Livres Aqueduct over the Alcântara Valley.

information in a 2D format regarding the advantages explained above. However, this

application can prove to be unsatisfactory, considering the general LoD of the 3D models
available in the general catalogues.

Figure 49 schematically synthesises the methodology, procedures and fluxes of data

involved in the trial that were performed and discussed above.

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Fig. 49 – Final approach to model / represent 3D models and their visualisation in an augmented reality environment.

Based on digital cartography, in the case of the 2D vector, the volume associated
with alphanumerical “z” values can been created (in the case of a building that has, for
example, the number of floors, the user can assign a medium height and multiply it to
calculate an estimation of the building’s volume), while on raster documents (e.g. satellite
imagery or ancient cartography) the process requires 2D/3D drawing and eventually adding
texture (e.g. building façades) or other features (e.g. audio or video). In the case of a built
3D model (e.g. Internet catalogues), it may be necessary to convert or adapt to other
formats, compatible with the AR application to be used in mobile devices. A 3D scan can
be carried out using several techniques, geomatics, sensors and terrestrial or aerial
platforms, taking into consideration scale and object availability. The UAV point cloud
extraction by image-matching overlapped images produces rapid data acquisition and
processing results. In view of the high LoD and the large amounts of data retrieved from
the models produced, it is frequently necessary to filter and down sample to further

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improve the performance of the model, especially in mobile platforms (considering the
graphics and processor capacity). The models produced required some adjustments
regarding graphic correction, scale and positioning. Once the 3D model has been imported
to the AR application, a marker can be defined (e.g. satellite imagery, ancient map, or a
tourist map, as in the previous examples) or visualised over a certain chosen surface.
However, in the case of not using AR markers, the visualisation in the field may be
associated with real coordinates (a georeferenced 3D model) and eventually enable the
possibility to access more information about the object.
Smartphone cameras and Surround Shot modules (camera modes for Samsung
Galaxy) or, for example, the Google Cardboard Camera App allow to capture and create
360º pictures (Fig. 50) and Virtual Reality experiences (Fig. 51) very quickly, simply and

Fig. 50 – 360º image of the Carmo fountain (Lisbon Aqueduct System). Image by the author, 2017.

Fig. 51 – VR image of the Carmo fountain (Lisbon Aqueduct System) to be viewed with a Google Cardboard or VR
Glasses.

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absent from the real world (HMD) through

the represented Digital Representation in
stereoscopic view and using the device
sensors as magnetometers, accelerometers
and gyroscopes. Thus, the user has the
feeling of being (re)present in that
synthetized Virtual Reality, not only
stimulating sight, but other senses as well, Fig. 52 – VR visualization of the Lisbon Aqueduct System
elements. Image by the author, 2017.
e.g. introducing previously captured
ambience sound (as the Google Cardboard
Camera App) and using for example headphones to stereo atmosphere.
The tests that were performed constituted some rehearsals to verify the potential of
this technology as part of an ongoing mobile application development. The intention was
to integrate the most adequate solutions for the mobile application implementation and
therefore reach an understanding of this technology’s potential application for heritage
valuation. Specific interviews to verify these assumptions were planned to be conducted
not only with specialised technicians, opinion/decision-makers, promoters, and other
stakeholders, but also with common users.

3.2.3. Collecting and Modelling 3D Objects Using Terrestrial

and UAV Data

3.2.3.1. Acquired Terrestrial 3D data

Besides using already built and available 3D models from several Internet
catalogues, the creation of 3D models could be carried out with common software (e.g. 3D
Studio Max, Blender, Sketchup, or City Engine), with a high LoD and without losing
performance while inserting it into the augmented reality application. However, the use of a
survey point cloud based on a collection of fieldwork photographs proved to be surprising,

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taking into account its rapid acquisition and processing capabilities with the additional
advantage of being authentic220 (Fig. 54, 55, 56).
The Agisoft – Photoscan software221 is a smart automated processing system,
allowing for the creation of rapid and authentic 3D models with the
simple use of pictures with a pre-determinate capturing method
carried out in the field (Fig. 53).
Object
The processing stages of the workflow, besides being very
organised and intuitive for the user, allow for the adjustment of
several specific tasks and adequate different types and sources of data
Fig. 53 – Capturing photos
(multiple scales, objects, environments and/or using different devices in Agisoft PhotoScan
(source: Agisoft).
and techniques). The software generates 3D models extremely
quickly, with regard to the procedures of inserting and aligning
photos, and building dense clouds, meshes and textures (with a wide variety of output
formats). However, the technical challenge is to simplify these 3D models (with the
elimination of faces for example) without losing the realism of urban elements. With this
software, it is possible to draw masks in the pictures taken to reduce the area of the image
that the software has to process, identifying common pixels. The position of the pictures
(cameras) made by the software (alignment) is commonly amazingly accurate and very near
the reality. During the modelling process, it is possible to eliminate data that could
introduce unnecessary noise to the final result. The parameters used depend on computer
capacity and final results objective, considering the limited resources of the current most
commonly used mobile devices222.

220 This is valid for existing buildings, although it is also interesting to capture present pre-existences and develop 3D virtual recreations
of non-existing constructions; in this case, with the previously mentioned common 3D available software (e.g. 3DS, Blender, Sketchup or
City Engine).
221 Considering the data processing and 3D modelling software, it is important to refer that besides the software Agisoft (and Bentley)

used, there are other software resources relevant for 3D modelling, such as: 1. Bundler – “takes a set of images, image features, and image
matches as input, and produces a 3D reconstruction of camera and (sparse) scene geometry as output.” Available at URL:
http://www.cs.cornell.edu/~snavely/bundler/ ; 2. Visualsfm – “GUI application for 3D reconstruction using structure from motion (SFM)”
Avalilable at URL: http://ccwu.me/vsfm ; 3. Microsoft Photosynth – “Photosynth is a free service from Microsoft that stitches your digital photos
together into a 3D model and provides an interactive viewer for exploring the model in detail”. Available at URL:
https://www.microsoft.com/web/solutions/photosynth.aspx (April, 2017).
222 It was intended to develop a mobile App accessible to the main current mobile devices and a broad number of people. Therefore, it

needed to be realistic, but also very responsive, simplifying the 3D models for its overall performance.

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The parameters used were:

Align photos:
Accuracy: high (accuracy of the position of the photo)
Pair preselection: generic (Allows you to speed up the process of aligning
photos, or identifying photos that probably do not overlap)
Key point limit: 40 000 (Accuracy for each photo / maximum limit of key
points in each image / higher values mean more resources)
Tie point limit: 1 000 (Sets a limit on the number of points that link one
image to another)
Constrain features by mask: mask done: enable (Masking region information
is discarded / check mask usage)

Build dense cloud:

Quality: high (Precise geometry and more detailed)
Depth filtering: moderate (Mild for complex geometry and Aggressive for
images with less detail, Moderate is an intermediate parameter)

Build mesh:
Surface type: Arbitrary (Arbitrary for objects, Height Field for flat surfaces)
Source data: dense cloud
Face count: high (Number of faces)
Interpolation: enable (Closes "holes" with enable; extrapolated tries to close
the maximum)

Build texture:
Mapping mode: generic
Blending mode: mosaic (default)
Texture size: 2048 (Texture size)
Unable colour correction (Only for results with high brightness)

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Fig. 54 – 3D Model generation. Terras fountain example, through fieldwork image collection.

The 3D models produced with the Agisoft software can be exported into Collada
format and imported into the Augment Mobile App. As the 3D model did not stand out, in
the AR environment, a bright coloured 3D base (under or/and behind the model) was
added to increase the contrast when visualised and associated with the AR marker (Fig. 55).

Fig. 55 – Using 3D developed model in an Augmented Reality environment. The Janelas Verdes Fountain example.

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Fig. 56 – Janelas Verdes Fountain 3D developed model and graphic improvement created with the SketchUp software.

The Agisof Photoscan software has also the possibility of visualising the built 3D
models in the Stereo feature, which allows the user to have a 3D experience (out of the
screen), using simple 3D anaglyph glasses (red and blue lenses). Figure 57 has this stereo
effect to be visualised with anaglyph glasses.

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Fig. 57 – 3D model of Carmo fountain (element of Lisbon Aqueduct) in stereo mode. To be visualized with a pair of anaglyph glasses (red and blue lenses).

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3.2.3.1. UAV Acquired 3D Data

The Águas Lives aqueduct system has several elements that permit the collection of
data by using simply terrestrial images (on site) and creating point cloud meshes.
Otherwise, considering the dimension and volume of objects such as “Mãe de Água das
Amoreiras”223, it is very difficult to conduct a survey without using high or aerial platforms.
Thus, the usage of a UAV greatly simplifies the assignment of collecting data and
processing them, although these data are authentic with an impressive LoD. The flight was
prepared with the support of the start-up company GEODRONE224, with the personal
effort of its founder, João Marques.

The survey required a number of preparation tasks:

i) Authorisation permits to use the object aerial space;

ii) Weather and safety circumstances, light conditions, radio frequency and signal
interference tests;
iii) GPS and compass calibration;
iv) Flight path determination (considering flight height and surrounding objects).

Considering the permit obtained (in July, 2015) from the president225of the Board
of the Águas de Portugal (AdP) group226 to access the “Mãe de Água” reservoir building,
more specifically to the roof (an open area with more than 1300 m2) to launch the UAV,
the flight was set to the 2 September, 2015, for the aerial data acquisition. However, on that
specific day, the winds were more than 30 km/h and therefore, we decided to perform on
that day only tests of interferences and analyse possible constraints to the flight (e.g. like
cables or antennas) and postpone the survey to other day. Thus, we scheduled the flight for
the 10 September, 2015, at 4.30 pm.

223 Built between 1746 and 1834 by Carlos Mardel and Reinaldo dos Santos, the reservoir has a parallelepiped form measuring 37m x
33m, with a height of 17m.
224 Geodrone, more information at URL: www.geodrone.pt (February, 2017).
225 Mrs. Mariana Castro Henriques.
226 Through its holdings, the AdP Group operates nationwide, right from the north to the south of the country, providing services to the

municipalities that are simultaneously shareholders of the companies that manage the multi-municipal systems. Available at URL:
http://www.adp.pt/en/adp-group/who-we-are/?id=5#sthash.Dv6zZIed.dpuf (November, 2016).

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After the authorization and flight preparations, the release of the drone was made
with a safe distance, complying with legal requirements (flying within Line Of Sight and
lower than 120 meters). After gaining the predetermined altitude (~50m) the drone flew
autonomously, according to the flight plan previously set in the computer (with a path/row
established) and accomplished the acquisition of 201 georeferenced pictures, using the
inbuilt GPS.
The camera was set to take the pictures according to the altitude and velocity to
capture the area needed according the image overlay. In this flight, the operator (João
Marques from Geodrone) preferred to control the UAV in the take-off and landing for
precautionary measures.

UAV image and flight parameters:

 Date: 10 September, 2015

 Height: 50.3 meters
 Images: 201 (198 used) with:
- Resolution of 5456 x 3632 pixels;
- Focal length of 16 mm;
- Pixel size: 4.4 x 4.4 um;
- Overlapping: 75% and 65% (lateral).

Based on the information collected by the UAV, several experiments were

conducted using different advanced processing software packages to develop the 3D
models of the Lisbon aqueduct structures. With the pictures acquired in the survey, the
next stage involved transferring the data to the computer and preparing the processing
phase. The software used to build the point cloud was, once again, Agisoft PhotoScan and
Bentley Context Capture.

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Fig. 58 – UAV data acquisition in Mãe de Água reservoir (Lisbon Aqueduct Structure): Setting the UAV flight plan (left)
and camera locations (right).

The following workflow processes and results are quite dissimilar regarding Agisoft
Photoscan and Bentley ContextCapture.

To conduct the UAV survey, the following steps were necessary: Flight preparation;
Data acquisition; Data processing; and Model construction.

i) Flight preparation: flight plan parameters (height,

overlapping, time, focal distance, camera data,
spatial resolution, image coordinates) and survey
security (regarding aspects such as safety,
interferences and calibrations);

ii) Data acquisition (flight);

Fig. 59 – Flight plan and images taken in
Mãe de Água building for 3D modelling.

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iii) Data processing and model construction (Agisoft Photoscan software):

a) Loading photos; inspecting loaded images and removing unnecessary images;
b) Inspecting loaded images, removing unnecessary data (and creating masks);
c) Aligning photos;
d) Building dense point cloud;
e) Building mesh; 3D polygonal model;
f) Texturing the 3D model;
g) Calculating Digital Elevation Model and Digital Terrain Model;
h) Ortho image;
i) Exporting results.

Area: 298.000m x 309.000m

Dots: 105 million dots
Average density: 1747,104 point/m2
Size: 2.6GB

iv) Data processing and model construction (Bentley ContextCapture software)

a) Loading photos (georeferenced);
B) Aerotriagulation;
C) Building mesh (47 tiles);
D) Final product (texture automatic added);
E) Exporting results.

Area: 298.000m x 309.000m

Dots: 680 million dots
Average density: 13829,761 point/m2
Size: 18.5GB

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Considering the same base information, the workflow is more extended in Agisoft
than in Bentley and for the same area and data (number/quality of images), Bentley creates
a tiling mesh superior in density and overall number of the point cloud; however, the size is
also higher. The results can be visualised in Figures 60 and 61, taken approximately from

Fig. 60 – 3D modelling of the Mãe de Água (Lisbon Aqueduct System) and detailed area results using Agisoft Photoscan
software. Source: images by GEODRONE, 12-03-2016.

Fig. 61 – 3D modelling of the Mãe de Água (Lisbon Aqueduct System) and detailed area results using Bentley software.
Source: images by GEODRONE, 12-03-2016.

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the same angle allows to verify that they are quite dissimilar, especially when observed in
detail and without texture.

The results of the UAV survey consist in several outputs and visualization in
different perspectives, such as 3D Point Cloud; Mesh (solid, wireframe); Texturized 3D
model (anaglyph stereo visualization); DEM; DTM; and Ortho Image.

Fig. 62 – 3D model of the Mãe de Água reservoir (Lisbon Aqueduct System) with data acquired using UAV. Results
obtained from Mesh (left) and texturized in the 3D model (right) in different perspectives. Other results: Digital Elevation
Model, Digital Terrain Model, and Ortho Image.

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Fig. 63 – Mãe de Água Reservoir 3D model (UAV) and graphic improvement for AR visualization.

Similar to the terrestrial 3D models, this UAV-acquired 3D model also needed a

base with a bright colour to increase contrast and make it stand out, while pointing the
camera to the official Lisbon plan (as a marker) the AR environment using mobile
platforms.

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Chapter V – Building an App for the Lisbon Aqueduct

Chapter V
Building an App for the Lisbon Aqueduct

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Chapter V – Building an App for the Lisbon Aqueduct

Chapter V - Building an App for the Lisbon Aqueduct

1. LX_W App Architecture

Using a constellation of applications available in the

markets and applicable to several possible study objects in the
field of Cultural Heritage, it was performed several experiments
with and analyses of the main (mobile) technologies and
capabilities perceived as potentially significant for the
valorisation of heritage227. Thus, our intention was to integrate
these main capabilities expected to increase the intrinsic value
of the study object into a single developed App. The idea of
using an existing infrastructure, object228 or free distribution
brochure/map as an AR marker led to four main potential
solutions: i) using a certain position (given by GPS) and
pointing the device camera in a specific angle to the aqueduct
elements, functioning as markers (image matching); ii) QR Fig. 64 – Tourist in a terrace
programing their tour in Lisbon
codes spread near the aqueduct elements; iii) City map available consulting the official city free
plan.
in several MUPIs229 spread across the city (usually with the
place location “You are here”) or; iv) A convenient and simple map that a tourist can get
for free in any tourist information desk. A portable map that could be taken everywhere,
including navigating through the city and being enriched with (thematic) information in an
AR environment was the preferred solution. This simple map already exists (and is
distributed in tourist information centres) as an available resource, with the advantage that

227 Some of them presented in the previous chapter (IV).

228 Monument recognition through image matching techniques over a certain angle.
229 French acronym “Mobilier Urbain Pour Information” (Urban Furniture for Information).

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the user can be anywhere with no need to move to a specific and particular location (this is
especially relevant when there is limited access to a site, e.g. due to construction works or
the tourist’s incapacity). This map can be taken everywhere; it can be stored (to reuse later);
and it is available for free.
Therefore, considering the
possibility of mixing the existing
analogic representation and
virtual environments, digitally
augmenting and enriching this
map with unlimited (thematic)
data resources, accessing diverse
information, might increase the
Fig. 65 – Portable city free map enriched by digital thematic AR data.
value of the cultural heritage
objects, introducing new forms of visualizing them. The main objective was to augment
(through mobile devices) non-visible or non-existing cultural/historical data over a simple
tourist map, distributed for free and obtained in any part of the city of Lisbon. Several
possibilities were proposed, such as: i) The ancient Fernandina City Wall (Fig. 66), built
in 1373-1375, from which only a few parts are still visible in the city. Thus, it would

Fig. 66 – Georeferencing ancient cartography with the limits of the Lisbon Fernandina Wall. Vectorization, visualization
and analysis. Image from the author. 2011.

be interesting to visualize the city within the walls, its main gates and implantation; ii)
Another possibility was Lisbon before the 1755 earthquake, helping to understand how the
city was before this event, that deeply transformed the city (buildings, morphology, relation
of the city with the river and urban boundaries) and relating it with the reconstruction and
evolution until today; iii) The Water and the City theme (which gathered more consensus),
regarding the importance of this vital resource for the people in the city.

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The Lisbon Aqueduct System, protected as National Monument (since 1910230),

was relevant for the urban development and city morphology, with the enormous
advantage of being partly existing and possible to visit. However, in the city centre, the
remains of this important landmark are mostly underground and are not known by visitors
or even by some inner residents. The idea was to increase the intrinsic value of this cultural
heritage object; in this case, considering not only the individual elements of the aqueduct,
but also the wider delimitation of the entire system (over years of constant construction),
identifying the most relevant path and associated elements, starting from several springs,
subsidiaries and distribution aqueducts and galleries, vents, connections with the exterior
and culminating in the fountains, spread throughout some of the most relevant and
growing locations within the city (18th to 20th centuries). Most of these places are within the
most touristic and visited areas of Lisbon231, which could not be detached from cultural
heritage knowledge and dissemination, considering the potential interest of a tourist to
discover the city. However, this map has several versions, launched every year, which
created a problem when associating the App with the map as a marker and thus it needed
constant updating. Even though, for example, the map of 2016 could be recognised when
the first base used was the map of 2015, this only happened because the new version of the
map had some minor changes, which were not very significant.
With the support of the Computer Science Department of the Faculty of Sciences
and Technology of NOVA University of Lisbon, namely Professor Teresa Romão,
Professor Fernando Birra and Antero Pires, it was presented a proposal for the App’s
architecture (Fig. 67) together with its main features taking into consideration the
experiments that had previously been performed and the available (build) data 232 to
construct a mobile App. This proposal of architecture had several enhancements until the
final project (as well as the App’s features). The architecture proposed had several
adaptations and could easily be adapted for other thematic approaches within the main idea
of augmenting the value of cultural heritage.

230 Legislation Decree 16-06-1910, DG,1.ª serie, n.º 136 of 23 June, 1910.
231 Neighborhoods/parts of the city, such as Baixa-Chiado, Bairro Alto, Rato, Santos, or Janelas Verdes. These areas concentrate high
number of tourist interests and related services (e.g. cultural sites and heritage, temporary accommodation, museums).
232 These data were developed with the support of SIPA (Portuguese Inventory and Archives of Cultural Heritage at the Central Level) in

particular Luís Marques (Geographer) and Paula Figueiredo (Historian), during 2010 (georeferencing ancient cartography, using the
source- planta topográfica do Aqueduto Geral das Águas Livres de Lisboa, 1856, SIPA desenho n.º 0305626). However, these data were
totally verified and remade in 2014/15 after obtaining several collections of ancient cartography (Planta Geral da Cidade de Lisboa -
1868, Lisbon Municipality and Atlas da Carta Topográfica de Lisboa, Filipe Folque 1856-58).

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Fig. 67 – Lx_W App architecture. 2016.

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Chapter V – Building an App for the Lisbon Aqueduct

2. App Development

The visualisation of 3D models in an AR environment can be achieved by

recognising (a marker’s) features of an image, such as the Official City Plan, that is free and
easily available (Figs. 68, 69, 70,
and 71). This procedure is
carried out with the
digitalisation of the Lisbon Plan
and the definition of samples of
image targets, which will then
be detected by the AR software
development kit,
superimposing the Lisbon Fig. 68 – App icon to view over the Official Lisbon Plan in situ.
Aqueduct System (LAS)
representation on top of it by recognising key elements in the target image. Thus, users are
able to simply open the application (App), point the camera to the paper city map and
visualise the information in an AR environment.

Fig. 69 – Mãe de Água reservoir 3D model and AR environments using the city map as a marker.

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Fig. 70 – Official Lisbon Plan of 2016 used as image target for the AqueductAR App (source: Turísmo de Lisboa and El Corte Inglés). Use to visualize the Lx_W App
available at URL: www.luisfilipemarques.com.
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Chapter V – Building an App for the Lisbon Aqueduct

Fig. 71 – 3D models (terrestrial, UAV) from the main elements of the structure of the Lisbon Águas Livres Aqueduct.

The App’s development required an enormous effort to reduce the size of the
geographic information and cultural heritage elements of the LAS, such as 3D models,
ancient cartography, photographs (old and current), vectors, maps, and digital terrain
models, without losing the Level of Detail. This is particularly relevant when we consider
that mobile App’s performance and the need for it to adapt to multiples devices. However,
although the main objective was to develop an App prototype to include at least one
feature to demonstrate the potential of this technology, as the 3D models and cartography
started to be inserted into the App to be represented within an AR environment, it was
soon evident that it would be better to divide the App into two related Apps:

1. The first App – Aqueduct AR233, with the AR environment through the mobile
device camera (3D models, Ancient cartography, DTM and respective animations);

2. The second App – Aqueduct GPS234, with the associated multimedia (Text,
Pictures, List, location and LAS representation over a Map) and the feature of
proximity alert [which alerts the user within 150 meters of the object (LAS)].

233 AqueductAR, Available at URL: http://www.luisfilipemarques.com/site/doctor/ (February, 2017).

234 AqueductGPS, Available at URL: http://www.luisfilipemarques.com/site/doctor/ (February, 2017).

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Chapter V – Building an App for the Lisbon Aqueduct

The AR component of the AqueductAR App was developed using the paper map
as a marker (Official Lisbon Plan) recognized by the Vuforia AR framework. However,
these maps changed every year during the App development (from the end of 2014, 2015
and beginning of 2016). Although, the software recognized all the maps as image targets,
due to the similarities between them, they had to be updated to the most current one each
time. Since Vuforia SDK uses OpenGL ES (GLES) that accepts basic matrix of geometric
vertices, vertex normal and texture coordinates, corresponding to a single texture file, we
had to create a conversion from FBX, OBJ or Collada 3D outputs (exported from Agisoft)
to GLES format (through a small parser/program built)235. Therefore, we used the
Vuforia’s Unity extension that accepts most common 3D formats, such as Collada (format
used), plus this extension had more documentation on placing 3D models than Vuforia
(Pires, 2016). Using Vuforia’s Unity extension allowed us to import successfully the 3D
models without draining the battery or slowing down the device. This App was developed
exclusively for Android devices and it was tested with several versions (4.2 Jelly Bean, 5
Lollipop; 6 Marshmallow) and smartphone/tablet screens (Samsung Tab 3 - 8’’; Nexus 5 -
4, 95’’; Samsung S5 - 5.1’’, respectively). The Official Lisbon Plan has the representation of
the whole of Lisbon municipality, with a small detached square that represents the
downtown area. Both areas (Large map and this small square) recognise the aqueduct data,
when we point the camera to view it within an AR environment. This characteristic proved
to be very useful: while using this App in the field, a user would have no need to open the
map (no need to stop) and therefore the user could simply use the shorten version in one
hand while walking through the city, consulting the paper map and visualising the AR data
when relevant.
The following sequence of icons and images summarises the main features available
in the AqueductAR App. The layout is very simple, having the real environment captured
by the device camera in the centre of the screen and some buttons in the corners and on
the bottom of the screen for the user to interact with the App and visualise the several
features and characteristics that are available. This sequence of icons and images should be
interpreted as the icon on the left (what it is and what it does) with the generic image of
what the user can visualise on the right.

235The results were not satisfactory considering that the conversion functioned for the model meshes, but not for the textures while
merging all into one and reassigning them to their polygons and processing power required, draining the device battery. The task to adapt
the textures to the model could be programed, although it was time consuming at the development stage (Pires, 2016).

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Chapter V – Building an App for the Lisbon Aqueduct

Button:
AqueductAR App

View over the

Official Lisbon
Plan or go to the
AqueductGPS
App.

Button: Flash
on/off
Visualize the map
with more light and
better capture the
AR environment.

Button: Ancient
cartography on/off
Visualize the
ancient cartography
over the paper
Official Lisbon
Plan. This
cartography was
produced in 1856
under the direction
of Filipe Folque,
providing a detailed
perception of the
city extension in
this period.

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Button: Aqueduct
path on/off
Visualize the
aqueduct path
within an AR
environment.

Button: animations
Visualize the
aqueduct path at
surface and
underground, water
flow and the
possibilities to visit.

Button: animations
Visualize the
elements of the
Lisbon Aqueduct
System. Animation
of the location of
the Aqueduct (over
the Alcântara
Valley), Reservoirs,
Fountains, and
displaced
Fountains.

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Chapter V – Building an App for the Lisbon Aqueduct

Button: 2D/3D
Visualize the
elements of the
Lisbon Aqueduct
System in 3D. It
gives access to the
button of the DTM
(terrain).

Button: 3D
elements in AR and
link to
AqueductGPS
App
Visualize the 3D
model (rotate) and
access to the
second related App
Aqueduct GPS:
text, current and
ancient pictures,
Google map and
navigation, near
me…

Button: DTM
on/off.

Button: DTM
representations
Visualize the
Digital Terrain
Model opaque, with
transparency
and/or texturized
path.

Button: Close

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Chapter V – Building an App for the Lisbon Aqueduct

After installing the AqueductAR App in the Android smartphone/tablet, the user
will see the icon to access the App. Most of the uses of both Apps are offline, except the
visualization of the path and elements over the Google Maps API (in the Aqueduct GPS
App). The access to a navigation system depends on the user’s device pre-installed software
(and if it is on-or-off line). The app will recognise the device language interacting with the
user in Portuguese if this is the language defined, or English if the device has any other
preselected language. Before accessing the main App screen, users will have to choose
whether they have a paper map. After choosing using the map, they need to point the
device camera to the paper map so it can recognise the AR data. It is possible to focus the
camera of the device as the normal camera by touching any part of the screen. The App
has one button in the top left corner to turn on the flash providing more light and
subsequently better and faster positioning the aqueduct data (especially with no light or in
low light conditions) and in the top right corner there is always the possibility to close the
App with the button identified as “X”. If users switch the GPS on they will see the location
marked on the map.

Ancient Cartography

The mosaic created from 65 cartographic sheets of the topographic atlas of Lisbon
“Atlas da Carta Topográfica da Cidade de Lisboa”, dated from the period between the
years 1856/58, at a scale of 1:1000, watercolour painted and directed by Filipe Folque, was
very useful for the delimitation of the LAS path but also extremely relevant to superimpose
it on the current Official Lisbon Plan, giving the idea of the city boundaries and
morphology in that period and the subsequent growth. This capability is relevant to “time
travel” and verify pre-existences within the city, but mostly its intention was to better
understand the water distribution in the city and the main beneficiary areas at that time,
allowing us to understand how the LAS might have contributed to the subsequent
development of the city (with possible impacts on the city morphology). This mosaic of
ancient cartography had several chromatic differences, and it was corrected to be better
visualised when superimposed on the paper map. The main objective was to provide an
example of what can be made, showing what might be done with several other thematic

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Chapter V – Building an App for the Lisbon Aqueduct

cartography or aerial images (from different years). Thus, we can use a time line to go back
and forward in time to visualise the city in different periods.

Lisbon Aqueduct System’s Path

The aqueduct system’s path was developed for the entire structure, which intersects
four municipalities in Portugal (Amadora, Lisbon, Loures, and Sintra). The main section
(the structure between “Mãe de Água Velha” and “Amoreiras”) has about 14 km in length;
however, when the subsidiary aqueducts and galleries are included, this system totals
approximately 58 km of extension. The identification of the LAS path was performed
georeferencing ancient cartography and vectoring the main structure, adductors,
distributing galleries, and associated elements. For this purpose, we mostly used the
ArcGIS 10.1/2/3 software and QGIS Lisboa/Valmiera (both GIS software). However,
other types of relevant software such as geobrowsers like Google Map/Earth (free and
intuitive geographic information software), supported also the delimitation of the LAS,
especially with the feature Street View (visualizing the world at street level), as described in
Chapter IV. Nevertheless, the area available in the Official Lisbon Plan was only the
municipality of Lisbon and since it is the most complex area, from the point of view of
identifying the structure, conflicts with the built urban space, and tourist interest, we
considered only the course inside the boundaries of the Lisbon municipality, ignoring the
rest of the identified path. When the user turns on the button of the path and points the
camera to the paper map, this user is able to see the digital path represented over the paper
map in an AR environment, enriching the simple data printed on paper with the unlimited
thematic digital data, combining both and forming the idea of the structure within the city.
This is especially relevant because most of the path shown digitally is underground and not
visible from the city surface, except for some visible exterior paths or elements such as
system ventilation, access doors, and fountains. Thus, the user can have extra information
while traveling through the city and discovering what is above, but also underground. This
is even more interesting if users turn the GPS on and check their position in relation to the
aqueduct system, understanding the complexity of this structure. This Cultural Heritage
corridor and its configuration led to the use of the dataset with the representation of the
system’s path, identifying the water flow direction (very important considering the

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Chapter V – Building an App for the Lisbon Aqueduct

distribution of water using only gravity), the sections that are above and underground, and
those that can be visited.

Elements of the Lisbon Aqueduct System

The App shows not only the path where the water was flowing through, but also
the associated elements that can be visualised in two ways: 2D (dots) and 3D (models
developed). Using the dots, the user can identify the position of the main relevant elements
of the LAS, such as the Aqueduct over the Alcântara Valley, the main water reservoirs and
the fountains. While in 2D it is possible to select the different element groups or the
displaced fountains, in 3D it is possible to pick and access the 3D visualization of the
structure and interact with the model, using rotation/zoom and/or access the features of
the Aqueduct GPS App (e.g. texts, images, navigation). The possibility of visualising the
LAS elements in 2D or 3D is provided by this button (2D/3D). The 3D models were
produced and treated so they would have the least possible weight (reducing the number of
faces) to improve performance, preventing the App from crashing. In the 3D models, a
colourful base and/or background (orange) were added to facilitate the identification of the
object’s position in the AR environment.

Digital Terrain Model (DTM)

The DTM was added especially because the LAS distributed water through the city
using exclusively gravity. Therefore, the relief is an important visual data asset to
understand the relevance and monumental complexity of this structure. The hypsometry
has a variation of 10 meters and it is represented by the generic colours (palette from
higher to lower altitudes: dark red, red, yellow, green) attributed by the GIS software (ESRI
ArcGIS 10), which in this case was not modified considering its remarkable result when
represented over the map. The DTM can be opaque or transparent to better view the 3D
path over the city and its relief. This allows the user to understand the logic of the LAS
trajectory, also identifying the spaces where the aqueduct flows underground, but also were
it emerges to the surface (on the valleys).

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Chapter V – Building an App for the Lisbon Aqueduct

The (multimedia) content component of the LAS project was developed with a
simple App, without the need of using the Official Lisbon Map on paper and therefore not
depending from this external input. Thus, it allows users to have a higher possibility of
using the Apps and better understanding this important cultural heritage landmark of the
city, even if they do not possess or if they do not want to use this map. The main objective
was to make sure that any person with the AquedutGPS App installed in their smartphone
would have access to the main common data regarding the whole of the LAS, as well as its
individual elements in a different separate App, without the AR component. This App was
designed more for people that might have previously planned their route and know what to
see/visit and just want to have extra information on site with higher performance and in an
App which is more oriented to that purpose and not so heavy. Thus, the AR was separated
from the conventional data instead of integrating all the information into one rigid and
dense App. Therefore, the user can access LAS data in two ways: AqueductAR with AR
data over a paper map, or AqueductGPS, a simple App with more conventional data, such
as text, images and map, easier to use and without the need for a physical map. However,
these Apps are associated (in both directions) and using the resources of each other.

The decision to separate the LAS data into two Apps had several advantages:

i. Higher level of data organization concerning each content (AR and Multimedia);
ii. Higher level of performance for both Apps;
iii. Autonomous usage, doing away with the need for a physical map to access the LAS
information;
iv. Different levels of complexity for different types of users;
v. Broad and higher diversity of device operation.

The AqueductGPS App has also the function of Location Aware Service, which
issues an alert to the user within 150 metres of the Lisbon Aqueduct System. For this
service, it is necessary to have the GPS on. The following sequence of icons and images
summarises the main features available in the AqueductGPS App. The layout is extremely
simple and consists basically in a list menu with the elements of the LAS, the possibility to
turn on the Location Aware Service and update the data through a web service.

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Button:
AqueductGPS
Access to the main
menu with
Introduction,
Places, Map, and
Near Me. It grants
access also to
update the data and
show the credits.
The texts will
correspond to the
device language.

Button: Places
Access to a list of
the available
elements of the
LAS. Visualization
of the texts,
pictures, and
position in Google
map. It gives access
to the 3D model
and then to the
AqueductAR App.

Button: Map
Show the position
of the selected LAS
element in the
Google API map,
with the location of
the Path, and
associated aqueduct
Elements. With the
GPS turn on shows
also the user
position.

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Button: Directions
It provides the LAS
element
coordinates and the
user’s position, the
AqueductGPS App
will ask the user
which pre-installed
navigation app to
use and create a
route.

Button: Near Me
With the GPS
turned on, the user
receives an alert
while getting close
to the LAS (path or
element).

Button: Update
Data
It provides online
updates.

Button: About
Visualizing the
credits.

Exit

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Chapter V – Building an App for the Lisbon Aqueduct

Text and Pictures

It was our intention to create short and simple texts with the most relevant and
interesting data about each element of the LAS: Aqueduct, Galleries, Fountains, and
Reservoirs. This data was obtained fundamentally from books and SIPA/DGPC
inventories. Beside the information for each element, an introduction to the theme “Lisbon
and Water” was created with some relevant information about the city growth and the
increasing demand of water, its relevance and availability. Associated with each record and
beside these simple texts, it is given the possibility of visualizing ancient images (mostly
from the Lisbon Municipality Archive – AML; Directorate-General for Cultural Heritage-
DGPC and Bibliography) and current pictures (made on site, with or without associated
coordinates). The records have some information about the visiting hours, ticket prices
(when applied) and coordinates so they can be opened in a previously installed navigation
App to assist in the route towards the object.

3D Models and position in Google Map

When users are consulting the text and images from a given element of the LAS,
they can access the 3D model visualization mode using the link to the Aqueduct AR App
and the AR environment through the device camera. Besides the icon to 3D visualization,
each element’s file has also one button that gives access to Google Maps API, showing the
path and elements of the LAS with the present location identified with a blue dot, when the
GPS is turned on. The Google Map with the elements marked over a simple map (online),
on the other hand, provides direct access to the file with texts and images.

Near Me / Location Aware Service

The Location Aware Service allows the user to switch the GPS on or off; with the
device GPS on, it will alert (vibration and sound) the user to the proximity (150 metres) of
an element of the Lisbon Aqueduct System.

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Chapter VI – Analysis of the Lisbon Aqueduct App

Chapter VI
Analysis of the Lisbon Aqueduct App

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Chapter VI – Analysis of the Lisbon Aqueduct App

Chapter VI – Analysis of the Lisbon Aqueduct App

1. Workshop

In order to evaluate the smartphone applications (Apps) in the context of the

promotion of cultural heritage, a workshop was organized to perform a comparative
analysis of the Apps developed and those available in the market. The workshop was
directed to a limited number of people, selecting carefully a panel of experts from very
different fields of work within the scope of the Apps’ context: Architects, Geographers,
Historians, Computer scientists and Decision-makers (at Ministerial level –Ministry for the
Environment236, National Cultural Heritage237, and Municipality238). Our intention was to
provide several data previously, thus overcoming the processes of installation and
configuration. The place for the workshop was a restaurant with suitable conditions (large,
comfortable space with internet access) located very close to one of the main elements of
the Lisbon Aqueduct System: the Carmo fountain. This proximity allowed to the
participants to analyse the application indoors, with Internet access and technical support,
and later verify the Apps outdoors, near the object of research.
The workshop was exclusive to Android OS smartphone users, although a
considerable number of participants possessed an IOS iPhone as well. The workshop was
designed with a very simple program and focused on the analysis of four Apps (3 obtained
in the Google Market and 1 obtained via a given link). These Apps were selected taking
into consideration the trial that had been made previously with data for the Lisbon

236 Which integrates (among others) the institution EPAL – Empresa Portuguesa de Águas Livres (water and water related heritage
management) and IHRU – Instituto da Habitação e Reabilitação Urbana (Urban Rehabilitation).
237 Direção-Geral do Património Cultural (Directorate-General for Cultural Heritage).
238 Persons responsible for Lisbon Municipality.

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Aqueduct. All the data had been earlier prepared for each App (equally), showing its
potential, and compared on the day of the workshop without ever revealing to the
participants what they would experiment. So that the participants would understand the
documents provided and the additional questionnaire better, the Apps developed,
AqueductAR and AqueductGPS, were designated as a group by “Lx_W”, or Lisbon and
Water.

The workshop had several stages:

i. Defining keywords for the potential evaluation of mobile applications to prepare a

questionnaire;

ii. Developing an online survey using the Survey gizmo239 platform, which included 22
questions (13 minutes) within the
group of questions that considered
the potential evaluation keywords
and the Apps: Development;
Performance; Usability; Quality;
Heritage Valuation; Identification
(see annex 3 – questionnaire1). The
answers were evaluated from 1

Fig. 72 – App online survey with 22 questions.

(min.) to 5 (max.) and when the
Don’t Know/No Opinion
(DK/NO) box was ticked, was assumed the value 0. The identification questions
helped to verify the answers and establish groups by age, sex, or occupation. The
questionnaire was bilingual (Portuguese and English) and had a small introduction and
indication that it was intended only to Android OS smartphone users.

iii. Inviting specific experts from different areas of studies (e.g. Architects, Geographers,
Historians, Computer scientists) and field of work (e.g. Professors, Entrepreneurs,
Technology companies, Students, Urban Rehabilitation, Politicians/Managers,

239 Survey Gizmo, available at URL: https://www.surveygizmo.com/ (January, 2017).

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Heritage conservation, Municipalities), providing them with basic information in tree

main documents (written in Portuguese): Event Promotion; Pre-requirements, and
Procedures.

iii.a. Event Promotion (two pages – see annex 2) – a document that explained that
the main objective is to evaluate smartphone applications (Apps) within the context
of the promotion of cultural heritage performing a comparative analysis of the
Apps developed and those available in the market (Android); it also provided the
research background, namely the exploratory data acquisition and 3D modelling
stages, using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV)/terrestrial systems, and its
integration with GIS and Augmented Reality (AR) through mobile platforms.
The document also mentioned the devices and materials needed, such as the
Official Lisbon Plan, Procedures + AR Marker image (given upon arrival at the
event) and a Smartphone with the Apps installed - Augment; ESRI; IGEO Heritage
(Market) and the developed App Lx_W (via a especial provided link).

Fig. 73 – Workshop indoors with a panel of experts testing the Apps and evaluating them using an online survey.

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This document explained that the intention of the experiment was to strengthen
this idea of the potential application of technology for the valuation of heritage,
involving the use of geographic information in areas with a strong visual perception
of space. The experiments made were related to spatial modelling (3D) and the
visualization in AR of cultural heritage elements, such as the Aqueduct of Águas
Livres in Lisbon.

iii.b. Upon acceptance of the invitation, two other documents

were sent to the participants: Pre-Requirements (see annex 2) –
For each App – Lx_w | iGEO | ESRI | Augment, was
provided data about the App icon, size, link to download, and
how to install it (provided before the event).

iii.c. Procedures (see annex 2) – consists in the Procedures

Document (for all the Apps), Marker (Augment App) and the
Official Lisbon Plan (to the use as marker for Lx_W or Fig. 74 – Workshop
AqueductAR and AqueductGPS). Step-by-step to access the outdoors, near Carmo
fountain.
aqueduct data in each App, previously prepared online.
Included a link to the online questionnaire (to be able to answer later) and a marker
(aerial image of the Carmo area) to visualise the 3D model developed (and made
available online to interact with the App Augment). An additional Plan of the city
of Lisbon (Official) was supplied to work as a marker for the Lx_W App (1 per
person).

iv. Searching a place in the proximity of the aqueduct system area (in city centre) where
the workshop could take place. Verifying the restaurant “Fábulas” in Chiado, Lisbon
area, considering conditions, costs, and trying the path between the restaurant
(indoors) and Carmo Fountain (outdoors), analysing the Internet access and outdoor
conditions to the successful course of the works, making sure that it would also be
pleasant for the invited experts.

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v. Online questionnaire analysis, validation and information processing – from 18

questionnaires filled (partial/full); 14 were complete and 13 were considered valid (1
questionnaire although complete had answers Don’t Know/No Opinion for all the
answers that correspondeded to the Lx_w, iGEO and ESRI Apps).

The workshop functioned perfectly and had a considerable number and diversity of
experts, which stressed the interest and
pertinence of the issue. The invited
experts did not know much about what
they would experiment, being provided
only with what was strictly necessary to
the workshop day. The Android
smartphones had all the Apps already
installed and functioning (according to Fig. 75 – Workshop experts filling in the online questionnaire
indoors with Wi-Fi access using their smartphones.
the previous pre-requirements
document, referred to above), without the need of more technical support (showing that
the pre-requirements document was enough). In the reception table (at the restaurant) the
Procedures Document (referred to above) was available, as well as the Carmo fountain
aerial image that would function as a marker (for the Augment App), and the Official
Lisbon Plan (Lx_W Apps). The main objective was to verify the experts’ reaction to all the
Apps, while they were calmly following the procedures for each App and the presentation
made, using a connection between the organization’s smartphone and a 40’’ smart TV
(connected through screen-mirroring and making it possible to visualise step by step what
they needed to do). The biggest surprise came when the participants saw the Lx_W App
(AqueductAR and AqueductGPS) and noticed the Augmented Reality functions over the
official city plan, when almost every expert in the room released a pleasant exclamation
followed by excellent reactions in terms of comments and positive criticisms made. Thus,
their reaction immediately showed a greater preference towards the Lx_W Apps. The place
selected revealed to be very pleasant and especially good located, being adjacent to the
study object and allowing to the experts to be comfortably analysing the Apps indoors and
outdoors. While they were seated and testing the Apps, they were able to make questions,
share ideas and contribute towards the improvement of the App’s development.

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2. Questionnaire Completed by (local) Experts

This questionnaire (to local experts, see annexes 3, questionnaire 1) was developed
in several stages, and was gradually adapted to the main answers needed for the research,
performing a comparative analysis between the developed App and other Apps that are
available in the market, mainly using closed questions. Locus (a mapping App) and ESRI
Collector (offline and editing mapping App) were selected when we first started researching
these apps; however, while we were designing the program of the workshop, they were
dropped, considering the time consumption (and complexity) of the installation and offline
data download/synchronization (ESRI Collector) and external data integration (Locus)
needed. Therefore, the selected Apps for evaluation by the expert in the workshop were:

– Augment: 3D augmentation App (possibility to use 3D models and visualize

over a defined marker in an Augmented Reality environment);

– ESRI (ArcGIS): Mapping App (possibility to upload GIS data and visualize
over a selected base map with our location through device GNSS switch on;
has additionally some tools available for measure);

– IGEO Património: Heritage Inventory for Portugal (SIPA’s Heritage

Inventory App with protected and non-protected elements divided by
typologies for Portugal, visualizing the location (dot) over a map or in list form,
giving access to records with text, images, and links to the official website);

– LX_W: Name given to the developed Apps, AqueductAR and AqueductGPS,

for easy understanding of the user, identified as the App developed within the
scope of this project. Historical Lisbon Aqueduct System water distribution
(developed App with Augmented Reality data over official free map of the city:
Lisbon Aqueduct System delimitation, with 3D models and access to records
with text and current and ancient images. Possibility to overlay in an AR
environment, ancient cartography and Digital Terrain Model with the aqueduct
system path and its elements).

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Our intention was to write short and clear questions, which could be fully answered
in 15 minutes or less240. Therefore, the questionnaire had 22 questions, it was bilingual
(Portuguese and English), and covered six groups of app- and heritage-related issues (see
annex 3 – questionnaire 1):

– Development;
– Performance;
– Usability;
– Quality;
– Heritage Valuation;
– Identification.

These questions had the same type of structure, evaluating the selected Apps with a
scale from one to five (where one was the minimum and five the maximum); there was also
the possible choice Don’t Know/No Opinion to which we attributed the value of zero (0).
This questionnaire was aimed at understanding which App was adequate for each group of
questions and which would be more suitable to increase the value of the heritage. The scale
for the answers allowed us to perceive in the final results how many questions were not
answered and what was the maximum and minimum classification for each question,
inserted within a main subject or individual groups. While the first group of questions
(Development, Performance; Usability) were more related with the App itself and how it
works, the group of questions that focused on the Quality and Heritage Valuation,
expected to connect mobile capabilities with the cultural object itself (i.e., the Lisbon
Aqueduct System). The final group of questions (Identification) was aimed at characterizing
the individuals (Age, sex, professional area and situation).

The value attributed to each answer corresponds to the indicated value and the
DK/NA answer corresponded to zero (0). All the answers were based on the following
scale:

The online survey builder software Survey Gizmo was used with a free account. All the questionnaires, videos, results, and other
240

materials are available at www.luisfilipemarques.com.

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Values

Apps

Fig. 76 – Example of question (to classify each App with values from 1 to 5).

2.1. Question Relevance

Considering the groups of questions (see annexes), it was intended to obtain the
following data from questionnaire:

Development
How users evaluate the Apps considering their design (form and function) attractiveness,
understanding if the App has a high level of appeal and aesthetics. The idea was for
respondents to reflect on the App’s simplicity (easy to work with), thinking that tourism
might be one of the main possibilities of usage, and therefore it is important to understand
whether the App’s users find it intuitive and user-friendly.

Performance
Considering mobile device data capacity, it is relevant for users to evaluate the Apps,
assessing their performance, particularly as regards their readiness to respond (although this
depends on the device used). Otherwise, users will probably search for another solution
(mobile App or not). It is equally relevant to verify the space that the App occupies on the
user’s smartphone, since this might influence the operation and performance of the device.
Some features of the mobile Apps might work with other already installed features (such as

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mapping or navigational Apps) and interoperate without the need to have an “All in one”
App. It is also relevant to understand if the file format is interoperable (import/export)
between these and other available Apps/software (formats such as *.PDF or *.KML tend
to be universally accepted). Considering that the developed App (Lx_W) is not available in
the market and therefore needs to be installed by accepting “unknown sources” in the
smartphone, this might create distrust. There is always the risk that an App from an
unknown source might damage the device and thus it was necessary to verify the level of
trust of the respondents in terms of accepting to install all these Apps in their personal
smartphones.

Usability
It was intended to recognise which App had the highest capacity to engage users and
consequently which might become more interesting for them. When the mobile Apps are
developed for an exclusive language or group of users, they might be limited. Thus, our
intention was to verify the universe of users considering the language and level of interest
for a broad number of people. We wanted to assess user’s satisfaction, considering the
initial expectations, summarising the results of the previous questions (e.g. design, user-
friendliness, readiness to respond, engagement), and learn the overall evaluation concerning
the initial expectations and ease with which people can use the app in order to perform a
specific task and obtain useful information.

Quality

This group of questions aimed to understand how users evaluate the quality and level of
reliability/credibility of the information provided. Considering the example of the case
study of the Lisbon Aqueduct System, it was important to assess the potential of applying
each of these Apps to other (equally relevant) cultural heritage elements. Subsequently, we
wanted to ascertain how users evaluated the knowledge obtained through the Apps when
they analysed the case of the Lisbon Aqueduct System. Thus, the ultimate goal was to

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understand whether the respondents felt they had acquired new knowledge while using
each of these Apps.

Heritage Valuation

This group of questions was aimed at verifying the potential for dissemination of the
Lisbon Aqueduct System and greater valuation of this cultural structure of the city by
means of technology. It was intended to understand how users evaluate the potentially
increased value attributed through the use of each of these Apps (e.g. higher knowledge,
engagement, dissemination, number of users), addressed to the main agents in the territory,
such as tourists, local businesses, technicians, politicians, and whether they recommend the
repetition of the experiment (so the level of satisfaction was quite high).

Identification
This part was associated with data collected on the following characteristics: Gender
(male/female); Level of education (Basic – Compulsory; Middle level; Undergraduate; Post-
Graduate – Master, PhD, Post-Doctoral; Other); Employment situation (Unemployed for
more than 1 year, Unemployed; Student; Employed; Other); Area of Studies (Agriculture
and natural resources; Architecture; Humanities; Social Sciences; Technologies). With these
questions it was possible to gather the individuals’ characteristics as a regulator variable, for
example, analysing the simplicity, user-friendliness, usefulness, and knowledge valuation
attributed to each App, verifying with the respondent’s age, level of education, or area of
studies; understand the difference between what is an end product or prototype of an App,
concerning professional experience and associating the answers with the main area of
studies or employment situation; and verifying the main values attributed for each App and
features, according to the field of studies of the users (commonly generating different
opinions regarding the device capabilities and the knowledge of the object ); among other
analysis.

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2.2. Analysis of the Questionnaire Completed by Experts

The questionnaire results are potentially interesting and allowed us to verify the
consistency of the answers and the discussion held in the workshop. Almost every invited
expert filled in the questionnaire using their mobile device at the end of the workshop, still
with the experiences very fresh in their minds. The overall sum for all the Apps given by
individual (minimum of 0 and maximum of 340) shows that it corresponds to an average of
244, where the extremes are not too different from the average: two people attributed

350

300

250

200

150

100

50

0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Chart 1 – Bar graphic with the sum of valuation given per individual for all the selected Apps.

lower values (under 200, but still over 150) and three individuals attributed higher values
(over 250, but peaking at 322). Thus, the majority of the individuals attributed an average
between 200 and 265 points to the sum of the Apps (Chart 1).
Table 2 summarises the questionnaire results and presents individual sums for each
question and each App analysed, considering all the points attributed by every individual.
Overall, every App achieved a good classification; however, we can see slight differences,
where iGEO and Lx_W App have higher values. On the other hand, Augmented and ESRI
App were attributed the lowest values. The group of questions targeted at assessing
Performance had the lowest values, while the group targeted at assessing Development and
Usability seems to be more homogeneous across all the Apps.

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SUM +and - MODE DK/NA

Augment 40 - 3 0
ESRI (ArcGIS) 48 4 0
Q1
IGEO Património 56 + 4 0
LX_W 51 4 0
DEVELOPMENT

Augment 44 - 3 0
ESRI (ArcGIS) 49 4 0
Q2
IGEO Património 52 4 0
LX_W 53 + 4 0
Augment 45 - 3 0
ESRI (ArcGIS) 51 4 0
Q3
IGEO Património 54 4 0
LX_W 57 + 4 0
Augment 38 - 4 2
ESRI (ArcGIS) 38 - 3 2
Q4
IGEO Património 39 3 2
LX_W 42 + 4 2
Augment 40 - 3 1
ESRI (ArcGIS) 42 3 1
PERFORMANCE

Q5
IGEO Património 46 4 1
LX_W 48 + 4 1
Augment 37 - 3 2
ESRI (ArcGIS) 44 4 2
Q6
IGEO Património 38 3 2
LX_W 45 + 4 2
Augment 40 - 4 3
ESRI (ArcGIS) 41 4 3
Q7
IGEO Património 43 + 4 3
LX_W 40 - 4 3
Augment 44 - 2 0
ESRI (ArcGIS) 51 4 0
Q8
IGEO Património 53 4 0
USABILITY

LX_W 56 + 4 0
Augment 45 - 5 1
ESRI (ArcGIS) 45 - 4 1
Q9
IGEO Património 45 - 4 1
LX_W 52 + 5 1

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Augment 40 - 3 1
ESRI (ArcGIS) 47 3 0
Q10
IGEO Património 53 4 0
LX_W 56 + 5 0
Augment 40 - 3 0
ESRI (ArcGIS) 49 4 0
Q11
IGEO Património 55 + 4 0
LX_W 54 5 0
Augment 34 - 3 2
ESRI (ArcGIS) 43 4 2
Q12
IGEO Património 50 + 5 2
LX_W 46 4 2
Augment 44 - 4 0
QUALITY

ESRI (ArcGIS) 50 4 0
Q13
IGEO Património 50 4 0
LX_W 58 + 5 0
Augment 36 - 3 1
ESRI (ArcGIS) 37 2 2
Q14
IGEO Património 50 4 1
LX_W 53 + 5 1
Augment 39 - 2 0
ESRI (ArcGIS) 39 - 4 1
Q15
IGEO Património 57 + 4 0
HERITAGE VALUATION

LX_W 56 4 0
Augment 38 - 3 0
ESRI (ArcGIS) 42 4 1
Q16
IGEO Património 57 + 4 0
LX_W 57 + 5 0
Augment 38 - 3 0
ESRI (ArcGIS) 45 4 0
Q17
IGEO Património 55 4 0
LX_W 56 + 5 0

Table 2 – Summary with questions groups, questions, values sum, higher and lower valuation, mode (most repeated value
attributed), and the total number of unanswered questions

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seems to be more homogeneous across all the Apps. The major differences are in the
group of questions regarding Quality and Heritage Valuation, where the highest values
were attributed to the iGEO and Lx_W, and the lowest values were attributed to ESRI and
Augmented Apps. The number of answers where Don’t Know/No Opinion was selected,
was higher in the following questions: seven (3), revealing undefined knowledge about the
App’s security; four (2) concerning the weight and performance; six (2) interoperability; and
twelve (2) reliability and credibility, demonstrating the need that some of the users feel to
have a deeper knowledge about the App’s information and usage to be confident to
answer, revealing a higher need for experimentation with these application in their daily use
and not only in a workshop. These values can be interpreted as a confluence of relevant
data about a certain object and much focused to the chosen theme (e.g. heritage) and less
as a global superior or inferior application complexity (quantity of features). These results
might explain the interest of users to have an App that is oriented at the intended purpose.

Chart 2 shows the ranges of values (higher with darker colours and lower with
brighter colours) by group of professional area to each App separately and divided into
groups of questions plotted as a 3D chart.
While regarding the Apps’ Development, there is a higher classification of the
Technologies group towards ESRI and iGEO, the Social Sciences group was more inclined
towards iGEO and then ESRI, and Architecture and Humanities preferred iGEO and
LX_W Apps. Considering Performance, this is the group of questions with the lowest
values, especially those attributed by the Technologies group to the Augmented App. The
highest scores were attributed by the Social Sciences and the Humanities groups to Lx_W
and iGEO Apps. The Usability group of questions had high values, especially given by the
Technologies, Social Sciences, Humanities and Architecture groups to Lx_W and iGEO
Apps; and the lowest values were attributed to Augment App. Concerning the quality of
the Apps, Lx_W and iGEO had the highest scores, especially attributed by the Social
Sciences, Architecture and Humanities groups (especially relevant considering the deepest
knowledge of this group about the main subject of analysis). Heritage Valuation had more
homogeneous classifications with the highest values attributed to Lx_W and iGEO and the
lowest values to ESRI and especially Augment App.

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4,00-5,00
3,00-4,00
2,00-3,00
1,00-2,00
0,00-1,00

Technologies (e.g. Multimedia, Engineerings, Computer Science)

Social Sciences and Services (e.g. Anthropology, Geography, Tourism)

Augment

ESRI (ArcGIS)

IGEO Património

Humanities (e.g. History, Art History)

LX_W

Augment

ESRI (ArcGIS)

IGEO Património

LX_W

Augment

ESRI (ArcGIS)

Architecture
IGEO Património

LX_W

Augment

ESRI (ArcGIS)

IGEO Património

LX_W

Augment
Agriculture and Natural Resources (e.g. Agronomy, Forestry, Animal Production)

ESRI (ArcGIS)

IGEO Património

LX_W
DEVOLOPMENT
PERFORMANCE

USABILITY/AVAILABILITY
QUALITY Chart 2 – Questionnaire results with the higher and lower
values regions for each group of professional’s area.
HERITAGE VALUATION

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3. Questionnaire Completed by the Public in General

The experience of the previous questionnaire allowed us to check the experts’

immediate reaction and response to the visualization of the 3D Digital Representation
within an Augmented Reality environment when they pointed the camera at the Official
Lisbon Plan (within the scope of the workshop) using their mobile devices. Thus, it was
interesting to watch the reaction of the users when they realized the Lx_W (AqueductAR
and AqueductGPS) Apps’ main features, while working and exploring the Lx_W and the
others Apps. It was also relevant to consider some results of the discussion and debate held
in the workshop and the classifications attributed (anonymously) by these experts, who
were mostly professionally related with the Public-Administrative, Social-Economical, and
Technical-Scientific-Symbolic Domains. The number of participants in the workshop was
restricted and so it was fairly simple to arrange an indoor location near the study object and
explain to the participants how to install the Apps, how to work with them, their main
features, their conceptual idea, architecture, main objectives and results. The participants
were also able to compare the applications and create a collective reasoning, pondering on
the Apps and evaluating the Digital Representations and Technology (e.g. GIS maps, 3D,
visualizing Augmented Reality environments: raster ancient cartography, vectorial data,
GPS and navigation resources, image and text contents) and their value to the Cultural
Heritage related Agents and Domains. However, it was intended to have a broader range of
responders that could answer remotely without the need of a schedule and arrange a formal
meeting or the need for the user to install and invest time to work with and experience the
Apps, deeply analysing all their features and capabilities while being near the study object
(Lisbon Aqueduct System). Therefore, it was developed a short video (12 minutes), which
was available online241, with a short presentation of the Lisbon Aqueduct System structure
and the App Lx_W’s main features, divided into two main parts242:

241Available at http://www.luisfilipemarques.com/site/doctor/.
242We captured images inside the galleries, the aqueduct over Alcântara, over the smartphone while having the Lx_W App in use: near
the Lisbon Aqueduct System elements, and indoors. The software used was: Lx_W Apps (AqueductAR and AqueductGPS); Google
Maps App (supporting the map view in the Lx_W Apps); Here WeGo App (supporting the navigation capability in the Lx_W Apps); AZ
Screen Record App (to capture the smartphone screen); and Moviemaker (to produce the video).

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– Aqueduct system dimensions, relevant structures and historical facts. Showing

the main elements of the aqueduct system and their diversity: Galleries
(underground); Reservoirs (water tanks structures); Aqueduct (monumental
arches over the Alcântara valley); Fountains spread all over the city;

– AqueductAR and AqueductGPS Apps’ main features: Augmented Reality

examples over the Official Lisbon Plan used as a marker (ancient and present
cartography, aqueduct system’s path and animations; 2D/3D visualizations of
the elements that comprise the aqueduct system; Digital Terrain Model);
Contents (text, map, ancient and present photographs); Navigation and
Proximity alerts (within 150 m of the object a signal is emitted to the user).

The video can be streamed online and can be watched together with the
questionnaire, through a link which can be visualized and analysed indefinitely, giving the
possibility to clear any doubts while answering the questions243. The answers can be filled
in anywhere and anytime, which is more comfortable for the respondent. Using the video
for the second questionnaire solved the problem of the need to install and occupying
essential personal space in the device and solving the limited number of respondents
according with the smartphone’s operating system, which increased the universe of
respondents. The second questionnaire was developed using the same platform as the first,
which is the online survey builder Survey Gizmo244 used via a free account. However, this
second questionnaire had not only quantitative and App comparative questions, but also
more qualitative ones, introducing four open questions to stimulate the responders’
opinion, who had to justify their answer in detail. Most of the respondents (17) were
students completing the Master in Sustainable Urbanism and Spatial Planning245 from the
University NOVA of Lisbon and taking the seminar on Geographic Computer Technology
in Urban Planning; this group had the added advantage of having a diversity of countries of
origin (especially Brazil, Portugal, and Poland). In addition to this significant number of
foreign students, the questionnaire was also answered by people from other countries, such

243 All the questionnaires, videos, results and other materials can be seen at the webpage: www.luisfilipemarques.com.
244 Survey Gizmo, available at URL: https://www.surveygizmo.com/ (January, 2017).
245 University NOVA Lisbon, available at URL: http://www.unl.pt/guia/2016/fcsh/UNLGI_getCurso?set_language=en&curso=4313

(January, 2017).

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as Latvia or the USA. As the inquiry was in Portuguese and English, the answers obtained
in the open field type answer had to be first translated into a single language (English) for
further analysis. Therefore, the following tables show the hierarchy of the most used words
in the texts to answer questions 25 and 26.

25. After viewing this video, do you consider that the use of technologies add value to the
experience of tourists, scholars, and interested people? Justify your opinion in detail.

26. Put yourself in the tourist’s place. Do you think that the expression “augmented
valuation of cultural heritage”, an expression that is inspired by the notion of Augmented
Reality, clearly translates what you saw in the video? Justify your opinion in detail.

Question 25 Question 26

heritage yes information visit yes heritage tourist augmented

experience technology interest objet reality value app information

possibility technologies tourists possible object interesting curiosity heritage

city shape knowledge curiosity technology interest could interaction

access interact history visualization smartphone tool historic relevant

importance increase disseminate tool history cultural objet access

population accessible contribution reality paper higher map reality

application easier aqueduct spatial monument visit Reality perception

allow search explore object touristic monument tourist value

visit model fast better

journey value

Table 3 – Hierarchically ranked most used words in the answers to questions 25 and 26, translated into English.

Contrarily to the first questionnaire, these answers were mostly provided by

ordinary individuals with very different background training and ages, presented here by
hierarchically order:

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– Area of Studies: Social sciences and services, architecture, sciences, arts and
design, technology, agriculture and natural resources, economics, others;
– Age: 25-34; 35-44; 18-24; -18.

Fig. 77 – Word cloud of the answers to question 25.

The figures 77 and 78 were produced with the online software Wordclouds246 based
upon Table 3. The answers to question number 25 (Fig. 77) of the second questionnaire
were positive revealing primarily the words “yes” as a direct and clear answer, and then
“heritage”, “tourists” and “visit”, attributing a huge focus on tourist usage. There are other
considerations to be made as active, positive and suggestive words, such as “interest”,
“possibility”, “allow”, “interact”, “possible”, “accessible”, “disseminate” or “value”. In
sum, generally the answers reveal a high level of agreement that technologies add value to
the experience primarily to tourists and other interested people.

246 Wordclouds, available at URL: http://www.wordclouds.com/ (January, 2017).

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Fig. 78 – Word cloud of the answers to question 26.

The answers to question number 26 of the second questionnaire were very positive
revealing mainly that the concept of “Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage” inspired
by the notion of Augmented Reality, clearly translates the potential shown in the video
concerning the Lx_W App. This idea was very clear while we gather, among all the
answers, the words used more repeatedly. The main remark goes to the direct answer
addressed with the word “yes”. The word “tourist” is also very often used, expressing the
feeling of what the respondents were told to represent. However, there are other important
notions that we were able to collect expressed with the words: “value”, “relevant”,
“higher”, “monument”, “could”, “information” and “interaction”, addressing the
characteristics that the individuals identified as potentially relevant for the usage and
promotion of this concept.

The results of this survey were generally very expressive and with high classification
values (in a scale from 1 to 5); they were particularly affirmative in the questions made

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about the Usability, Interactivity (higher while using indoors than outdoors), functionalities
related with the interest of the App's 2D and 3D Information to explore and add value to
the heritage object; the overlay of the ancient cartography got the minimum classification
value (value of 2 given by one person in the universe of 24) and the Digital Terrain Model
overlay capability obtained the lowest percentage (50%) of maximum values (5) in its
classification. Considering the value attributed to the main agents, the majority revealed a
higher impact on tourists and heritage-related technicians; while in terms of domains, the
highest impact was on the technical-scientific and social-economic.

The workshop and the results of the first and second questionnaires show a high
level of excitement and interest in the congregation of (geographic information)
technologies (e.g. GNSS, GIS, RS, UAV, mobile, apps, 3D, Virtual and Augmented
Reality) applied to the field of cultural heritage. Overall, the direct reaction verified in the
workshop and questionnaire responses were extremely positive and allowed us to confirm
that digital representations, especially at 3D and 4D, of the spatial environment are
fundamental for cognitive perception, being particularly relevant for spatial analysis and
modelling. The potential of these tools for the valuation of cultural heritage are
tremendous, considering the level of interest that this area has transversally in society.
These conceptions are extremely relevant for several agents, addressing important and
exciting perspectives for their activities and contributing for the knowledge in the different
domains.

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Chapter VII
Reflections on Cultural Heritage and its
Augmented Valuation

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Chapter VII – Reflections on Cultural Heritage and its

Augmented Valuation

1. Reflections on the Hypotheses of the Thesis

This thesis focuses on the central idea of Digital Representations and the Valuation
of Cultural Heritage at the relation between Technology, Agents, and Domains (as shown
in Fig. 1, page 2). Considering the key questions formulated as hypotheses in the
Introduction, and as with all complex questions, there is not a single answer and thus
different approaches might reveal different answers. This section and the following
subsections will emphasize some of the main general insights presented previously
regarding the initial outline, and the main hypotheses and objectives of this thesis.

The central topics of this thesis, Digital Representations and the Valuation of
Cultural Heritage, have led to the development of Chapters I, II, and III, which establish
the fundamental conceptual framework and key definitions. Chapter I presents the notion
of representations and how they support cognitive perceptions, which are at the basis of
how individuals recognize the physical world. Therefore, cognitive mapping and external
affordances allow humans and animals to locate themselves in space (carrying a map or
model of the physical environment in their heads or using technology), which is particularly
relevant for navigation and spatial awareness. Through Digital Representations (Chapter I,
Section 2), technology has been allowing humans to extend (represent) the physical world,
as the examples addressed in Chapter II regarding Geographic Information Technologies
(e.g. Satellite Navigation, Remote Sensing, and Geographic Information Systems). These
technologies and innovative technical-scientific methodologies allow the Agents in the

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several Domains to recreate Virtual Environments, approached in Chapter III as

representational reproductions of the real world. These reproductions are particularly
valuable when it is considered the ability to create detailed (3D) models of the present,
frequently beyond the capacity of human perception, recreating situations and events from
the past and simulating predictive scenarios for the future (4D), exploring different
hypothetical situations that are often impossible to identify or observe in the real world.
The application of these technologies is especially relevant in the field of Cultural Heritage,
where digitally aided information acquisition, integration, modelling, and dissemination for
research, conservation or exhibition purposes can contribute to the awareness of the
historical, societal, symbolic, and scientific values of Cultural Heritage. The
acknowledgment of the value of Cultural Heritage and the techniques for its further
valuation is, thus, strategic in order to contribute to the development of more informed,
comprehensive, and oriented procedures for the identification, preservation, and
dissemination of tangible and intangible heritage.

The relation between Technology, Agents and Domains presented in Figure 1 of

the Introduction has various approaches between Technology and Agents; Technology and
Domains; or Agents and Domains. Technological advances, especially those related with
technical progress and computer modelling capabilities aimed to represent the physical
world, have led to the creation of an increasing number of high-quality 3D/4D Digital
Representations of Cultural Heritage. However, Technology itself does not increase the
value of Cultural Heritage. The Agents such as promoters, decision/opinion-makers,
technicians, researchers or the general public, attribute meaning and relevance to
Technology, using these (technological) tools in their activities. The value of Cultural
Heritage is a quality attributed by users where technology plays an important role in helping
Agents meet their objectives in the different Domains. Geographic Information
Technologies have the ability to support Digital Representations of the spatial
environment, in a way (digitally) augmenting the real world. Mobile capabilities are
changing the way people interact with each other nearly in real time within a synthetized
virtual environment, or adding digital content and representations, enriching and mixing
virtual data with the real world (Augmented Reality). By means of Technology, both the
virtual and the real worlds can be combined, expanding the space/time dimensions,

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enlarging the public space through virtual environments, where users become virtually
omnipresent, as (re)presentations, while being physically almost anywhere. Besides this
space/time virtual world amplification, there is also an extension of human connectivity
and information/intelligence, consecutively expanding the mind.

Chapters IV and V present the main technological methodologies applied to

Cultural Heritage experimentation, gathering, integrating and modelling Cultural Heritage
spatial data. These chapters describe several experiments (for the Lisbon Aqueduct System)
performed with a selection of mobile Apps that are available in the market to compare
them with the App that was built within the scope of this project, Lx_W (AqueductAR and
AqueductGPS), with the objective to apply Virtual and Augmented Reality Environments
to the field of Cultural Heritage. The Lx_W mobile App was developed in a partnership
with the department of computer science of University NOVA of Lisbon allowing to
congregate the main existing technological resources and apply them to explore the
concept of Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage, which was further discussed.

Chapter VI describes the workshop held with the presence of invited experts (i.e.,
Agents involved and experienced in the field of Cultural Heritage), who were asked to fill
in a questionnaire oriented to compare and evaluate several Apps available in the markets
(selected from the tests made) and the built Lx_W App. The objective was to understand
the main technological resources available to Augment the Value of Cultural Heritage,
meeting the Agents’ requirements and related Domain requests. Thus, the purpose of this
workshop was to ascertain the value and relevance that the Agents attributed while using
these technologies (near the case study: indoors and outdoors), considering the experience
in their activities, and to the Political-administrative, Social-economic, Technical-scientific,
Ideological-symbolic-religious Domains. The second questionnaire was designed for the
general public. Before completing the questionnaire, the respondents had access to a video
describing the Lisbon Aqueduct System and the main features of the Lx_W App. The main
objective was to collect and verify, through open type answers, the respondents’ perception
of using Digital Representations within mixed reality environments to augment the value of
Cultural Heritage. Therefore, it was intended to analyse the main objectives for each field
of knowledge and the intellectual inputs given by these Agents addressing technological

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solutions (or contributions) to the existing problems in the several Domains. Thus, by
means of technology, Agents ensured a powerful support aiming to contribute to a better
management, preservation, intervention, and dissemination of Cultural Heritage, allowing,
sustaining, and developing new methods, approaches, and scientific knowledge in the
several Domains.

1.1. Contributions from Technology to the Valuation of

Cultural Heritage

Representations play a central role in a cognitive system. They clarify a wide variety
of cognitive and perceptual abilities in terms of the occurrence and processing of mental
representations. However, mental representations of the spatial environment diverge from
the real world, eliminating and/or adding entities, frequently introducing distortions. Often,
people have different perceptions of the distance between themselves and/or between
themselves and a certain object and/or of the symbolic value of objects. However,
perceptions constitute the basis of knowledge through experimentation, since we capture,
using our senses, the experiences that we retrieve from the world.
Technological advances, especially those regarding the ability to represent the
physical world and modelling capabilities, have led to the creation of an increasing number
of digital data, objects, and environments. The use of Digital Representations (often-
analogous to internal representations) and geo-science applications can provide many
useful functions, such as data acquisition, navigation, object operation, inquiry, modelling,
visualization, dissemination, among others. Spatial modelling techniques can be used to
develop visual simulations, including diverse attribute data through time (as the world is
not static). 3D settings are able to support positional cognition by offering a
realistic/meaningful environment where the learning process can effectively be located
giving the user the possibility of interacting with objects in their actual context (Mortara et
al., 2014). Modelling aids planners and other Agents to understand patterns and experiment
scenarios to envision the impact of various plans and policies. Modelling a number of
different variables allows testing and adjusting features to explore different hypothetical
situations. Synthetized environments enabled to conduct experiments, introducing or

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modifying variables and adjusting conditions that are not viable in the physical real world,
such as transforming the topography, structures and their extension or height, planning,
visualizing sights, colours, and lighting conditions. This is especially valuable in the field of
Cultural Heritage considering the high level of technical and historical understanding,
preservation, adaptation, and dissemination. When creating these models, there are endless
possibilities to run experiments with empirical results that the community can measure,
compare and recreate, allowing to understand, analyse, intervene, and distribute Cultural
Heritage information about an object or site.
Technology has deeply changed the way spatial data is visualized (Yanzhen, 2005).
The fast growing number of users and widespread Internet access represent a gigantic
milestone in the evolution of human civilization, enabling the society to have
unprecedented access to large amounts of information, sharing knowledge and
communicating, while at the same time it is metaphorically developing a synthetized
environment, albeit linked to the real world. These developments have brought main digital
changes that revolutionized the concept and usage of spatial representations. The
production of, access to, and dissemination of geographical information and cartography,
considering, for instance, the availability of Digital Globes or Geobrowsers, have become
democratic and they are no longer exclusive to professionals. The relatively recent
developments in GIS Web Services made the construction of interoperable GIS possible.
Web Map Services, Web Feature Services, and Web Coverage Services not only allow
devices to interchange spatial data and tools, that can be constantly updated (with direct
access from the producer to the user), but also eliminate dataset duplication and physical
allocation (reducing the amount of time consumed in producing and searching for updated
cartographic series datasets), and avoid numerous static dataset catalogues, and their
associated costs. Since Cultural Heritage needs large amounts of highly detailed resources,
using Web Services made possible to acquire, integrate, analyse, and manage data from
heterogeneous sources in real-time over the Web. Cloud Computing provides a potential
solution with a flexible, on-demand computing platform, available everywhere. Thus, the
Internet and Geo Web Services constitute a fundamental basic infrastructure and resource
to gradually improve digital representations and GIT developments, enabling access to
geospatial data on demand (i.e. while zooming in and requesting higher detail at different
scales) and taking user needs into consideration. This is particularly relevant in the field of

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Cultural Heritage Digital Representations, when virtual environments are recreated,

potentially augmenting their intrinsic value (e.g. significance, recreation of its time
evolution, understanding its history/symbolism/importance).
Technology has been playing an important role in a transversal way, especially in
terms of data acquisition, management, and visualization. Geospatial technologies allow
“seeing” where human eyes cannot (Elwwod & Leszczynski, 2011). Through technology, it
is possible to detect spectral bands that the human eye cannot capture, collecting larger
amounts of data. Remote Sensing data acquisition and monitoring regarding (high or very
high) spatial and spectral resolution images for monuments, groups of buildings, and sites
(especially archaeological sites) have been progressively used (e.g. 3D models;
photogrammetry metric data or spectral - visible, infra-red and/or thermal data over built
structures, buildings, urban areas and landscapes). The association between 3D modelling
and cultural heritage has been increasing in interest, partly due to the broader use of
LiDAR (laser scanning) and photogrammetry. These technologies, used to study, archive
and visualize Cultural Heritage, have become affordable and accessible, thus allowing
people to record efficiently and accurately, objects remotely, which was often difficult to do
with the previous survey methods. Therefore, Cultural Heritage has been one of the most
used applications of the image processing and computer graphics community given its
extraordinary results and interest.
Realistic 3D environments offer the user interesting possibilities of immersing
in/combining with the real world, e.g. convincing reconstructions of events and contexts
particularly to raise historical awareness. Virtual environments and especially Augmented
Reality have, thus, a clear potential to support cultural heritage, highlighting and enriching
its value in a dynamically and interactive form. It also allows users, especially the general
public, to learn, intervene, and experience with higher engagement innovative approaches
to the promotion, operation, and dissemination of cultural heritage (Mortara et al., 2014).
These procedures are changing the way in which humans perceive the territory and relate
with each other. Residents cannot differentiate if an unknown individual, who is looking at
one’s mobile device, is visitor (tourist) trying to access external aids to navigate (similarly to
what they would do with a city plan), a technician learning about an unexplored cultural
heritage object, or someone just going through a daily routine of consulting their email.
The amount of capabilities that mobile devices provide through digital virtual data and

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network access is so vast that no one can know by simple observation what the other
person is doing when they are using a mobile device. Conversely, in virtual environments,
often users do not have the knowledge of the others’ physical location, except while writing
or authorizing GNSS location by their own initiative.
The combination of both worlds is becoming gradually more interdependent while
some features previously only available in the real world have progressively been
virtualized, e.g. Lx_W (AqueductAR and AqueductGPS) Apps that connect endless
superimposed virtual information over a simple available (limited) paper map, perhaps
stimulating intergenerational relations (e.g. between a grandparent using the paper map and
his/her grandchildren using their smartphones). Some services formerly provided at some
entity’s desk (e.g. acquiring products, services or accessing personal accounts and/or
money and/or data) are gradually being transferred to virtual engines and portals (e.g.
information search, homebanking, online shopping for products and services, such as
travel or accommodation). Gaming uses virtual environments with increasingly higher
graphics detail and performance isolating the user from the real world, giving the gamer the
sensation of immersiveness. However, with the release of Augmented Reality games such
as Pokémon Go, users need to explore the real world to capture Pokémons. Often, in the
case of Pokémon Go, the user needs to move to a certain place that usually corresponds to
cultural heritage landmarks and thus the user is led to explore those objects and sites.
These preferred locations are also common in other games that use the real environment,
such as Geocaching. Therefore, virtual goals set through a game might consist in relevant
tools to promote cultural heritage, augmenting the intrinsic cultural value that these users
would otherwise probably never recognize. Within the game, it is also important to
empathize the aid provided to navigate through the territory by means of digital
representations of real maps and providing the user’s position through GNSS receiver. The
most common example of total virtualization is the evolution of multimedia (e.g. books,
photographs, video, audio – music or games/online gaming). Profound changes in
accessing media collections are in the availability of audio records, more specifically music,
that evolved from analogic vinyl records and magnetic tapes to digital Compact
Disks/Minidisk, and currently has almost totally disappeared from the physical, being sold
virtually in media libraries and stores (e.g. iTunes or Google Play). The same thing
happened with research papers, journals, and books, where digital availability on Internet

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portals has clearly overtaken their paper versions. In fact, most of the references used in
this thesis were obtained in the Internet, and even the paper titles acquired were ordered at
online portals. The use of paper maps is also being reduced, due to the democratization
and general access to GNSS and free (updated) road maps (e.g. open street map project)
with the advantage of real time position locator (GNSS) in the online/offline map and turn
by turn navigation features. The use of paper maps enriched with digital Augmented
Reality data allows users to combine the limited analogue map with limitless virtual
information, as in the case of the developed App prototypes, AqueductAR and
AqueductGPS, presented earlier.
Positioning and navigational (coordinate) systems are essential for mobile devices
that need to identify their accurate position systematically. Thus, operating interactively
these systems have to satisfy several requests, such as showing the user’s position in a map,
suggesting multiple navigation and transportation types, displaying nearby objects in
different representational ways, or alerting to the proximity of a Point Of Interest
(historical relevant site, monument, or other relevant structure). These aspects are
particularly relevant for tourists, who frequently search for these cultural elements. The
development of location-based data has moved cyber-information to the real place (Sui &
Goodchild, 2011). This capability is especially relevant in mixed environments where the
device needs to present virtual information in the real place (or vice versa) and thus the
geospatial coordinates might be considered as the fundamental feature that connects the
synthetized world and the real world. Therefore, it allows linking virtual data and the real
environment (knowing where the user is) as a camera captures the real world images and
mixes them with virtual synthetized digital representations to be visualized in real time on
the device’s screen. Consequently, many producers of geographical information are
developing location-based services, offering a great number of basic services for mobile
applications using technology. Both the virtual and the real worlds can be combined,
expanding the space/time dimensions, human connectivity and intelligence, thus increasing
the information about a certain object, and/or the general knowledge, altering the
individual and collective perception of the world, expanding the mind (and therefore object
value).
3D, GIS, Virtual or Augmented environments applied to Cultural Heritage are
relatively new branches of knowledge that use information technology to digitally capture

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or represent the data studied by several domains. 3D modelling and 3D GIS data in an
Augmented Reality environment, through mobile platforms, provide the opportunity for
Digital Representations, interaction, and dissemination, enabling dynamic 3D contents to
be built, visualized and interacted with, and supporting attributes and spatial analytical
features. Using technology, individuals can present or represent virtual environments that
can exist (be real), sometimes in a way that goes well beyond how humans perceive space
or even beyond reality itself (e.g. Remote Sensing spectral bands and Virtual Time Travel).
New technological developments, especially in the field of 3D and Augmented Reality
environments, have allowed time travels, i.e. recreating a structure(s) or place(s) in the past
or foresee an intervention in a given cultural heritage element or site. Thus, it is possible to
point the camera at the real ancient heritage location and visualise in the device’s display
the full virtual (re)construction (from the past or future). It is then possible to walk around
the site in the real world and view the digital representations from different angles and
distances, and even to change the (re)construction to experiment with different lightening,
materials, colours, details, perspectives, or surroundings. In the near future, virtual time
travel will be able to provide more than an enhanced experience of a historical situation,
and ensure the full engagement of all the five senses into augmenting the value of the objet
itself. Digital representations and virtual modelling of Cultural Heritage contribute to
simulation and visualization retaining or increasing the value of the object and preserving
its authenticity, building replicas of an environment while protecting the original, sealed
from the public contact. Making decisions about approaches to cultural heritage
intervention, conservation or protection, should be based on a comprehensive assessment
of the consequences of and the possibilities for different approaches and management
(Stendebakken et al., 2015). Computer-generated virtual environments, 3D, iterative and
immersive environments increase the engagement of the user by providing a natural
interface (as in cognitive space awareness) between human and machine. Augmented
Reality Digital Representations restitutions and simulations can offer interesting
possibilities and useful applications due to their impressive interactive capabilities and their
capacity to visually stimulate and engage the user, for example, when applied to Cultural
Heritage on-site visualization and exploration tools.
Technology has been playing an important role using scientific knowledge,
methods, materials, and devices to capture and disseminate the Digital Representations of

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Cultural Heritage. The development of technology and the evolution of the techniques
used play an important role in achieving the progressively growing needs of new tools for
several scientific domains and their related agents, simulating cognitive internal
representations and external affordances within virtual/mixed environments.

1.2. The Valuation of Cultural Heritage Digital

Representations for the Agents

Technological progress has made the use of 3D affordable in standard devices,

making access to data more democratic and easier to reach anywhere, especially when we
consider the growing portability of devices, such as smartphones, tablets or Augmented
Reality glasses. Mudge et al. (2007) explored the issues that influence the adoption of
decisions and gave examples of emerging digital technologies considered to eliminate
existing obstacles due to the widespread adoption of digital practices. Digital
Representations and technology consistently surrogate the content of the real world in a
digital form enabling scientific study and personal enjoyment without the need for direct
physical experience with the object or place. Their essential scientific nature distinguishes
them from speculative digital representations. When Digital Representations are built
transparently, according to established scientific principles, they provide authentic, reliable
scientific representations, which enable the repurposing of previously collected information
into a collaborative distributed system, eliminating barriers for the public’s access and
knowledge, besides providing faster widespread information (Mudge et al., 2007). This
vision supports tree main general ideas:

Empirical Provenance – Widespread adoption of Digital Representations by science

in all Domains, including the multi-disciplinary study of Cultural Heritage, requiring
confidence that the data they represent is reliable, enhancing the development of
techniques to digitally represent our world, permitting the replication of
experiments that are central to scientific practice to confirm the quality of
information;

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Perpetual Digital Conservation – Digital Representations of Cultural Heritage can

be in more than one place at a time and in more than one form, potentially assuring
its longevity. However, the importance of developing sensible plans to preserve our
digital heritage cannot be minimized, thinking of the Value of this digital heritage;

Digital Representations and Technology Democratization - The emergence of the

new family of robust digital documentary tools offering automatic post-acquisition
processing has overcome an important barrier to the adoption of digital workflows
that ensure broad public access.

Technology and scientific knowledge have created virtual environments that are
parallel to the real world, representing digitally the cognitive characteristics existing in the
mind and the relations between humans and their surroundings. Fast and broad access to
networks, such as the Internet, the growth of social networks and collective transmission of
information, especially when it comes to mobile devices and ubiquitously access has
become especially relevant to better understand human behaviour, interests, and patterns.
Society presently has a high level of interaction between the real world and synthetized
environments, where users systematically express their experience, attributing comments,
recommendations, tips and tricks, valuations, associate pictures, among others features.
Agents onsite are usually aware of this growing practice of manifestation, communication
and collective response, with fast growing impact on specific economic sectors, especially
those associated with decision making, tourism, and leisure (such as politics, public
administration and participation, monument/museums and territorial promotion,
temporary accommodation, commerce, and services). Digital representations and the
virtual synthetized world are presently an extremely important space, where the users often
search for and analyse goods or services sharing relevant data, making acquisitions and/or
reservations. Therefore, it is relevant for Agents such as Promoters, Decision-Makers or
Technicians to analyse and verify the potential of this vast provided “sensing” human data,
aiming to recognize the value attributed by each user, considering individual and collective
experiences, with the advantage of being available digitally and extensively.

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Digital Representations of cultural heritage have implications, perhaps stimulating

more travel (e.g. tourism) as a result of the initial available interaction (thus potentially
damaging the heritage), or maybe helping to collect information and invest in better
planning, managing, organising and coordinating human behaviour, e.g. promoting better
conservation in the field of cultural heritage. These implications involve important Agents
onsite:

– Decision/opinion-makers (e.g. politicians, managers and other institutional

representatives) who are especially concerned with economic viability, proposals,
end-users, efficiency, and symbolic values;

– Promoters (e.g. CH holders, CH institutions, museums, travel agents,

accommodation and commerce) who are usually concerned with business
valorisation and viability, type and frequency of costumers, and heritage
preservation;

– Technicians (e.g. architects, engineers, geographers, urban planners), particularly

those involved in analysis, evaluation, conservation, protection, management, and
intervention

– Public in general (e.g. tourists, visitors, users) who frequently regard aspects such
as individual perceptions, symbolism, history and value (importance), feelings
through observation, and the main features of an object.

Digital Representations bring Agents from different domains closer to a

virtual/mixed/real site and (re)present, for example, the impacts/consequences of a
heritage analysis and intervention. 3D representations generate intuitive methods of
interaction, increasing the engagement of the users making it easier for them to understand
and participate by visualizing volumes, textures, shadows, sights, and the relation between
this characteristics. This occurs principally because of the level of similarity with reality,
which is comparable to the human approach of capturing and cognitively processing
external information. Thus, 3D Digital Representations stimulate more enthusiasm and

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simplify creative solutions to detect problems, improving understanding and

communication. This is especially relevant for the communication and onsite intervention
between Decision-Makers, Promoters, Technicians, and the Public.
3D GIS Digital Representations can provide information on heritage, which is
extremely valuable for several Agents in the field. The use of digital representations, e.g. for
the planning process at different scales and in real-time creates unprecedented
opportunities for communication and collaboration between all the players with
responsibilities in the territory, increasing the equality of participation and allowing for
higher perceptual understanding, regardless of the level of education and knowledge
Domains.
4D GIS digital representations can be built to reflect the past, existing and possible
future conditions of cultural heritage, showing the current or proposed appearance, façade,
style, material and size, applied to buildings, urban settlements, sites and landscapes, being
able to altered and improve, on demand, while integrating all the Agents in this process.
Thus, virtual environments can offer enhanced opportunities and provide additional tools
for people to communicate with others and interact with the urban models. Consequently,
digital representations might contribute to an higher valuation of the Agents in the field,
involving them and providing them comprehensive and intuitive tools to construct,
visualise, manipulate and integrate data, improving access to information and increasing
their participation, for example, in the planning, policy-making or intervention processes.
However, this sense of place can only be achieved while generating and developing virtual
worlds with objects, buildings and settings, which one expects to find in the real situation.
Therefore, the importance of 3D quality is highlighted in several research fields, noticing
that users in highly realistic 3D reconstructions significantly experience higher levels of
reaction. Technical-scientific advances in computer modelling capabilities have led to the
creation of a growing number of high-quality 3D models of existing cultural heritage
objects and environments. This collection of models provides new opportunities for the
Agents (such as decision-makers, promoters, scientific and academic community, and the
general public) to visualise and superimpose additional data onto this new developed
worlds (e.g. promoting, publicizing, showing urban intervention, employing new
approaches and methodologies, or programming a visit). The creation of 3D cultural
heritage archives also requires solutions for storage and interoperability of these models

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with each other, as well as with external sources. Thus, the Agents associated with heritage
conservation must protect this valuable documentation (models) as part of the object’s
history and identity support (as argued by some international agreements and conventions).
Augmented Reality enriches the real world instead of replacing it. Users can
visualise digital representations that enhance the real world with additional data
superimposed onto their field of view (through their smartphone or glasses). The
possibility of combining real and virtual objects creates huge possibilities and applications
and is particularly outstanding in the field of Cultural Heritage, especially when recreating
3D representations and Virtual Time Travel (e.g. viewing several phases of construction or
past edifications). Augmented Reality is specifically applicable to transversally
elevate/enrich the Agents’ experiences with Cultural Heritage. New forms of digital
representations are systematically becoming available, adding information to the real
environment on their devices’ displays (e.g. 3D Digital Representations in smartphones) or
through audio (e.g. museum audio guides). These characteristics might be especially
relevant for tourists and the general public (visitor and unfamiliar with place), merging
relevant Digital Representations of Cultural Heritage with the real environment, aiming to
assist, visualise, understand, obtain the current location, verify the nearest relevant point of
interest, navigate, learn, observe, present, simulate or reconstruct temporal events, with the
possibility of receiving alerts when the users are near onsite interests (e.g. emitting a sound
or vibrating while navigating near some relevant object), increasing the intrinsic value of
cultural heritage. All these features and the capacity to attract the public might promote a
higher level of demand for quality from the visitor’s perspective (as a more informed
community), establishing higher standards for available object-related needs, goods and
services in the territory (on several fields, e.g. political, technical, managing, promotional,
commercial and services). Representations of the physical world (regarding external
affordances in different moments) and even the mental world (through internal minds or
imagined/simulated/synthetized realities) create the opportunity for the development of
virtual and, consequently, real space, mixing Digital Representations with the current
world, allowing users to create, on demand, their own Augmented Territory. Therefore,
Digital Representations provide the basis and constitute a powerful ally to support
decision-making, contributing simultaneously to technical-scientific knowledge and human
development.

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1.3. The Valuation of Digitally Represented Relevant Cultural

Heritage for the Different Domains

Technological advances and innovations have introduced suggestive designations

corresponding to human brain capabilities, using words such as smart or intelligent (e.g.
Smart or Intelligent Cities or Buildings, Smartphone, Smart TV). The acquisition of,
dissemination of, and search for Digital Representations has had an extraordinary growth,
in part due to the emergence of mobile devices, especially those with broadband Internet
access, which started a revolution in the Human-Machine and Real-Virtual environments.
Computer environments endowed with intelligence are beginning to change the contents
of virtual worlds, especially the ability to learn and adapt using artificial intelligence
techniques, such as neural networks, simulating the processes of the human brain.
Smartphones have had a huge impact on human behaviour and society. Mobile devices
have transformed the way people communicate and relate with each other, expanding the
public (virtual) space, where users have become omnipresent (or re-presented) while
physically they can be anywhere. Mobility has increased the influence of (social) networks
in which individuals are able to react to or share almost instantaneously posts, events, or
photos, allowing the fast and global dissemination of information, replicating most human
social relations on a universal scale. Often, this volunteered information is associated with a
place or coordinate position. The most important value of this Volunteered Geographic
Information (VGI) may lie in what it can tell about human (social) activities in various
geographic locations, offering interesting, lasting, and compelling value to the community
(Goodchild, 2007). Thus, many domains can access enormous amounts of geospatial data
(Big Data), allowing geosimulation in a bottom up perspective (Rocha, 2012). Volunteered
Geographic Information (georeferenced) and the widespread usage of smartphones
(considering their capabilities) are turning humans into sensors. These big (messy) data,
powerful analytic software, bottom-up methodologies, and synchronic data create real time
insights available through the cloud, producing ground-based knowledge (more accurate)
for the enhancement of public policies, fitting them to reality, improving the spatial
planning paradigm, and promoting an inclusive and better society (Morgado et al., 2016).
Cultural Heritage objects as symbols and relevant/protected landmarks are the most

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attractive and relevant elements in the territory for building Digital Representations
oriented for human interaction (e.g. explored by visitors, wayfinding navigation, and
urban/conservation management). Therefore, there are huge possibilities of diagnosing and
intervening in the Cultural Heritage through this collected or volunteered data, gathering
for example, the limitations of the object in terms of capacity, most searched and explored
entities and parts, users and object necessities, user’s claims, complaints, comments or
pictures. This kind of information is especially relevant and intersects several Domains,
such as:

– Political-Administrative (e.g. Promoting better interpretation and stronger

relationships between citizens and decisional administration; Defining priorities
of conservation, inspection, intervention, and the promotion of
cities/territories);

– Technical-Scientific (e.g. Fundamental for transversal studies, especially related

with Social sciences, Humanities, concerning human/society behaviour and
Computer science in the relation between human-machine or real-virtual-mixed
environments; Visualizing realistic Digital Representations of past, present, and
future Cultural Heritage objects for virtual/mixed environment recreations,
navigation, interaction, promotion and intervention, understanding the
relationship between the entities, its historical significance and future outcomes;
Essential as pedagogical and educational tool, improving motivation and
understanding with advantages arising from a collaborative experience,
promoting real time interaction);

– Social-Economic (e.g. Addressing societal demands; Being in the edge of

innovation, creating higher levels of user engagement; Releasing successful and
profitable technological products; Promoting Cultural Heritage and nearby
commerce and services; Apps for the fields of leisure and recreation,
navigation, gaming, and advertising);

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– Civil Protection-Security (e.g. Impact or disaster assessment - accidents,

incidents, hazards, and other environmental issues; Public security issues -
police and military simulations);

– Symbolic-Religious (e.g. Visualization and explanation of historical relevant

facts and/or religious events).

Digital representations of Cultural Heritage can reach a vast number of individuals,

groups of interest (in different domains) or the society as a whole (regardless of their
physical location on Earth) in a continuously structured system (real time based).
Therefore, virtual/mixed environments are contributing to transform anthropological
relations and organizational systems. In the technical-scientific field, there is a growing
interest among technicians for the usage of 3D virtual models, taking advantage of their
enormous potential for pedagogical, documentary, and exploratory activities, as well as of
their predictive power. This is especially relevant for urban studies since it facilitates
interventions in historical sites, rehabilitation and planning of buildings, neighbourhoods
and cities, providing opportunities to simulate past, present, or future interventions, and
their respective evolution and management, where people can move through and interact
with the space within a virtual/mixed environment. This emergent interest is associated
with the very fast process of urban sprawl, also tied with the tendency of cities to growth in
terms of height (Z axis) and consequently elevating the level of complexity of the urban
processes that take place in the third dimension. Mixed Reality environments have the
potential to assist decisional processes in the context of urban and environmental planning,
cultural and natural heritage modelling, adding the capability to increase (virtual or real)
representational information to the selected environment presented (also virtual or real).
Virtual/mixed environments provide a valuable and effective approach and have
several applications in many specific Domains, such as architecture, landscape architecture,
computer graphics science, education, engineering (especially civil and mechanical), design
(especially interior, product, and graphic), geography, marketing and advertising, medicine,
military and security, seeking to progress beyond visually compelling (superimposing virtual
data to the real world aiming to support processes, operations, and decisions),

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incorporating other aspects of the physical reality that require intelligence or agents with
lifelike characteristics, simulating the real world.
The integration of 3D GIS functionalities and Augmented Reality technology has
allowed the fast and simple development of geospatial sceneries and is especially useful to
update maps and databases or reconstruct and analyse objects/areas through time,
constructing and recreating scenarios, and implementing intuitive methods of interaction.
These characteristics can encourage, for example, higher public participation creating a
completely collaborative solution system. Citizen involvement in the management of
historical environments ensures the protection of the historical Cultural Heritage. To be
effective, it is necessary to provide decision-making processes with specific spaces and
tools that facilitate participation at different levels (Hugony & Roca, 2008). A Fully
integrating 3D GIS within an Augmented Reality environment based on Digital
Representations allows to envision solutions, processes and simulations, making it possible
for agents in several domains to fundament their decisions (and understand them)
achieving a faster and wider consensus, supporting a broader collective and collaborative
planning process.

2. Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage

People seem to have quite accurate mental representations of their spatial

environment, coherently capturing the categorical spatial relations between elements that
support perception, reorientation, and spatial inferences (Tversky, 1993). There are
numerous evidences from a number of species that demonstrate that the brain’s
hippocampus plays a key role in spatial representation and spatial memory. The concept of
space has been considered an innate organizing principle of the mind, through which the
world is, and must be, perceived (Moser et al., 2008247). Reconstruction generates systematic
errors; therefore, humans rely on external representations to serve as cognitive aids for
memory and information processing. The space of external representations is invented,
created in order to enhance human cognition (Tversky, 2005). Thus, representations are
central in the brain, being at the source of all empirical knowledge and conception of the

May-Britt Moser and Edvard I. Moser receive the 2014 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discoveries of cells that
247

constitute the positioning system in the brain.

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world. Visuospatial representations have many similarities to those that reside in the mind.
These Digital Representations are constructed to Augment human cognition. External
cognitive tools function to extend the powers of the mind by exploring the human skills at
spatial reasoning (Tversky, 2005).
Generic activities such as communication, learning, simulation, and decision-
making are all behaviours that are influenced by virtual interaction through Digital
Representations. The range of applications is potentially huge (Batty, 1997). The
construction of simulations by communities or remote users implies various forms of
collaborative decision-making. Virtual geography is the study of place as ethereal space and
its processes inside a synthetized virtual world, parallel to the real (Batty, 1997). The
development of digital technologies, especially in what concern visualization, has been
affecting many spatial processes. Digital Representations are central and the technology to
Augment the Value to this information is fundamental (Batty et al., 2000). Geographical
information and systems are then critical for spatial processes, when an understanding of
the problem’s context is being built. Technologies that convert “spatial information into
mathematically correlated models which inform analysis, prediction and optimization are
also critical to good formal problem-solving” and to the generation and evaluation of
alternative procedures (Batty et al., 2000:2). In his work with the suggestive title
“Augmenting Geographic Reality”, Goodchild (2005:43) refers the notion of “Augmenting
the senses with information from Digital Representations: of the past; of what is beyond
the senses; of the future”. Geographic representations have become more complex with
time, leading to an apparently endless proliferation of concepts and creating a need for
simplification (Goodchild, 2007).
Geographic visualization is a powerful research method for exploration, analysis,
synthesis, and presentation. However, three particular issues are worth discussing: practical
limitations, ethical concerns, and political interests (Dodge et al., 2008). Digital
Representations of the world are also a cultural process of creating rather than merely
revealing knowledge. Virtual environments can be very valuable for the scientific
community, but at the same time they should never be value-free. There are many key
unknown and under-explored areas that require further research, including uncertain
mapping, temporal understanding, and the limits of human visual perception (Dodge et al.,
2008). Virtual environments are built with the objective of allowing users to experience

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Augmenting the senses and going beyond reality through geographic phenomena
simulation and collaborative research (Lin et al., 2013).
The use of technology to build virtual environments for researching, conserving,
and conveying our cultural heritage offers exciting new ways to learn and experience the
cultural resources of the world, both past and present (Ch’ng, 2015). Culture transcends
material and behavioural contexts based in large part on “invented” symbolic constructions
of the interaction space and its elements, being a dynamic system of representations that
multiples agents can simulate and model (Frischer, 2006 in Ch’ng, 2015). “Culture and
heritage are commonly recognized as collective identity pillars and major economic drivers”
(Council of Europe, 2005; European Commission, 2006; UNESCO, 2012; Richards, 2013
in Papathanassiou-Zuhrt, 2015:57). However, heritage sites are a complex combination of
both tangible (material objects) and intangible (customs, beliefs) content.
Augmented Reality is an enriched view of the physical world that empowers users
to experience virtual data superimposed on real environments that function interactively in
three or four dimensions (3D+time) in real time (Khan & Khusro, 2015). The emergence
of mobile devices such as smartphones anticipated a huge potential field application for
Augmented Reality applications (Khan & Khusro, 2015). When appropriately conducted,
the application of three or four dimensional Digital Representations of Cultural Heritage
superimposed on the real world, within an Augmented Reality environment, using mobile
platforms has the power to improve temporal understanding, map the uncertain, verify the
limitations of human perceptual reasoning, and create systems to form collaborative
solutions, envisioning processes, simulations, and results. These external affordances
enhance human cognition and help to understand societal and anthropologic behaviour
besides their symbolism, considering the bases of cultural and heritage conceptions. This is
highly relevant for human knowledge, enhancing and Augmenting the power of the mind.
The value attributed to Cultural Heritage might be increased by the use of Digital
Representations, which disclose, explain and promote its symbolic significance, technical-
scientific importance, unicity, or other relevant assets, disclosing what could be considered
as an Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage.

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Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage

The notion of Augmented suggests the innovations introduced by Augmented

Reality environments through by mobile technology. Nowadays, almost everyone has a
smartphone with a vast technological capabilities to generate digital representations of
cultural heritage objects and features, allowing to increase the human capability with
external affordances (digital, virtual world), and enriching the senses and the user’s
perception of the real world, being capable to guarantee experiences beyond the human
abilities. The value of the Cultural Heritage itself is then overcome through the
combination of these technologies and their users, making possible either past recreations
or modelling futuristic scenarios (e.g. for planning or intervention). There are great
advantages to applying digital technologies to the field of relevant data acquisition over a
structure, helping to uncover threats and defining priorities of intervention (such as the
usage of spectral sensors to detect structural fissures, humidity, or chlorophyll production).
Besides geo-visualization, there is an enormous potential in terms of material and
immaterial248 cultural heritage, contained within virtual/mixed environments’
characteristics, such as social practices, events recreation, knowledge and skills of a given
society. For example, the possibility of adding the Portuguese most traditional music genre,
Fado249, included in UNESCO’s list of world intangible Cultural Heritage, and listening to
songs while visualizing, for example, the Lx_W (AqueductAR and AqueductGPS) Apps.
These capabilities might help to better understand the unicity and importance of a certain
object, site, or intangible cultural value, giving meaning to the fundamental questions that
surrounds the term Cultural Heritage: what is it and how can it be evaluated.
The introduction of this concept to the scientific community intends to define the
need to explain the importance of Augmented Reality, what supports it (RS, GNSS, GIS,
3D modelling, 3D GIS, Virtual Environments, Mobile Technology), and the
methodologies (correctly) applied to the field of Cultural Heritage to add, increase, enrich,
or Augment its intrinsic value. The notion of this conceptual idea embodied this project
and it was discussed implicitly and explicitly in the workshop held and referred to
previously (in Chapter VI) that counted on the presence of several experts with much

248 Intangible Cultural Heritage, available at URL: http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/en/what-is-intangible-heritage-00003 (January,

2017).
249 Fado inscribed in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, available at URL:

http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/en/RL/fado-urban-popular-song-of-portugal-00563 (January, 2017).

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experience in the field of Cultural Heritage, in terms of decision making, management,

technical and research activities; some of them involved in inventory, technical
development, intervention, and information dissemination. It was very obvious that all the
experts agreed with the potential Augmented Valuation through Digital Representations
and Virtual/Mixed Environments applied to Cultural Heritage, especially in built (tangible)
elements and particularly in the case of the Lx_W App (AqueductAR and AqueductGPS).
This potential Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage is also visible in the results of the
first questionnaire (annex 3) answered in the workshop, in terms of Usability, Quality, and
Knowledge acquired with the Lx_W App, but especially concerning Heritage Valuation in
terms of potential Dissemination, Added Value, and Recommendations. In the second
questionnaire there were very high levels of interest in the usage and Usefulness of the
Lx_W App, where respondents had to answer whether they agreed with the statement:
“technology allows to increase the intrinsic value of cultural heritage through digital representations (past,
present, and future), establishing (virtual) synthetic environments superimposed on the real space”
(question 4). The results showed 29% of agreement and 71% of very high agreement.
Later, this idea was stressed, but instead of the broad concept of technology, it was
introduced the Lx_W App (question 20), and also gathered high levels of agreement.
Beside these questions, this concept was directly surveyed in an open answer format, with
transversal high levels of agreement.

The concept of Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage

The concept of Cultural Heritage (Chapter III) assumes the notion of Value
(Introduction) and cultural inherency, often related with unicity, rareness, importance,
memory, or symbolic representation of one or more specific objects, events, milestones,
achievements, or historical significance. Value has always been the reason underlying
heritage conservation. However, the notion of valuation might be identified or increased,
when supported individually or collectively by external and/or internal representations as a
process of increasing the intrinsic value of the cultural heritage. Digital representations of
cultural heritage are highly valuable for scientific study, conservation, and educational
purposes (Chapter I).

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Geographic Information Technologies (Chapter II), while addressed to the agents

in the field within different domains, allows to visualize, interact, and disseminate digital
representations of the physical world, (re)creating virtual environments associated with the
real space. Augmented Reality technology has the capability to enrich the real world with
virtual data, generating mixed environments, where the user maintains the sense of the real
place, albeit enhanced with unfindable synthetic information, extending reality itself
(Chapter III). An example of that is the development of the mobile App Lx_W
(AqueductAR and AqueductGPS) using Augmented Reality technology applied to the
Lisbon Aqueduct System, classified as National Monument (Chapters IV and V), allowing
to:
– Visualize and interact with ancient cartography (Filipe Folque 1856-1858),
which allows the user to recognize, in this period, the city extension and
morphology, its main limits, date of construction or urban growth, by
comparing it with the present day city;
– Identify and recognize the path of the Aqueduct System, which allows the user
to understand the dimension of the structure, identifying its path over and
underground. The App, using GPS features, shows our position in relation to
this structure and warns us when we are within 150 meters of the structure
(Near Me functionality);
– Understand the path of the aqueduct system, the logic of water distribution by
gravity by means of the overlay of the Digital Terrain Model, showing the city
hypsometry;
– Interact with 2D and 3D models of the Lisbon Aqueduct System, creating the
possibility to foresee/remember the various elements of the structure, while
learning its layout, programing a visit, or navigating through its path and
accessing content data (Text, Pictures, Maps);
– Access to contents, namely: text, photographs (ancient and recent), and other
information.

The use Augmented Reality technology through mobile Apps, in addition to the
examples referred previously, can be applied to an unending number of examples and
experiences over the territory. These capabilities allow users to experience mixed

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environments, achieving a higher knowledge about their surroundings. The use of

Augmented Reality technology applied to the field of cultural heritage is growing in
interest, especially given the possibility to better understand and disseminate its value.
Usually, an expert interprets cultural heritage values of objects or phenomena within a
theoretical framework, based on several principles and assumptions, according to the
knowledge in their field of studies, tending to isolate them from other inputs. There are no
accurate widely accepted value assessment tools. Public participation is imperative to
discuss value, challenging conventional notions of conservation and professional
responsibilities (Chapter VI). It is self-evident that society makes an effort to conserve
what has value. However, values are, by nature, varied, and they are often in conflict. We
need to understand the foundations of what allows us to establish the importance of one
specific cultural heritage element, comprehending the previously referred characteristics of
unicity, rareness, importance or symbolic meaning, achieving the universal values from the
point of view of history, art, or science. On the other hand, we have to uphold this value
by means of preservation. The capabilities of Augmented Reality technology permit the
recreation of past scenarios, simulate future interventions, and/or interact with the physical
environment, allowing us to analyse and test multiples situations without damaging the real
object. These features often go beyond human abilities and therefore are extremely relevant
to augment the intrinsic value of the cultural heritage object and, consequently, to the
scientific community and general public. Thus, the notion of Augmented Reality already
presupposes the idea of enriching the real environment with digital representations.

The concept of Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage (Chapter VII) is clearly

inspired by the concept of Augmented Reality, being capable of identifying, analysing, and
increasing/augmenting the intrinsic value that is already present in the notion of cultural
heritage. This concept brings about the opportunity to recognize that, besides the idea of
enriching the physical environment with virtual synthetized data, Augmented Reality
technology can simultaneously increase the intrinsic value of cultural heritage. This concept
presupposes the process of augmenting the value of cultural heritage. This valuation is
dynamic since the user experience mixed reality environments as the process of dynamically
augmenting cultural heritage valuation.

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Virtual Real

Augmented Reality Enrichment Heritage

Technology

Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage

Reality extension Intangible Tangible

Fig. 79 – Schematic approach to the concept of Augmented Value of Cultural Heritage.

Enriching the real world with virtual georeferenced data can be illustrate of a
traveller that crosses an urban area, using his augmented reality device (smartphone or AR
glasses) to have access to the names and contact numbers of the surrounding stores
overlaid on the real environment, while moving his body and head.
The Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage concept might be suggested by the
idea of an individual that is perceiving the physical space with superimposed (mixed
environment) 3D digital representations of the past (4D), visualizing a certain ancient
period over the current city (e.g. city morphology and water distribution of ancient Barcino,
over the present day Barcelona), being capable of learning, in this process, the size of the
structures and the relations between them over time. Additionally, with the device’s GNSS
turned on, the user can identify one’s position in relation to the ancient city, and be alerted
to the proximity of a relevant element (e.g. ruins), where this user will be able to visualize
3D models (e.g. over the ruins). Moreover, it can support the definition of an urban
intervention, manipulating virtual data and supporting, for example, a higher public
participation in the planning process. When correctly applied, these features increase the
knowledge we have about cultural inherency. The internal representations in the human
brain are limited in terms of accuracy and storage capacity. The capabilities that are
accessible by means of Augmented Reality are not available in the real world and would be
extremely difficult for a traveller and even for most technicians to understand in such
intuitive and empiric way the possibility of virtual time travelling and/or locating with

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precision the objects’ position within the ancient/present world in a vast spatial area. The
possibilities of simulating onsite interventions and urban developments within virtual
mixed environments, supporting non-invasive interference, besides generating a wider
understanding of the cultural heritage object, increase social intervention, enabling real time
changes to the initial spatial planning proposal, originating a wider public participation and
consensus.

The Definition of Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage

The definition of Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage is enclosed in the

domains of Architecture, Spatial Planning and Technology, more specifically within the
scope of Territorial, Urban and Architectonic Management and Valuations, and (using)
Geographic Information Technologies. The definition presupposes the composition of
current and preferred terms or descriptors in British English in the singular form250:

– Augmented Reality (Noun, preferred term or “descriptor” in British English, current term)
– Cultural Heritage (Noun, preferred term or “descriptor” in British English, current term)
– Tangible Cultural Heritage (Function in a grammatical context undetermined, preferred term or
“descriptor” in British English, current term). Used terms: Physical Cultural Heritage / Material Cultural
Heritage (Function in a grammatical context undetermined, not preferred term British English, current
term).
– Intangible Cultural Heritage (Noun, preferred term or “descriptor” in British English, current).
Used term: Immaterial Cultural Heritage (Noun, not preferred term British English, current term)

While Augmented Reality and Cultural Heritage are used terms, we need to
disambiguate the notions of Augmented Valuation or Valuation of Cultural Heritage.

– Augmented Valuation might be perceived as an extension of valuation; the process of

increasing value; added value process; the process of using Augmented Reality
technology to visualize and increase the value of a certain object of phenomenon.

Getty Art & Architecture Thesaurus Online. Available at URL: http://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabularies/aat/ (February,
250

2017).

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Chapter VII – Reflections on Cultural Heritage and its Augmented Valuation

Augmented Reality Value Heritage

Augmented Valuation Cultural Heritage

Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage

Fig. 80 – Composition of terms for the definition of Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage.

Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage: The process of using (virtual computer-

generated) digital representations superimposed on the real environment through
technology, with the attribution of significance by the agents in the field from different
domains, aiming to increase the intrinsic value of cultural heritage, whether tangible (i.e.
physical achievements: Monuments, Groups of Buildings, and Sites) and/or intangible (i.e.
immaterial achievements: cultural practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, and
skills).

Defined by UNESCO, Monuments constitute architectural works, works of

monumental sculpture and painting, elements or structures of an archaeological nature,
inscriptions, cave dwellings, and combinations of features, which are of outstanding
universal value from the point of view of history, art, or science; Groups of Buildings are
separate or connected buildings that, because of their architecture, their homogeneity or
their place in the landscape, are of outstanding universal value from the point of view of
history, art, or science; Sites include the works of man or the combined works of nature
and man, and areas include archaeological sites that are of outstanding universal value from
the historical, aesthetic, ethnological, or anthropological point of view.

Conceptual notions, developing tools, standards and best practices adopted by

Cultural Heritage Agents will determine the future work within different Domains. Digital
Representations and Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage are, thus, central in the
relation between Technology (e.g. RS, GIS, GNSS, WMS, WFS, Cloud Computing, Mobile
App, Virtual and Augmented Reality, and 2D/3D/4D modelling) as tools for the main

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Chapter VII – Reflections on Cultural Heritage and its Augmented Valuation

Agents (Promoters, Technicians, Decision/Opinion-makers, or the Public), since users

provide meaning and intelligence to meet the main objectives and thus addressing answers
to the main problems of different Domains (Political-administrative, Social-economic,
Technical-scientific, Ideological-symbolic).
Technology permits to extend the real world to interdependent mixed virtual
environments, allowing a global access to unlimited information, virtually, without barriers,
physically anywhere. The public space is no longer limited to the physical space to become
virtually perpetual, unlimited and reachable by any user. Individuals can visualise, evaluate,
discuss, and intervene virtually and collectively through the past, present, future and
beyond human capabilities, simulating re-presentations of Cultural Heritage and its
Augmented Value.

Terminologists use specialized methods to define a concept. Costa e Silva (2006)

refer that
“According to ISO Standard: 1087-1 (2000), the concept is defined as: ‘unit of
knowledge created by a unique combination of characteristics’, and in the same
document, the concept of characteristic is defined as ‘an abstraction of a property of
an object or a set of objects’. What this involves, therefore, is a succession of linguistic
tasks that identify the characteristics of an object”.251
The combination of these characteristics should lead to a “unity of thought” (Costa e Silva,
2006: 6). Definitions “(...) are textual constructions that allow delimiting the concepts
between them, to relate them and to situate them within a conceptual system” (Costa e
Silva, 2006: 6).
Considering the text of the thesis as the support of the conceptual system of
concepts, or corpus, in particular what is described in this chapter, we can argue that the
concept “Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage” results from the combination of its
intrinsic value (tangible, represented in the real world value) with the technology and the
data (virtual georeferenced data) (Fig. 81). This technology and data guarantee the external
representation that we described in previous chapters.

251 Translated from Portuguese (the citation retrieved from the ISO Standard is, however, original from the English version)

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Chapter VII – Reflections on Cultural Heritage and its Augmented Valuation

Virtual Georeferenced Data

with

Real World Heritage

of Kind_of

Mobile
uses Augmented Valuation Applied to Cultural Heritage
Technology

Kind_of Kind_of

Tangible Cultural Heritage Intangible Cultural Heritage

Fig. 81 – Representation of the concept “Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage”.

We propose that the concept of Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage be

defined as: virtual georeferenced data added to the real world applied to cultural heritage
using mobile technology.
This definition corresponds to a unique combination of features that complies with
the already mentioned ISO standard, and emphasizes the use of mobile technology and
virtualized data.

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Chapter VII – Reflections on Cultural Heritage and its Augmented Valuation

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Conclusions

Conclusions

This thesis was conducted within the theoretical framework of what we can refer to
as the technology in the service of the use of the memory of the city. The buildings with
heritage value, as is the case of the Lisbon Aqueduct System (Águas Livres), are part of the
city as outstanding elements of the urban space. Often, these elements are so iconic that
they form a relevant part of the city identification itself (as is the case of the Eiffel Tower in
Paris, the Cathedral of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, the Tower Bridge in London, just to
name a few examples). These cultural heritage elements have a substantial power of
attraction, particularly for tourists. Tourists somehow endorse these “attractions” since
they are systematically preferred for their visits. In fact, we believe that there is a matter of
circular causality. It is the unique value of this heritage with “global influence” to shape the
image of the cities that generates interest in the world circuits of travel agencies. These
agencies, in turn, use these images to enhance tourism products. Tourist demand,
therefore, tourists consume the products offered by the agencies because they aspire to be
able to say: “I've been there” – in that iconic place.
What we have just mentioned fits into this use of the memory of the city, being also
often at the source of business exploration on a world scale. Technology has always been at
the service of promoting and enhancing heritage. Photography, for example, is one of the
technologies that has most contributed to record what we might call “memory extension”,
i.e., it has been used throughout the ages as a means to record moments of a tourist visit, to
remember later (this is what we refer to as “extension of memory”); sharing with other the
experience they have lived. Formerly, this act of sharing was performed using paper as the
preferred medium (as attested, for example, by the relevance of postcards as a way of
spreading the heritage), but more recently it has spread into the global scale with the use of
(geo)browsers and/or social networks. These sharing experiences, resulting from the more
or less intensive use of technology, have contributed greatly to explain how tourists use the
public space. Thus, in recent years, there has been a very large increase in research using
geolocated tourist data (photographs in and of public spaces), with high spatial and
temporal resolution, using Big Data to map the rhythms, activities, and uses of the public
space as a way to understand the collective focus, interest, and behaviour of the tourists.

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The technology referred to above is a part of the tourist’s practice: photo

registration, postal communication, and social networks via the Internet, as a means of
sharing the moments lived and the places visited. However, we have only mentioned one
phase in the tourist’s agenda, which has to do with the visits they have made, and not to
the preparation and travel planning. Yet, it is precisely in the planning of a trip that
technology can play a decisive role by helping tourists select what they wish to visit ― it is
the “fight for attention”, using an expression by Innerarity (2010) ― e.g., using data and
online information often complemented with previous virtual visits. Will all this
technology-intensive travel planning somehow diminish uncertainty as to the places to
visit? Is it a preliminary assessment of the value of the existing elements in urban public
space? Will the available technology contribute to reduce the strangeness of places, heritage
observation, and the sensation of being lost? Having arrived at the end of this thesis, these
(among many others) are the questions that we would like to place.

This preliminary reflection at the beginning of the conclusions is in consonance

with what we wanted to demonstrate with this research, and now summarize below.

This thesis seeks to demonstrate that Geographic Information Technologies

(specifically Remote Sensing, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, 3D data acquisition, processing
and representation, Geographic Information Systems, Navigation Systems, Augmented
Reality, Mobile Devices and Applications) have been contributing to provide essential data
and tools to support the (re)creation of virtual spatial environments for Agents, not only
occasional users (public), but also specialised technicians, opinion/decision-makers,
promoters, and other stakeholders, addressing solutions (or contributions) to the existing
problems in the technical-scientific, social-economic, political-administrative, and
ideological-symbolic Domains. Digital Representations of the spatial environment, while
permitting to visualise past reconstructions and future simulations, allow us to present
solutions, envisioning processes and making it possible for the agents in several domains to
fundament their decisions (and make other agents understand them) achieving a faster and
wider consensus, and supporting a broader (public) participation in a collective and
collaborative planning process. The combination of synthetic digital representations and
the real world, through mixed environments, allows envisioning and promoting historical

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awareness (spatial evolution), analysing the present situation (going beyond human
capabilities), and simulating interventions in place (through mixed environments). These
abilities have a huge epistemological importance since they aid human cognitive skills,
spatial awareness, and perception, contributing to the technical-scientific and general
empirical knowledge and, thus, digitally expanding the human mind. Technology permits to
extend the real world to an interdependent mixed virtual environment allowing a global
access to unlimited information, virtually, without barriers, physically anywhere.
Geographic Information Technologies applied to the field of cultural heritage are growing
in interest, especially considering the possibility to better understand and disseminate its
intrinsic value. The valuation of Cultural Heritage is a quality process attributed by users,
where technology plays an important role. However, technology itself does not augment
the value of cultural heritage. The use of technology is only relevant when it addresses the
Agents’ objectives and when we consider the quality of acquired data, and provide
solutions to the problems of the several Domains. Usually, experts interpret cultural
heritage values of objects or phenomena within their theoretical framework, based on
several standards and assumptions, according to the knowledge in their field of studies,
tending to isolate them from other inputs. The value attributed to cultural heritage might
be increased by the use of digital representations, which disclose, explain, and promote its
symbolic significance, technical-scientific importance, unicity, or other relevant asset.
Combining and enriching the real world with superimposed digital representations, using
mixed environments, contributes to the Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage,
whether we consider tangible and/or intangible elements. The acknowledgment of Cultural
Heritage value and valuation techniques is strategic to promote substantiated, integrative
and oriented procedures for the identification, preservation, and dissemination of tangible
and intangible heritage. Public participation is imperative in the discussion of value,
challenging conventional notions of conservation and professional responsibilities. This
technology can be used to improve community access to information and increase public
participation in the planning, management, and policy-making process.

As stated previously and within the spirit of this demonstration, we now present a
complementary summary organized into four topics: i) Identifying sources of pertinent data
acquisition; ii) Developing Methodologies for Augmenting the Value of Cultural Heritage;

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iii) Analysing Technology with Agents and their associated Domains; and iv) Desirable
Developments for Research Consolidation.

i) Identifying sources of pertinent data acquisition

For the development of the case study on the Lisbon Aqueduct System within an
Augmented Reality environment, we collected spatial data from several sources through the
combined use of Geographic Information Technologies:

– Remote Sensing to identify and represent the main structure and elements of
cultural heritage (e.g. Satellite imagery and aerial 3D point clouds). Satellite imagery was
extremely relevant for the identification of the structure’s path and further representation
as (current) base cartography. The construction of 3D models based on photogrammetry
revealed to be fundamental, including the use of UAV as a means to collect data for taller
and larger structures, such as the Mãe de Água reservoir;
– Geographic Information Systems to georeference and integrate geographic
information (e.g. georeferencing ancient cartography, analysing/vectorising the structure
into points, lines, and polygons, and visualise 3D scenes). Georeferencing ancient
cartography made it possible to overlay it on (current) base cartography (e.g. satellite
imagery) and identify/digitalize the structure and its elements: comparing, for example,
urban growth between both periods, analysing major changes, dating buildings and/or
verifying structures and their relation at specific periods in space and time;
– Global Navigation Satellite Systems to collect georeferenced data (e.g. collecting
georeferenced pictures, surveying structure elements and locating the UAV in space). The
use of GNSS allowed: on the part of data acquisition, to collect georeferenced data (e.g.
pictures, 3D objects base data) and positioning the UAV; on the part of data exploration,
to position and navigate in the real world through mobile devices’ GPS/GLONASS and
georeferenced cartography, besides generating very useful alerts of user/structure proximity
(e.g. 150 meters);
– Georeferenced information to provide relevant and useful data to the user (e.g.
official geographic information, world dataset projects, wiki data, volunteered information);

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– Web (map/feature) Services to gather and visualise base and thematic datasets
(e.g. overlaying the project geographic information on available base maps (constantly
updated));
– Survey and 3D modelling (e.g. 3D model generation: drawn and from
photogrammetry point clouds, based in terrestrial georeferenced photographs of objects).

ii) Developing Methodologies for Augmenting the Value of Cultural Heritage

Several methodologies were developed to visualise and create outputs:

– Geographic Information System (e.g. creating 3D scenes with available

geographic information, e.g. the use of Digital Terrain Model, and analysing the produced
data of the water flow through gravity);
– Modelling 3D from aerial and terrestrial data (e.g. Loading and Aligning photos,
Build dense point clouds, Building mesh, Texturing the 3D model, Exporting results);
– Testing the Apps available in the market to evaluate the potential of Augmented
Valuation of Cultural Heritage (e.g. verifying the produced data of the Lisbon Aqueduct
System over a collection of Apps available in the market: ESRI and ESRI Collector; Locus,
Augment, Google Cardboard Camera, Surround Shot modules);
– Developed Apps and Augmented Reality environments to use with mobile
devices (e.g. iGeo Património or the prototype Lx_W App: AqueductAR and
AqueductGPS);
– Visualizing and interacting over simple and static information, such as a tourist
paper map, augmenting and enriching it with endless virtual data possibilities, allowing to
highlight thematic georeferenced data addressed to the agent’s requests. These capabilities
extend the perspective of using practical and available information within an
intergenerational collaboration (older/younger users) and combine user preferences for
external aids and devices, creating targeted information over available generalised
information with a specific and relevant theme;
– Interacting within the real world expanding it through virtual environments.
Using the developed mobile Apps allowed users to interact with virtual data in the real
world, expanding the reality and the means of interaction with it. Users can access virtual
data choosing the most interesting collections of themes, exploring, navigating, and

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combining both real and virtual environments (consuming and aggregating information
about a certain object).

iii) Analysing Technology with Agents and their associated Domains

Promoting a workshop and implementing a survey to compare the developed App

with other Apps available in the market considering the following topics: Development,
Performance, Usability, Quality and the importance to Cultural Heritage Valuation in a
perspective of understanding the experts’ perception of the Lx_W App within the concept
of Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage. The production of a video comprising the
history of the structure, its importance within the city, and the features developed and
available in the prototype Lx_W App, made it possible for anyone to answer the second
questionnaire, which contained open questions to assess the proposed concept applied to
the work done. These tasks allowed us to survey the main Agents: on the one hand, the
general public and, on the other hand, a significant number of experts with responsibilities
in the field of cultural heritage and land-use management, gauging their opinion and
valuation, considering the congregation of technologies and their main capabilities for the
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage, and taking into consideration their experiences
and domain of knowledge.

iv) Desirable Developments for Research Consolidation.

The desirable developments for the research work that gave origin to this thesis are
twofold: i) the enhancement of the App; and ii) the enhancement of the App’s evaluation.

As for the enhancement of the App we can identify two topics: a) virtualization of
the entire aqueduct, at least within the city of Lisbon; and b) diversification of content. The
aqueduct and its elements were partially dealt with within the scope of this project.
Considering the objectives of this thesis, we decided that the results should constitute a
base prototype. However, the heritage administration/tourism entities are expected to
express their interest in financially supporting the extension of this work throughout the
entire path. When diversifying the content, it will be desirable to perform an even more
thorough research on the historical context, perhaps even more specialized, as well as a

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detailed description of the surrounding public space from which the elements of the
aqueduct are inseparable.
Regarding the enhancement of App’s evaluation, it will be important to extend the
survey to new segments of potential users and ensure respondents are geographically
diversified. The constraints in terms of time and resources did not allow us to increase the
sample. Despite this fact, we believe that the results of the survey already show a high level
of interest in combining the paper map with augmented reality, both when planning a visit
and for the actual onsite visit to the aqueduct.

The work developed aimed to contribute to a broader understanding of the relation

between Domains and their Agents, as well as to the discussion on the importance of
Technology to the proposed concept of Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage.
However, the abilities of Digital Representations and the conception of virtual
environments go way beyond these assumptions, creating an interdependent synthetized
world that is parallel but interwoven with the real one. The space is no longer an obstacle
for action in the present; distance does not count and has lost its strategic significance. Fast
means of transportation and information transmission and new possibilities of movement
by means of territory virtualization seem to convert space in a material means, in
something irrelevant, without the need, in some occasions, of physical proximity
(Innerarrity, 2009). Land-use policies have now the opportunity to take advantage of the
process that relieves spaces from the old homogeneous politic configurations and make it
possible for a new territorial pluralism to emerge. The present does not always last the
same: it is different in each period of time and for each culture. The sense of time is in our
head and it is not the same for different types of individuals (e.g. young, active, older,
urban, rural). With the civilization process and technology, the present is shorter, it lasts
less, and we spend less time where we are, as if the passage of time were abbreviated by the
present. This happens because innovation (future) process is increasingly faster and present
in our lives. The modernization processes are, among other things, processes of growing
dependencies in space. The world seems to be in a permanent state of transition. The
virtualization of society and culture can be an opportunity to test and broaden our idea of
reality and understand that the current dimensions seem to have acquired an
unprecedented importance in culture, which has, in a sense, dematerialized. The ultimate

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representational system would allow the observer to interact naturally with objects and
other individuals within a simulated environment, conceivably (and increasingly more
likely) by using digitally controlled outputs that stimulate the brain and the human senses,
as an experience indistinguishable from reality. These circumstances in some cases are
shortening distances (to no distance) and being able to be (re)presented in multiple virtual
environments at the same time.
The past two decades have been very rich for the discussion of city virtualization
and smart cities. The dominant discourse supports the notion of “Smart City” in the
technological possibility of virtualizing some of the facts (e.g. historical, geographical,
infrastructural, commercial) and some of the urban processes (e.g. public participation in
management decisions, discussion of plans and urban projects, resource management). If it
is true that virtualization is often interpreted into digital transcription, it is also true that the
“smart city” is much more than that. The “smart city” is an efficient city; or one that
pursues objectives of efficiency in the management of energy and public spaces, and in the
preservation of the heritage, among other relevant aspects.
In this context, as far as heritage is concerned, many of the technological solutions
are reserved for inventory, i.e., for the creation of repositories of elements with historical or
cultural value, using, for example, LiDAR data modelling or others procedures/processes.
This is, in this case, a technology-oriented perspective of conservation and management.
These actions are clearly at the service of heritage valuation. However, it is not a
perspective that considers the use of heritage by tourists. The use of heritage by tourists
requires technology at least on three levels of action: a) when planning a visit; b) in the act
of getting to know the place; c) in the action of interacting.
There is in the action of interacting a clear relation (man/machine) tourist / mobile
platform in which is installed one or several App's. This interaction is increasingly
becoming more important since digital content and potential connections with external
information have been gradually enhanced.

The future will definitely be very rich in terms of the exploration of augmented
reality using mobile applications. Batty (2013) considers that building a Science of Cities
(title of one of the chapters of the work cited here) should incorporate constellations of
interactions at various scales. The author even assumes that these interactions are the basis
of this new Science. In this context, it seems appropriate to admit that the interaction

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mobile platform/city, and heritage in particular, are unique examples of this constellation in
which augmented reality plays a key role.

As we have already mentioned, this thesis does a demonstration: the demonstration

of the role played by technology in the Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage. The
future will define the meaning of the definition we proposed here (of the concept of
“Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage”). Presently, one fact seems obvious: this
valuation can be extended to all urban public spaces, which is the tangible space of
integration and urban interaction and sociability.

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Internet References

Internet References

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Internet References

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Internet References

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Internet References

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Annexes

Annexes

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Annexes 1

Annex 1 – Texts for the App AqueductGPS

Sources: SIPA – www.monumentos.pt; DGPC; EPAL; AdP; and Lisbon Municipality.

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Annexes 1

Textos Coord Coord

PORTUGUÊS ENGLISH Acesso PORTUGUÊS / ENGLISH
para APP LAT LONG
A fundação da cidade de Lisboa inicia-se na colina do Castelo de The foundation of Lisbon starts on the hill of “São Jorge”
São Jorge (que se mantém sensivelmente até à idade média). A castle (which remains significant until the Middle Ages). The
implantação nesta localização deve-se à sua posição defensiva implantation in this location was due to the defensive position
associada ao facto dos recursos de água existentes, que se extraiam associated to the fact that there were water resources supplied
dos poços, fontes ou de cisternas na envolvente (Alfama). O Tejo largely by wells, fountains or existing tanks in the surroundings
não seria uma alternativa, considerando o facto de ser um estuário (“Alfama”). The Tagus river would not be an alternative,
de dimensões razoáveis, onde a água doce do rio se mistura com a considering the fact that is an estuary of reasonable dimensions,
Texto
água salgada do oceano, tornando-se, portanto, insalobra. Com a where fresh river water is mixed with the salt water from the
introdutóri
expansão e modernização da cidade para ocidente (encosta do ocean. With the expansion and modernization of the city to the
o
Bairro Alto) e o consequente aumento populacional, os problemas west side (“Bairro Alto hill”) and the consequent population - - -
(distribuiçã
de abastecimento de água intensificam-se. Também os hábitos de growth, the problem in the water supply intensifies. On the
o de água
higiene que surgem com o renascimento, bem como, o período dos other hand, the hygiene habits that came with the Renaissance,
em Lisboa)
descobrimentos portugueses e que exigem o abastecimento das as well as the period of the Portuguese discoveries that required
embarcações, acentua a falta de água potável em Lisboa. Segundo ships supply, emphasized the lack of drinking water in Lisbon.
Chaves, 1989 in Bruno B. e Inácio P. (2012), em 1720, no período According to Chaves, 1989 in Bruno and B. Ignatius P. (2012),
do estabelecimento do imposto destinado à construção do in 1720 at the period of the implementation of the tax
Aqueduto das Águas Livres (essencialmente sobre produtos como assessment (mainly on products such as wine, meat, olive oil,
vinho, carne, azeite, sal ou palha), o número de habitantes da salt or straw) for the construction of the Aqueduct, the number
cidade rondava os 200 000. of inhabitants of the city was estimated around 200 000.
Classificado como Monumento Nacional (desde 1910), o Classified as a National Monument (since 1910), the “Águas
Aqueduto das Águas Livre projeta-se como uma das mais arrojadas Livres” aqueduct system was projected as one of the boldest
obras de engenharia hidráulica construídas em Portugal, hydraulic engineering structures built in Portugal, going through
atravessando os municípios de Loures, Sintra, Amadora e Lisboa. the municipalities of Loures, Sintra, Amadora and Lisbon. Built
Construído em cantaria e alvenaria de calcário, tem, no seu troço in limestone it has in the main section (structure between “Mãe
principal (estrutura compreendida entre Mãe de Água Velha até às de Água Velha” to the “Amoreiras”) about 14 km length,
Amoreiras) cerca de 14 km, no entanto, totaliza aproximadamente however, when counted the subsidiary aqueducts and galleries it
58 quilómetros de extensão quando contabilizados os aquedutos totals approximately 58 km extension. This complex water
subsidiários e galerias de adução. Este complexo sistema de supply system consists of the general Aqueduct from “Mãe de
Aqueduto abastecimento é constituído pelo Aqueduto Geral, desde a Água Velha” in Carenque (172m altitude) to the reservoir of the
(totalidade Nascente da Mãe de Água Velha em Carenque (172m altitude) até “Mãe de Água das Amoreiras” (94m altitude) and to the
do traçado) ao Reservatório da Mãe de Água das Amoreiras (94m altitude) e subsidiary and underground galleries, culminating in the various
pelos ramais subsidiários e galerias subterrâneas, culminando nos fountains that provided water to the population of Lisbon.
diversos chafarizes que abasteciam a população de Lisboa. Iniciada Initialized in 1731, the aqueduct system is completed in 1799,
em 1731, a obra dá-se como concluída em 1799, fornecendo 1300 distributing daily around 1300 m3 of water (tripling the initial
m3 diários de água (triplicando os recursos iniciais), no entanto, o resources), however, the aqueduct had a problem associated
problema do aqueduto continuava a ser a falta de caudal e a with the lack of flow and therefore still needed to incorporate
necessidade de incorporar mais nascentes, sendo apenas more water sources (springs) in the system. This issue was only
colmatadas as necessidades da cidade, com a introdução do sistema solved with the introduction of “Alviela” system in 1880. The
Alviela a partir de 1880. Manteve-se em funcionamento até 1967, aqueduct system remained in operation until 1967 and was
tendo sido totalmente desativado em 1968. totally disabled in 1968.

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Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Annexes 1

Chronology: The nomination of “Antonio Canevari” (Italian

architect) to direct the works in the aqueduct (in 1731)
especially surprised the military engineer “Manuel da Maia”,
Cronologia: A nomeação de António Canevari (arquiteto italiano)
who had made much of the preparatory work accompanied by
para a direção da obra (1731), terá surpreendido especialmente o
the Engineer-Major “Manuel de Azevedo Fortes” who was
Engenheiro Militar Manuel da Maia, que efetuara grande parte dos
sceptical relatively to the flows transportation until Lisbon.
trabalhos preparatórios acompanhado pelo Engenheiro-mor
From 1745 the direction of the works is delivered to the
Manuel de Azevedo Fortes que tinha mostrado descrente dos
architect “Carlos Mardel” (Hungarian Architect) who develops
caudais a transportar até Lisboa. A partir de 1745 a direção da obra
a subsequent stage in the inner city with the creation of 4 (from
fica a cargo do Arquiteto Carlos Mardel (Arquiteto Húngaro) que
5) supply galleries within the city (“Rato”, “Loreto”,
desenvolve uma fase subsequente no interior da cidade com a
“Esperança” and “Necessidades”), as well as the multiplication
criação de 4 das 5 galerias de abastecimento da cidade (Rato,
of fountains for water distribution (with connections to
Loreto, Esperança e Necessidades), bem como a multiplicação de
convents and factories) and the incorporation of new water
chafarizes para a distribuição da água (com ligações ainda a
sources (springs) through subsidiary aqueducts outside the city
conventos e fábricas) e a necessidade constante de aumentar os
due to the constant need to increase the flow rates. In 1746, the
caudais, associada à incorporação de novas nascentes através de
works over the Alcântara Valley through Ourique Field
aquedutos subsidiários fora da cidade. Em 1746 a obra atravessa o
(nowadays Campolide) reach the garden of the convent of
Vale de Alcântara atravessando Campo de Ourique (Campolide à
“Freiras do Rato”. In 1750 the King “D. João V” dies and
data) e atingindo a horta do Convento das Freiras do Rato. Em
ascends to the throne the King “D. José I” and in 1763 the
1750 morre o Rei D. João V e sobe ao trono o Rei D. José I e em
architect “Carlos Mardel” dies, followed by nomination of
1763 morre o Arquiteto Carlos Mardel, sendo nomeado Miguel
“Miguel Angelo Blasco” for the position (prolonging and / or
Ângelo Blasco para o cargo (prolongando e/ou edificando os
building subsidiary aqueducts of “Salrego”, “Rascoeira”,
aquedutos subsidiários do Salrego, Rascoeira, Bertão, Salgueiro
“Bertão”, “Salgueiro Grande” and “Francesas”). In 1755 the
Grande e Francesas). Em 1755 destaca-se a resistência da estrutura
aqueduct structure resisted to the Lisbon earthquake. In 1771,
ao terramoto. Em 1771, Reinaldo Manuel dos Santos torna-se
“Reinaldo Manuel dos Santos” becomes the director and
diretor e arquiteto das obras das Águas Livres, realizando-se as
architect of the works of the “Águas Livres”, accomplishing the
obras dos aquedutos do Salgueiro Grande, Moura Grande, Moura
aqueducts “Salgueiro Grande”, “Moura Grande”, “Moura
Pequena, Carvalheiros e Olival Santíssimo (e derivação da Pia do
Pequena”, “Carvalheiros” and “Olival Santissímo” (and
Penalva - Galeria do Loreto para a Praça da Alegria e jardins do
derivation from “Pia do Penalva” in “Loreto” Gallery to “Praça
Passeio Público - atualmente Av. da Liberdade). Interveio ainda na
da Alegria” and to “Passeio Público” gardens - nowadays Av.
Galeria das Necessidades e iniciou as obras da Galeria do Campo
da Liberdade). Intervened also in “Necessidades” Gallery and
de Santana. Morre o Rei D. José I e sobe ao trono a Rainha D.
initiated the works of “Campo de Santana” Gallery. In 1777 the
Maria I. Após a morte do arquiteto Reinaldo Manuel do Santos,
King “D. José I” dies and ascends to the throne the Queen
continuam as obras sob a direção de Francisco António Ferreira
“Maria I”. After the death of the architect “Reinaldo Manuel
Cangalhas (a partir de 1792) e é substituído pelos seus ajudantes,
dos Santos”, the works continue under the direction of
com uma breve interrupção durante o período de governação
“Francisco Cangalhas” (from 1792), replaced by his assistants,
francesa (sendo assumida a direção da obra por José Therésio
with a brief interruption during the French governance period
Michelotti). A obra é terminada em 1799, ainda que se tenham
(being assumed the direction of work by “José Therésio
mantido a construção de chafarizes e ramais até à primeira metade
Michelotti”). The works are completed in 1799, even if the
do século XIX. O aqueduto é desativado em 1968.
construction of fountains and extensions continued to the first
half of the nineteenth century. The aqueduct is disabled in
1968.

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Annexes 1

O Aqueduto sobre o Vale de Alcântara inicia-se no alto da Serafina

The aqueduct over Alcântara starts at the top of the Serafina
e atravessa o Vale de Alcântara (bastante profundo), formando um
neighbourhood and through the Valley of Alcântara (deep),
ligeiro ângulo, tendo, nos extremos, vinte e um arcos (de volta
Aqueduto forming a slight angle, and, in the extremes there are twenty-
perfeita) e, ao centro, catorze arcos (apontados), sustentados por
sobre o one arches (perfectly round) and at the centre, fourteen arches Aqueduto das Águas Livres | 3€ - Tuesdays to Saturdays (terça a
pilares, em cantaria de calcário. Sobre as arcadas, surgem dois 38,724116 -9,165459
Vale de (pointed), supported by pillars, limestone ashlar. About the sábado), 10h-12h and 13:30h-17:30h.
passadiços, protegidos por guarda plena de cantaria, com acesso
Alcântara arcades, there are two walking ways, protected by full guard
pelos extremos, a partir de portas de verga recta, ao centro, o canal,
stonework, with access by the extremes from straight doors, the
com cobertura a duas águas, com as paredes rasgadas por
centre channel is covered with ventilation (straight).
respiradouros retilíneos.
1. Mãe de Água | 5€ - Tuesdays to Saturdays (terça a sábado),
10h-12h and 13:30h-17:30h.
2. Mãe de Água/Casa do Registo - Reservatório da Patriarcal - São
Pedro de Alcântara | 5€, Last Saturday of the month (último
Construído entre 1746 e 1834, por Carlos Mardel e Reinaldo dos Built between 1746 and 1834, by “Carlos Mardel” and
sábado do mês) - 11h;
Santos, tem uma forma paralelepipédica com 37x33m e uma altura “Reinaldo dos Santos”, has a parallelepiped shape with 37x33m
3. Mãe de Água/Casa do Registo - Reservatório da Patriarcal - São
Mãe de de 17m. No seu interior o tanque mede 28x24m e 7.5m de and a height of 17m. Inside the tank measures 28x24m and
38,721264 -9,155698 Pedro de Alcântara | 5€, Fridays (sextas-feiras) - 15h;
Água profundidade (capacidade para 5500m3). A água jorra a partir do 7,5m deep (capacity 5500m3). The water flows from the “Águas
4. Mãe de Água/Casa do Registo - Reservatório da Patriarcal | 3€,
aqueduto das Águas Livres a partir da boca de um ser marinho Livres” aqueduct from the "mouth of a marine creature" over a
Fridays (sextas-feiras) - 15h;
sobre uma cascata até ao reservatório. cascade to the reservoir.
5. Mãe de Água/Casa do Registo - Reservatório da Patriarcal | 3€,
Last Saturday of the month (último sábado do mês) - 11h.
http://www.monumentos.pt/Site/APP_PagesUser/SIPA.aspx?id
=25486
Galerias
A construção da Galeria do Rato inicia-se em 1753, tendo sido The construction of the “Rato” Gallery began in 1753 and was
Rato concluído no ano seguinte. Faz a ligação entre a Mãe de Água e o completed in the following year. Connects the “Mãe de Água” - - -
Chafariz do Rato (164 metros) e a Galeria do Loreto. and “Rato” Fountain (164 meters) and “Loreto” Gallery.
1. Mãe de Água/Casa do Registo - Reservatório da Patriarcal - São
Pedro de Alcântara | 5€, Last Saturday of the month (último
With about 2835 meters and an underground route that starts in
Com cerca de 2835 metros e com um percurso subterrâneo que sábado do mês) - 11h;
“Casa do Registo” extending through the current “Escola
deriva da Casa do Registo, prolonga-se pelo traçado da atual Rua 2. Mãe de Água/Casa do Registo - Reservatório da Patriarcal - São
Politécnica” street until “Pia Penalva” (next to the “Príncipe
da Escola Politécnica, até à Pia do Penalva /Pia Quadrada (junto Pedro de Alcântara | 5€, Fridays (sextas-feiras) - 15h;
Real” Garden), where the distribution continues to south (the
ao Jardim do Príncipe Real), onde faz a distribuição para Sul (pela 3. Mãe de Água/Casa do Registo - Reservatório da Patriarcal | 3€,
old “Formosa” street, currently "O Século" and fountain and to
antiga Rua Formosa, atual Rua de "O Século" até à antiga Imprensa Fridays (sextas-feiras) - 15h;
the former National Press - “Imprensa Nacional”); To north,
Loreto Nacional / Chafariz do Século); para Norte, pela Rua da Mãe de - - 4. Mãe de Água/Casa do Registo - Reservatório da Patriarcal | 3€,
through “Mãe de Água” street which supplied the “Cotovia de
Água onde abastecia o antigo Passeio Público (Av. Liberdade) e Last Saturday of the month (último sábado do mês) - 11h;
Baixo” fountain and the former “Passeio Público” (Av
atual Chafariz da Praça da Alegria / Cotovia; para Este, 5. Reservatório da Patriarcal - Rua do Século | 3€, Wednesdays
Liberdade); to the east, extending to the garden of “São Pedro
prolongando-se pelo Jardim de São Pedro de Alcântara and Saturdays (quartas-feiras e sábados) - 11h;
de Alcântara” (Viewpoint), to the “Carmo” fountain (which
(Miradouro), até ao Chafariz do Carmo (onde abastecia a Guarda 6. Reservatório da Patriarcal - São Pedro de Alcântara | 3€,
supplied the municipal guard) and continuing to “São Carlos”
Municipal do Carmo), e continuando até ao largo do São Carlos. Wednesdays and Saturdays (quartas-feiras e sábados) - 11h,
square.
7. Reservatório da Patriarcal - Rua do Século | 3€, Wednesdays
and Saturdays (quartas-feiras e sábados) - 11h.

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
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Annexes 1

With 1425 meters, the “Esperança” Gallery derives from “Casa

Com 1425 metros, a Galeria da Esperança deriva da Casa do
do Registo” to “Esperança” fountain (“D. Carlos I” street),
Registo até ao Chafariz da Esperança (Av. D. Carlos I), passando
passing through the arch de “São Mamede” and the arch of “S.
pelo Arco de São Mamede e pelo Arco de São Bento (ambos à
Esperança Bento” (both with integrated fountains). There was also a - - -
superfície e com Chafarizes). Havia ainda uma ligação do Chafariz
connection between the “Esperança” fountain to the “Cais do
da Esperança até o Cais do Tojo ou Boavista (chafariz e tanque de
Tojo” or “Boavista” (fountain and tank for washing, nowadays
lavadeiras desaparecidos).
disappeared).
A construção da galeria das Necessidades, inicia-se em 1752, saindo Construction of "Necessidades" gallery began in 1752, starting
próximo ao Arco do Carvalhão e terminando nas necessidades. near the Arch of “Carvalhão” and ending in “Necessidades”.
Necessidad Esta galeria tem diversos ramais (Ramal da Estrela - até ao Jardim This gallery has several extensions (“Estrela” - to the garden
- - -
es da Estrela; Nas Necessidades divide-se em dois ramais: para o “Jardim da Estrela”; and in “Necessidades” is divided into two
Palácio das Necessidades e Janelas Verdes). A totalidade dos ramais branches: to the Palace of “Necessidades” and “Janelas
da Galeria das Necessidades perfaz 3216 metros. Verdes”). The total extension of this gallery is 3216 meters.
Projetada em 1784 e com cerca de 4162 metros de extensão é a Designed in 1784 and with about 4162 meters length is the only
única galeria que abastece a parte oriental de Lisboa. Inicia-se a gallery that supplies the eastern part of Lisbon. Begins near
Campo de junto ao Arco do Carvalhão e termina no Campo de Santana (deste “Carvalhão” arch and ends at the “Campo de Santana” (and
- - -
Santana surgem os ramais para o abastecimento do Chafariz de São from this gallery occur 3 extensions: to the fountain of “São
Sebastião da Pedreira, outro para o Chafariz do Intendente e outro Sebastião da Pedreira”, the “Intendent” fountain and the other
em direção ao Hospital de São José). towards the “São José” hospital).
Chafarizes
Tal como a galeria com o mesmo nome, a construção do chafariz As the gallery with the same name, the “Rato” fountain
do rato inicia-se em 1753 e termina no ano seguinte (de acordo construction begins in 1753 and ends in the following year
com os planos de Carlos Mardel). De estilo barroco e utilizando o (according to the plans of “Carlos Mardel”). Using limestone as
Rato 38,719942 -9,154099 -
lioz como material de construção (3 bicas) é ladeado pelos muros a building material in a Baroque style is flanked by walls that
que sustentam o jardim da antiga Quinta dos Duques de Palmela hold the old garden “Quinta dos Duques de Palmela”
(atual Procuradoria-Geral da República). (nowadays “Procuradoria-Geral da República”).
O chafariz da Mãe de Água, anteriormente da Cotovia de Baixo ou The fountain of the “Mãe de Água” former “Cotovia de Baixo”
da Praça da Alegria localizava-se junto à porta superior do passeio or “Praça da Alegria” was located next to the top door of the
público (1772 a 1791) tendo sido transferido para a sua posição former “Passeio Público” (1772-1791) and was moved to its
Mãe de
atual em 1840. De formato quadrangular e com dois patamares current location in 1840. With a quadrangular format with two 38,716987 -9,147053 -
Água
exteriores, tinha a dupla função de abastecer a população no levels outside had the dual function of supplying the population
patamar superior (com 3 bicas) e junto aos dois laces de escadas, in the upper level (3 streams) and near the two laces of stairs. In
no patamar inferior, verifica-se também um depósito para animais. the lower level, there was also a tank for animals.
With the extension of the “Loreto” gallery and the works (year
Com o prolongamento do ramal do Loreto e com as obras no 1769) in “Carmo” square is held the construction of a fountain
Largo do Carmo é realizada a edificação de um chafariz em 1769 e (in 1769) and the reconstruction of a new fountain in 1786 (that
a reconstrução de um novo chafariz em 1786. Em Calcário Lioz, remain until the present). In Limestone is implanted in a
Carmo 38,711933 -9,140867 -
encontra-se implantado numa plataforma circular onde se ergue circular platform where a central octagonal column with 4
uma coluna central octogonal com 4 bicas. No topo surgem 4 streams. The structure is protected by round arches-shape
golfinhos de caudas erguidas numa forma piramidal. A estrutura é niches for the four dolphins (in top) with tails erected in a
protegida pelo nicho de arcos de volta perfeita. pyramidal shape.

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Annexes 1

Com a antiga designação de Chafariz da Rua Formosa, o Chafariz Located in a small semi-circular square and near the street with
da Rua do Século já estaria edificado no ano de 1762, ainda que o the old name of “Formosa”, the fountain of “O Século” street
seu arranjo urbanístico só terminaria em 1767. Construído em was already built in the year 1762, although its urbanistic
Século 38,713241 -9,147272 -
calcário amarelo no estilo neoclássico, tem uma pequena escadaria arrangement would end only in 1767. Built in yellow limestone
de cinco degraus e três carrancas em bronze. Localiza-se numa in neoclassical style, it has a small staircase of five steps and
pequena praça semicircular e revela um pórtico de ordem dórica. three bronze springs.
Arco São Adossado ao aqueduto é projetado em 1805 por Honorato José Aggregated to the aqueduct is designed in 1805 by “Honorato
Correia de Macedo e Sá, tem uma pequena edícula com duas 38,717092 -9,154389 -
Mamede Macedo” and it has two springs and tanks.
tabelas recortadas ao centro e remate em cortina.
Projetado por Carlos Mardel, em 1752, e concluído por D. Miguel
Projected by “Carlos Mardel” in 1752, and completed by
Ângelo Blasco, em 1768, desenvolve-se numa estrutura de dois
“Miguel Angelo Blasco” in 1768, it develops in a two-storey
pisos no estilo barroco. O corpo central é um balcão retangular,
structure in the Baroque style. The central body is rectangular
servido de escadas laterais, sendo o espelho central ladeado por
Esperança served by side stairs, being flanked by two columns that support 38,708967 -9,153505 -
duas colunas que suportam um frontão. No piso superior cada uma
a gable. Upstairs each spring lead the water on a small tank. The
das carrancas verte água sobre um pequeno tanque. No tanque
lower tank is implanted at ground level with three figureheads
inferior implanta-se ao nível do chão com três carrancas para a
for the exit of the water that served the animals.
saída da água que servia como bebedouro de animais.
Construção inicia-se em 1774 (suspende em 1777 e recomeça em The construction begins in 1774 (suspended in 1777 and
1782) da autoria de Reinaldo Manuel dos Santos. De base circular e restarted in 1782) authored by “Reinaldo Manuel dos Santos”.
Janelas
alinhado com o portal do palácio, jorram 4 carrancas. Ergue-se a Circular and aligned with the gate of the palace has 4 water 38,705446 -9,161440 -
Verdes
estátua de Vénus a quem o cupido entrega uma seta (escultura de springs and in the top stands the statue of Venus to whom the
António Machado) cupid delivery an arrow (“Antonio Machado” sculpture).
Although the earliest design dates from 1818 (simple structure)
Ainda que o projeto mais antigo data de 1818 (estrutura simples) a its construction starts in 1823 drawn by “Henrique Oliveira
sua construção inicia-se em 1823 da autoria de Henrique Oliveira e and “Honorato Macedo” in Neoclassic style almost cubic shape
Honorato de Macedo e Sá. Estilo Neoclássico de formato quase and framed by Doric pilasters. It has two simple springs and the
cubico e enquadrado por pilastras dóricas. Tem duas bicas simples, armillary sphere on top, crowned with the national arms. The
Intendente 38,719931 -9,135759 -
tendo no topo a esfera armilar, coroada com as armas nacionais. center has the inscription “Agoas Livres Anno 1824”. In 1917,
No centro tem a inscrição Agoas Livres Anno de 1824. Em 1917, the reorganization of traffic and the opening of the Almirante
pela reorganização do trânsito e da abertura da Avenida Almirante Reis street, this fountain was transferred from its original
Reis este chafariz é transferido da sua posição original para o local position to the current location at the corner of “Calçada do
atual na esquina da Calçada do Desterro Desterro” street.
Adossado e abastecido diretamente pelo Aqueduto das Águas Aggregated (to the arch) and stocked directly by “Águas Livres”
Livres o Chafariz do Arco do Carvalhão é concretizado em 1823. aqueduct, the “Carvalhão” fountain is implemented in 1823.
Arco do
Composto por espaldar simples de forma retangular dispõe de duas Composed of simple rectangular body that has two springs 38,724116 -9,165459 -
Carvalhão
bicas que servem um tanque retangular. Tem a inscrição CML 1890 serving a rectangular tank. Has the inscription: “CML 1890
Agoas Livres Outubro 12 de 1823. Agoas Livres, October 12, 1823”.
Construção de 1887 em Calcário Lioz, composto por espaldar Constructed in 1887 using Limestone it is composed of a
Santana retilíneo com as bicas de chumbo localizadas sobre molduras rectangular body with 3 circular frames that support 3 lead 38,721508 -9,139430 -
circulares que vertiam para o tanque retangular. springs that poured into the rectangular tank.
São Da autoria do arquiteto Francisco Cangalhas, a sua construção With authorship of the architect “Francisco Cangalhas” its
38,731048 -9,150570 -
Sebastião inicia-se me 1787 e conclusão em 1789 (ainda que só tenha tido construction starts in 1787 and it was completed in 1789

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Annexes 1

da Pedreira água em 1791). (although it had only water in 1791).

A sua construção data de 1867 tem uma planta retangular e Its construction dates from 1867 and was aggregated to the
adoçado à galeria que alimentava o Chafariz das Janelas Verdes. “Esperança” gallery, which fed the fountain of “Janelas
Tem dois tanques de dimensões diferentes e no topo, ao centro da Verdes”. Has a rectangular body with two tanks of different
Terras 38,708748 -9,165922 -
cimalha, ostenta as armas da cidade numa moldura circular e duas sizes and at the center top bears the arms of the city in a
pirâmides de remate nos vértices da frente. É ainda visível a circular frame and two pyramids in the end of the front corners.
inscrição: "C.M.L. 1867" It is still visible the inscription: "C.M.L. 1867"
Construção com inicio em 1845 resultante de material sobrante do The construction starts in 1845 resulting from leftovers material
Praça da Chafariz das Necessidades. O chafariz ergue-se em forma of “Necessidades” fountain. The fountain stands in a
38,705300 -9,170450 -
Armada paralelepipédica com quatro bicas para humanos (nível superior) e parallelepiped in shape with four springs to human (top level)
dois tanques para animais (nível inferior). and two tanks for animals (below).
Planta retangular irregular em Calcário Lioz com bica a verter para Irregular rectangular plan in Limestone with the water falling
tanque retangular. Este chafariz esteve até 1838 junto ao Arco de into a rectangular tank, this fountain was until 1838 aggregated
Monte
São Bento (abastecido pela galeria da Esperança) tendo sido to the “São Bento” arch (demolished). Supplied by “Esperança” 38,715535 -9,151659 -
Olivete
deslocado para a localização atual (recebendo água através da gallery has been moved to the current location (and then
Galeria do Loreto). receiving water through the “Loreto” gallery).

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Annexes 2

Annex 2 – Workshop documents (Portuguese)

Event Promotional Document
Pre Requirements Document
Procedures Text Document

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Annexes 2 – Event Promotional Document

Workshop: Valorização de Património Urbano: Avaliação de Apps em 3D e AR Aplicadas ao

Património Cultural da Cidade de Lisboa | CICS.NOVA | 29 julho 2016 | Chiado, Lx

Workshop: Valorização de Património Urbano: Avaliação de Aplicações Moveis em Ambientes 3D e

Realidade Aumentada Aplicadas ao Património Cultural da Cidade de Lisboa (Aqueduto das Águas Livres)

Data e local: Dia 29 de julho de 2016 | Restaurante/Wine Bar “Fábulas” (Calçada Nova de São Francisco,
14, Chiado, Lisboa) e Largo do Carmo (Chiado)

Enquadramento: A pesquisa em curso consiste na aquisição exploratória de

dados e modelação 3D, com recurso a Anmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) /
sistemas terrestres; e a sua integração com SIG e Realidade Aumentada (AR),
através de plataformas móveis. Pretende-se reforçar a ideia do potencial de
aplicação desta(s) tecnologia(s) na valorização do património, associando a
utilização de informação geográfica em domínios com uma forte perceção
visual do espaço. As experiências realizadas prendem-se com a modelação espacial (3D) e a visualização em
AR de elementos de património cultural como o Aqueduto das Águas Livres em Lisboa.

Objetivo: Pretende-se avaliar as aplicações para smartphones (Apps) no contexto da divulgação do património
cultural, realizando uma análise comparativa entre Apps desenvolvidas e disponíveis no Market (Android).

Organização: CICS.NOVA - José António Tenedório, Luís Marques, Rossana Estanqueiro

Programa:

9:00h – Receção aos participantes e enquadramento da sessão / acesso a WiFi | Restaurante

Fábulas (Calçada Nova de São Francisco, 14, Chiado, Lisboa) | Café e snack

9:15h – Análise de 4 Apps pré-instaladas (smartphones com sistema Android): Caso se verifique a
necessidade, haverá apoio na instalação das Apps | Serão fornecidos atempadamente links de acesso
a *.apk para pré-instalação

9:30h – Visualização de informação geográfica relativa ao Aqueduto das Águas Livres em Lisboa
para smartphone (Android)

10:45h – Deslocação até ao “Largo do Carmo” (Chiado) e visualização das App com acesso a GPS

12:15h – Pausa: Café e snack | Restaurante Fábulas

12:30h – Avaliação comparada das App através de inquérito online (será fornecido atempadamente o
link de acesso)

13:15h – Encerramento

Custo: Gratuito | Solicita-se a confirmação de presença até ao dia 26 de julho (para:

[email protected])

Requisitos:

- Smartphone Android com bateria totalmente carregada (pré-instalação de 4 App a fornecer atempadamente
pela organização);

- Outros elementos fornecidos no dia do workshop (Mapa e Guião).

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Annexes 2 – Pre Requirements Document

Workshop (Pré-requisitos)

1. PRÉ-REQUISITOS

Aplicações:

Instalação das aplicações (não se encontra no Market):

1. Lx_w: Duas aplicações (AqueductAR e AqueductGPS)

105+42MB
Disponível em:
https://we.tl/KTlkqnGgbz
Nota: A instalação no smartphone poderá necessitar desligar a opção “Origens
Desconhecidas” (Definições/Segurança)

Google Play: Pesquisa e instalação das aplicações:

2. IGEO Património;
17.7MB
Disponível em:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bitcliq.igeo.ui_patrimonio

3. ESRI;
60.7MB
Disponível em:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.esri.android.client

4. Augment (Aumentada);
67.7MB
Disponível em:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ar.augment

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Annexes 2 – Procedures Text Document

Workshop: Valorização de Património Urbano: Avaliação de Apps em 3D e AR Aplicadas ao

Património Cultural da Cidade de Lisboa | CICS.NOVA | 29 julho 2016 | Chiado, Lx

Guião do workshop
PRÉ-REQUISITOS

Aplicações:

Instalação das aplicações (não se encontra no Market):

1. Lx_w: Duas aplicações (AqueductAR e AqueductGPS)

105+42MB
Disponível em:
https://we.tl/KTlkqnGgbz
Nota: A instalação no smartphone poderá necessitar desligar a opção “Origens
Desconhecidas” (Definições/Segurança)

Google Play: Pesquisa e instalação das aplicações:

2. IGEO Património;
17.7MB
Disponível em:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bitcliq.igeo.ui_patrimonio

3. ESRI;
60.7MB
Disponível em:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.esri.android.client

4. Augment (Aumentada);
67.7MB
Disponível em: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ar.augment

Dados fornecidos:

Mapa Oficial de Lisboa de 2016;

Guião do Workshop

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Annexes 2 – Procedures Text Document

Workshop: Valorização de Património Urbano: Avaliação de Apps em 3D e AR Aplicadas ao

Património Cultural da Cidade de Lisboa | CICS.NOVA | 29 julho 2016 | Chiado, Lx

WORKSHOP:

App Lx_w

> AqueductAR > Ver no mapa de papel (mapa Lisboa) > Apontar a câmara e
visualizar > Ligar e Desligar opções (Flash; Cartografia histórica; Traçado do
Aqueduto e troços; MDT; 2D/3D)
> AqueductAR > Sem mapa em papel > Visualizar: Introdução; Locais; Mapa;
Perto de mim...

App IGEO Património

> Fontes de Dados > Património Protegido

> Explore > Distrito: Lisboa > Concelho: Lisboa > Pesquisar > Edifício e Estrutura >
Ver no mapa
> Deslocar até ao Rato e abrir a Mãe de Água das Amoreiras > Ver registo

App ESRI

> Pesquisar por “Lisbon aqueduct” > Selecionar > Abrir

> Ver mapa com os elementos do aqueduto

App Augment

> Explorar > Pesquisar (lupa) > Escrever “workshop” > Selecionar um modelo
3D
> Procurar nas opções que surgem no fundo “Criar Rastreador”
> Apontar a camara para o verso desta folha em diversos angulos e luz até ter a
indicação a cor verde “toque para capturar” > Posicionar o modelo 3D (função
rodar ou deslocar no touchscreen com dois dedos para baixo)
> Visualizar modelo 3D em Realidade Aumentada

Deslocação até ao Largo do Carmo

Ligar GPS e verificar relação espacial das aplicações: IGEO Património, ESRI e
Lx_w

Inquérito online: disponível através do URL

http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/2817402/New-Survey

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Annexes 2 – Procedures Text Document

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Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report

Annex 3 – Questionnaire Reports

- Report of the first questionnaire made in the workshop (July 2016)

- Report of the second questionnaire made through video (December 2016)

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Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 1)

Report for Questionnaire 1

Experts
July 2016
Lisbon_W

Response Statistics

Count Percent

Complete 14 100

Partial 0 0

Disqualified 0 0

Total 14

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Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 1)

DESENVOLVIMENTO: DESIGN Classifique as Apps relativamente ao Design (forma e

função) e Aparência (visualmente apelativo) (1 min - 5 máx)

1. DEVOLOPMENT: DESIGN Classify the Apps in relation to Design (form and

function) and Aesthetics (visual appeal) (1 min - 5 max)

1 2 3 4 5 NS/NR
-
DK/NA

Augment 0% 0 21.4% 3 42.9% 6 28.6% 4 7.1% 1 0% 0

ESRI 0% 0 0% 0 35.7% 5 50% 7 7.1% 1 7.1% 1

(ArcGIS)

IGEO 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 64.3% 9 28.6% 4 7.1% 1

Património

LX_W 0% 0 0% 0 28.6% 4 42.9% 6 21.4% 3 7.1% 1

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Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 1)

DESENVOLVIMENTO: FACILIDADE DE UTILIZAÇÃO Classifique as Apps

relativamente à sua Facilidade de Utilização (1 min - 5 máx)

2. DEVELOPMENT: EASE OF USE Classify the Apps considering the Ease of Use (1
min - 5 max)

1 2 3 4 5 NS/NR
-
DK/NA

Augment 0% 0 21.4% 3 28.6% 4 28.6% 4 21.4% 3 0% 0

ESRI 0% 0 7.1% 1 14.3% 2 64.3% 9 7.1% 1 7.1% 1

(ArcGIS)

IGEO 0% 0 0% 0 14.3% 2 64.3% 9 14.3% 2 7.1% 1

Património

LX_W 0% 0 7.1% 1 7.1% 1 50% 7 28.6% 4 7.1% 1

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Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 1)

DESENVOLVIMENTO: SIMPLICIDADE / FUNCIONALIDADE Classifique a Apps

segundo a sua Simplicidade e Funcionalidade (1 min - 5 máx)

3. DEVELOPMENT: SIMPLICITY / FUNCTIONALITY Classify the Apps according

to their Simplicity and Functionality (1 min - 5 max)

1 2 3 4 5 NS/NR
-
DK/NA

Augment 0% 0 14.3% 2 35.7% 5 28.6% 4 21.4% 3 0% 0

ESRI 0% 0 0% 0 21.4% 3 57.1% 8 14.3% 2 7.1% 1

(ArcGIS)

IGEO 0% 0 0% 0 14.3% 2 50% 7 28.6% 4 7.1% 1

Património

LX_W 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 57.1% 8 35.7% 5 7.1% 1

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Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 1)

PERFORMANCE: PESO (DADOS E CAPACIDADE) Classifique as Apps de acordo com

o Espaço que ocupa e a influência na performance no dispositivo (1 min - 5 máx)

4. PERFORMANCE: WEIGHT (DATA AND CAPACITY) Classify the Apps according

to the Space occupied and influence in the device performance (1 min - 5 max)

1 2 3 4 5 NS/NR
-
DK/NA

Augment 0% 0 7.1% 1 28.6% 4 50% 7 0% 0 14.3% 2

ESRI 0% 0 7.1% 1 35.7% 5 28.6% 4 7.1% 1 21.4% 3

(ArcGIS)

IGEO 0% 0 0% 0 42.9% 6 28.6% 4 7.1% 1 21.4% 3

Património

LX_W 0% 0 0% 0 21.4% 3 50% 7 7.1% 1 21.4% 3

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Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 1)

PERFORMANCE: PRONTIDÃO NA RESPOSTA Classifique a Velocidade das Apps durante

a utilização (1 min - 5 máx)

5. PERFORMANCE: READINESS IN RESPONSE Classify the App's Velocity in

use (1 min - 5 max)

1 2 3 4 5 NS/NR
-
DK/NA

Augment 0% 0 14.3% 2 35.7% 5 35.7% 5 7.1% 1 7.1% 1

ESRI 7.1% 1 0% 0 35.7% 5 28.6% 4 14.3% 2 14.3% 2

(ArcGIS)

IGEO 0% 0 7.1% 1 14.3% 2 50% 7 14.3% 2 14.3% 2

Património

LX_W 0% 0 0% 0 14.3% 2 57.1% 8 14.3% 2 14.3% 2

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Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 1)

PERFORMANCE: INTEROPERABILIDADE (FORMATOS) Classifique o nível

de Interoperabilidade com outras app / software (e.g. Apps de navegação; possibilidade de
importação/exportação de dados) (1 min - 5 máx)

6. PERFORMANCE: INTEROPERABILITY (FORMATS) Classify the Apps

Interoperability level with other app / software (e.g. Navigation Apps; ability to import /
export data) (1 min - 5 max)

1 2 3 4 5 NS/NR
-
DK/NA

Augment 0% 0 14.3% 2 28.6% 4 35.7% 5 7.1% 1 14.3% 2

ESRI 0% 0 0% 0 21.4% 3 35.7% 5 21.4% 3 21.4% 3

(ArcGIS)

IGEO 0% 0 7.1% 1 35.7% 5 28.6% 4 7.1% 1 21.4% 3

Património

LX_W 0% 0 0% 0 14.3% 2 42.9% 6 21.4% 3 21.4% 3

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Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 1)

PERFORMANCE: SEGURANÇA Classifique a sua perceção relativamente ao nível de

Segurança da App (1 min - 5 máx)

7. PERFORMANCE: SECURITY Classify your perception about the App level of

Security (1 min - 5 max)

1 2 3 4 5 Market NS/NR
-
DK/NA

Augment 0% 0 7.1% 1 14.3% 2 28.6% 4 0% 0 28.6% 4 21.4% 3

ESRI 0% 0 7.1% 1 7.1% 1 28.6% 4 0% 0 28.6% 4 28.6% 4

(ArcGIS)

IGEO 0% 0 0% 0 7.1% 1 35.7% 5 0% 0 28.6% 4 28.6% 4

Património

LX_W 0% 0 0% 0 21.4% 3 35.7% 5 0% 0 14.3% 2 28.6% 4

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Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 1)

USABILIDADE/DISPONIBILIDADE: POTENCIAIS UTILIZADORES Classifique a sua

perceção relativamente ao universo de Utilizadores Potenciais tendo em consideração a
disponibilidade em diferentes idiomas e nível de interesse (1 min - 5 máx)

8. USABILITY/AVAILABILITY: POTENTIAL USERS Classify your perception

regarding the universe of Potential Users taking into account the availability in different
languages and level of interest (1 min - 5 max)

1 2 3 4 5 NS/NR
-
DK/NA

Augment 0% 0 28.6% 4 28.6% 4 7.1% 1 35.7% 5 0% 0

ESRI 0% 0 7.1% 1 14.3% 2 50% 7 21.4% 3 7.1% 1

(ArcGIS)

IGEO 0% 0 0% 0 14.3% 2 57.1% 8 21.4% 3 7.1% 1

Património

LX_W 0% 0 0% 0 7.1% 1 50% 7 35.7% 5 7.1% 1

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Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 1)

USABILIDADE: ENVOLVIMENTO DO UTILIZADOR Classifique as Apps de acordo com

a capacidade de Envolvimento do Utilizador (1 min - 5 máx)

9. USABILITY: USER ENGAGEMENT Classify the apps according to the capacity to

engage the User (1 min - 5 max)

1 2 3 4 5 NS/NR
-
DK/NA

Augment 0% 0 14.3% 2 21.4% 3 21.4% 3 35.7% 5 7.1% 1

ESRI 0% 0 7.1% 1 21.4% 3 42.9% 6 14.3% 2 14.3% 2

(ArcGIS)

IGEO 0% 0 7.1% 1 28.6% 4 28.6% 4 21.4% 3 14.3% 2

Património

LX_W 0% 0 7.1% 1 7.1% 1 21.4% 3 50% 7 14.3% 2

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Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 1)

USABILIDADE: EXPECTATIVA DO UTILIZADOR / SATISFAÇÃO Classifique as Apps

de acordo com o Grau de Satisfação do utilizador relativamente às suas expectativas iniciais (1
min - 5 máx)

10. USABILITY: USER EXPECTATION / SATISFACTION Classify the Apps

according to the degree of User Satisfaction and considering their initial expectations (1
min - 5 max)

1 2 3 4 5 NS/NR
-
DK/NA

Augment 0% 0 21.4% 3 28.6% 4 21.4% 3 21.4% 3 7.1% 1

ESRI 0% 0 0% 0 50% 7 28.6% 4 14.3% 2 7.1% 1

(ArcGIS)

IGEO 0% 0 0% 0 14.3% 2 57.1% 8 21.4% 3 7.1% 1

Património

LX_W 0% 0 0% 0 14.3% 2 35.7% 5 42.9% 6 7.1% 1

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Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 1)

USABILIDADE: UTILIDADE Classifique as Apps de acordo com a Utilidade da informação

para o utilizador (1 min - 5 máx)

11. USABILITY: USEFUL Classify the Apps according to usefulness information for the
user (1 min - 5 max)

1 2 3 4 5 NS/NR
-
DK/NA

Augment 0% 0 28.6% 4 35.7% 5 21.4% 3 14.3% 2 0% 0

ESRI 0% 0 7.1% 1 21.4% 3 50% 7 14.3% 2 7.1% 1

(ArcGIS)

IGEO 0% 0 0% 0 7.1% 1 57.1% 8 28.6% 4 7.1% 1

Património

LX_W 0% 0 0% 0 28.6% 4 21.4% 3 42.9% 6 7.1% 1

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Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 1)

QUALIDADE: CONFIANÇA / CREDIBILIDADE Classifique as Apps de acordo com o

grau de Confiança dos dados (e.g. históricos e relevância para o tipo de utilizador) (1 min - 5
máx)

12. QUALITY: RELIABILITY / CREDIBILITY Classify the Apps according to the

degree of Reliability of the data (e.g. historical and relevance to the type of user) (1 min -
5 max)

1 2 3 4 5 NS/NR
-
DK/NA

Augment 7.1% 1 7.1% 1 42.9% 6 14.3% 2 14.3% 2 14.3% 2

ESRI 0% 0 0% 0 21.4% 3 42.9% 6 14.3% 2 21.4% 3

(ArcGIS)

IGEO 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 35.7% 5 42.9% 6 21.4% 3

Património

LX_W 0% 0 0% 0 14.3% 2 35.7% 5 28.6% 4 21.4% 3

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Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 1)

QUALIDADE: POTENCIAL DE APLICAÇÃO (A OUTROS ELEMENTOS) Classifique as

Apps de acordo com o Potencial de aplicação a outros elementos patrimoniais (e.g. Muralha
Fernandina ou Lisboa pré terramoto de 1755) (1 min - 5 máx)

13. QUALITY: POTENTIAL OF APPLICATION (TO OTHER

ELEMENTS) Classify the Apps in accordance with the Potential of application to other
heritage elements (e.g. Ancient Fernandina Wall or Lisbon 1755 pre-earthquake) (1 min -
5 max)

1 2 3 4 5 NS/NR
-
DK/NA

Augment 7.1% 1 7.1% 1 28.6% 4 42.9% 6 14.3% 2 0% 0

ESRI 0% 0 7.1% 1 28.6% 4 28.6% 4 28.6% 4 7.1% 1

(ArcGIS)

IGEO 0% 0 0% 0 28.6% 4 50% 7 14.3% 2 7.1% 1

Património

LX_W 0% 0 0% 0 7.1% 1 35.7% 5 50% 7 7.1% 1

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Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 1)

QUALIDADE: CONHECIMENTO Classifique as Apps de acordo com o nível de

Conhecimento que adquiriu relativamente ao objeto em estudo (1 min - 5 máx)

14. QUALITY: KNOWLADGE Classify the Apps according the level of Knowledge
acquired relative to the study object (1 min - 5 max)

1 2 3 4 5 NS/NR
-
DK/NA

Augment 14.3% 2 7.1% 1 35.7% 5 21.4% 3 14.3% 2 7.1% 1

ESRI 0% 0 21.4% 3 21.4% 3 21.4% 3 14.3% 2 21.4% 3

(ArcGIS)

IGEO 0% 0 7.1% 1 0% 0 50% 7 28.6% 4 14.3% 2

Património

LX_W 0% 0 0% 0 7.1% 1 35.7% 5 42.9% 6 14.3% 2

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Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 1)

VALORIZAÇÃO DO PATRIMÓNIO: POTENCIAL DE DISSEMINAÇÃO Classifique as

Apps de acordo com o potencial Disseminação do objeto de património (1 min - 5 máx)

15. HERITAGE VALUATION: POTENTIAL OF DISSEMINATION Classify the

Apps according to the potential Dissemination of the heritage object (1 min - 5 max)

1 2 3 4 5 NS/NR
-
DK/NA

Augment 7.1% 1 28.6% 4 21.4% 3 28.6% 4 14.3% 2 0% 0

ESRI 7.1% 1 14.3% 2 21.4% 3 35.7% 5 7.1% 1 14.3% 2

(ArcGIS)

IGEO 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 57.1% 8 35.7% 5 7.1% 1

Património

LX_W 0% 0 0% 0 7.1% 1 50% 7 35.7% 5 7.1% 1

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Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 1)

VALORIZAÇÃO DO PATRIMÓNIO: VALOR ACRESCIDO Considera que as Apps

aumentam o Valor patrimonial do objeto em estudo face aos agentes (e.g. turistas, comerciantes
locais, técnicos, políticos) (1 min - 5 máx)

16. HERITAGE VALUATION: ADDED VALUE Do you consider that the Apps
increase the Value of the study object addressed to agents (e.g. tourists, local business,
technicians, politicians) (1 min - 5 max)

1 2 3 4 5 NS/NR
-
DK/NA

Augment 14.3% 2 14.3% 2 42.9% 6 7.1% 1 21.4% 3 0% 0

ESRI 0% 0 21.4% 3 14.3% 2 35.7% 5 14.3% 2 14.3% 2

(ArcGIS)

IGEO 0% 0 0% 0 7.1% 1 42.9% 6 42.9% 6 7.1% 1

Património

LX_W 0% 0 0% 0 14.3% 2 28.6% 4 50% 7 7.1% 1

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 1)

VALORIZAÇÃO DO PATRIMÓNIO: RECOMENDAÇÃO Recomendaria as Apps a

outros utilizadores com vista a exploração do elemento patrimonial em estudo (1 min - 5
máx)

17. HERITAGE VALUATION: RECOMMENDATION Would you Recommend

the Apps to other users to explore the heritage elements in study (1 min - 5 max)

1 2 3 4 5 NS/NR
-
DK/NA

Augment 14.3% 2 14.3% 2 42.9% 6 7.1% 1 21.4% 3 0% 0

ESRI 0% 0 21.4% 3 21.4% 3 35.7% 5 14.3% 2 7.1% 1

(ArcGIS)

IGEO 0% 0 0% 0 14.3% 2 42.9% 6 35.7% 5 7.1% 1

Património

LX_W 0% 0 0% 0 21.4% 3 21.4% 3 50% 7 7.1% 1

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 2)

Report for Questionnaire 2

Lisbon_W - Main Public
December 2016
Lisbon_W - Main Public - December 2016

Response Statistics

Count Percent

Complete 24 100

Partial 0 0

Disqualified 0 0

Total 24

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 2)

Classifique o grau de interesse em utilizar a App apresentada no vídeo (1 Min - 5 Máx)

1. Classify the degree of interest in use the App displayed in the video (1 Min - 5 Max)

4
29%

5 Max
71%

Value Percent Count

4 29.2% 7

5 Max 70.8% 17

Total 24

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 2)

Classifique o grau de interesse em utilizar a App apresentada no vídeo na proximidade imediata

do objeto de estudo / cada elemento que dele faz parte (aqueduto) (1 Min - 5 Máx)

2. Classify the degree of interest in using the App presented in the video next to the
immediate proximity of the object of study / each element that is part of it (aqueduct) (1
Min – 5 Max)

3
4%

4
42%
5 Max
54%

Value Percent Count

3 4.2% 1

4 41.7% 10

5 Max 54.2% 13

Total 24

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 2)

Classifique a App de acordo com a Utilidade da informação para um utilizador que pretenda
explorar ou aprofundar conhecimentos sobre o objeto de estudo (Aqueduto) (1 Min - 5 Máx)

3. Classify the App according to the Usefulness of the information for a user wishing to
explore or intensify the knowledge about the object of study (Aqueduct) (1 min - 5
max)

4
33%

5 Max
67%

Value Percent Count

4 33.3% 8

5 Max 66.7% 16

Total 24

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 2)

Concorda com a frase? A tecnologia permite aumentar o valor intrínseco do património cultural,
através de representações digitais (passado, presente e futuro), estabelecendo ambientes
sintéticos (virtuais) sobrepostos ao espaço real

4. Do you agree with the statement? The technology allows to increase the intrinsic
value of cultural heritage through digital representations (past, present and future),
establishing synthetic environments (virtual) superimposed on the real space

Concordo / I Agree
29%

Concordo muito / I
Agree very much
71%

Value Percent Count

Concordo muito / I Agree very much 70.8% 17

Concordo / I Agree 29.2% 7

Total 24

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 2)

Interatividade com o mapa em papel (mapa turístico da cidade de Lisboa) para o planeamento de
uma visita de estudo ou passeio (na fase de preparação por exemplo em casa com família, no
café com amigos, etc.) (1 Min - 5 Máx)

5. Interactivity with the paper map (tourist map of the city of Lisbon) for the planning of
a study visit or tour (in the preparation phase for example at home with family, at the
cafe with friends, etc.) (1 Min - 5 Max)

3
4%

4
29%

5 Max
67%

Value Percent Count

3 4.2% 1

4 29.2% 7

5 Max 66.7% 16

Total 24

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 2)

Interatividade com o mapa em papel (mapa turístico da cidade de Lisboa) para exploração do
objeto de património (Aqueduto das Águas Livres) no(a) sítio / rua (1 Min - 5 Máx)

7. Interactivity with the paper map (tourist map of the city of Lisbon) for exploitation of
the heritage object (Aqueduto das Águas Livres) on the site / street (1 Min - 5 Max)

3
13%

5 Max 4
54% 33%

Value Percent Count

3 12.5% 3

4 33.3% 8

5 Max 54.2% 13

Total 24

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 2)

Classifique, na qualidade de utilizador, o interesse da presença na App de informação 2D e 3D

para a exploração e a valorização do objeto de património (Aqueduto das Águas Livres)

Classify, as a user, the interest of the App's 2D and 3D Information for exploring and
adding value to the heritage object (Águas Livres Aqueduct) – question 9 to19

Mapa antigo (1 Min - 5 Máx)

9. Ancient map (1 Min - 5 Max)

2
3
4%
4%

4
21%

5 Max
71%

Value Percent Count

2 4.2% 1

3 4.2% 1

4 20.8% 5

5 Max 70.8% 17

Total 24

Luís Marques, 2017 287

 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 2)

Modelo Digital do Terreno (MDT) / relevo em 3D (1 Min - 5 Máx)

10. Digital Terrain Model (DTM) / 3D relief (1 Min - 5 Max)

3
8%

5 Max
42%

4
50%

Value Percent Count

3 8.3% 2

4 50.0% 12

5 Max 41.7% 10

Total 24

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 2)

Modelos 3D dos chafarizes do Aqueduto (1 Min - 5 Máx)

12. 3D models of the aqueduct fountains (1 Min - 5 Max)

3
4%

4
29%

5 Max
67%

Value Percent Count

3 4.2% 1

4 29.2% 7

5 Max 66.7% 16

Total 24

Luís Marques, 2017 289

 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 2)

Visualização seletiva de informação (1 Min - 5 Máx)

19. Selective visualization of information (1 Min - 5 Max)

4
25%

5 Max
75%

Value Percent Count

4 25.0% 6

5 Max 75.0% 18

Total 24

Luís Marques, 2017 290

 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 2)

Sobreposição de informação com seleção de camadas (e.g. traçado e elementos do aqueduto) (1

Min - 5 Máx)

11. Information overlay with layer selection (e.g. path and elements of the aqueduct) (1
Min - 5 Max)

3
8%

4
17%

5 Max
75%

Value Percent Count

3 8.3% 2

4 16.7% 4

5 Max 75.0% 18

Total 24

Luís Marques, 2017 291

 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 2)

Acesso a mapas Google com informação do aqueduto sobre: edifícios em 3D, marcadores de
pontos notáveis (igrejas, palácios, etc.) e toponímia de arruamentos (1 Min - 5 Máx)

17. Access to Google Maps with the Aqueduct information over: 3D buildings, markers
of notable points (churches, palaces, etc.) and toponymy of streets (1 Min - 5 Max)

4
17%

5 Max
83%

Value Percent Count

4 16.7% 4

5 Max 83.3% 20

Total 24

Luís Marques, 2017 292

 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 2)

Acesso a outras Apps (previamente instaladas) como a Here WeGo para opção de navegação /
routing (1 Min - 5 Máx)

18. Access to other Apps (previously installed) such as Here WeGo for navigation /
routing (1 Min - 5 Max)

3
4%

4
21%

5 Max
75%

Value Percent Count

3 4.2% 1

4 20.8% 5

5 Max 75.0% 18

Total 24

Luís Marques, 2017 293

 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 2)

Texto (conteúdos) (1 Min - 5 Máx)

13. Text (contents) (1 Min - 5 Max)

3
8%

4
33%

5 Max
59%

Value Percent Count

3 8.3% 2

4 33.3% 8

5 Max 58.3% 14

Total 24

Luís Marques, 2017 294

 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 2)

Fotografias antigas (1 Min - 5 Máx)

14. Ancient pictures (1 Min - 5 Max)

4
12%

5 Max
88%

Value Percent Count

4 12.5% 3

5 Max 87.5% 21

Total 24

Luís Marques, 2017 295

 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 2)

Fotografias atuais (1 Min - 5 Máx)

15. Actual pictures (1 Min - 5 Max)

3
12%

4
21%

5 Max
67%

Value Percent Count

3 12.5% 3

4 20.8% 5

5 Max 66.7% 16

Total 24

Luís Marques, 2017 296

 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 2)

Informações úteis (horário de visitas, preço, etc.) (1 Min - 5 Máx)

16. Useful information (Visiting hours, price, etc.) (1 Min - 5 Max)

4
25%

5 Max
75%

Value Percent Count

4 25.0% 6

5 Max 75.0% 18

Total 24

Luís Marques, 2017 297

 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 2)

Classifique a App considerando o potencial aumento do Valor intrínseco do objeto de estudo

(Aqueduto)

20. Classify the App considering the potential increase in the intrinsic Value of the
study object (Aqueduct)

4
25%

5 Max
75%

Value Percent Count

4 25.0% 6

5 Max 75.0% 18

Total 24

Luís Marques, 2017 298

 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 2)

Classifique a App considerando o potencial aumento do Valor intrínseco do objeto de estudo

(Aqueduto) para cada grupo de Agentes no território (e.g. turistas, comerciantes locais, técnicos,
políticos)

21. Classify the App considering the potential increase of the intrinsic Value of the study
object (Aqueduct) for each group Agents in the territory (e.g. tourists, local commerce
and services, technicians, politicians)

Min
2 3 4 5 Max
1

Promotores
(Entidades Publico
Privadas) / 0% 0 0% 0 4.2% 1 33.3% 8 62.5% 15
Promoters (Public
and Private Entities)

Técnicos Associados
a Património /
0% 0 0% 0 8.3% 2 12.5% 3 79.2% 19
Heritage Related
Technicians

Outros Técnicos /
0% 0 0% 0 16.7% 4 41.7% 10 41.7% 10
Other Technicians

Outros Stakeholders:
e.g. Comércio e
Serviços / Other
0% 0 0% 0 12.5% 3 37.5% 9 50% 12
Stakeholders: e.g.
Commerce and
Services

Público em Geral:
e.g. turistas / Main 0% 0 0% 0 8.3% 2 12.5% 3 79.2% 19
Public: e.g. tourists

Note: see graphics in the end of the report

Luís Marques, 2017 299

 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 2)

Classifique a App tendo em consideração do Impacto nos diversos Domínios (e.g. técnico-
científico, socioeconómico, político-administrativo, simbólico)

22. Classify the App taking into consideration the Impact on various Domains (e.g.
technical-scientific, socio-economic, political-administrative and symbolic)

Min 5
2 3 4
1 Max

Político-
Administrativo
0% 0 4.2% 1 20.8% 5 29.2% 7 45.8% 11
/ Political-
Administrative

Técnico-
científico /
0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 37.5% 9 62.5% 15
Technical-
Scientific

Socioeconómico
/ Socio- 0% 0 0% 0 12.5% 3 25% 6 62.5% 15
Economic

Note: see graphics in the end of the report

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 2)

Classifique o potencial Disseminação do objeto de património (Aqueduto das Águas Livres)

através da App (1 Min - 5 Máx)

23. Classify the potential Dissemination of the heritage object (Lisbon Aqueduct)
through the App (1 Min - 5 Máx)

4
37%

5 Max
63%

Value Percent Count

4 37.5% 9

5 Max 62.5% 15

Total 24

Luís Marques, 2017 301

 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 2)

Após ter tomado conhecimento da App, Recomendaria a outros utilizadores com vista a
exploração dos elementos patrimoniais em estudo

24. After becoming aware of the App, would you Recommend the App to other users to
explore the heritage elements in study

Recomenda /
Recommend
8%

Recomenda muito /
Strongly recommend
92%

Value Percent Count

Recomenda muito / Strongly recommend 91.7% 22

Recomenda / Recommend 8.3% 2

Total 24

Luís Marques, 2017 302

 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 2)

IDENTIFICAÇÃO: NACIONALIDADE (selecione a partir da lista)

27. IDENTIFICATION: NATIONALITY (Select from list)

All Others
0%

Brazil
25%

Latvia
8%
Portugal
63%
Poland
4%

Value Percent Count

Brazil 25.0% 6

Latvia 8.3% 2

Poland 4.2% 1

Portugal 62.5% 15

Total 24

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 2)

IDENTIFICAÇÃO: IDADE Qual o grupo etário em que se insere?

28. IDENTIFICATION: AGE - What is your age group?

-18
4%

35-44
29% 18-24
25%

25-34
42%

Value Percent Count

-18 4.2% 1

18-24 25.0% 6

25-34 41.7% 10

35-44 29.2% 7

Total 24

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 2)

IDENTIFICAÇÃO: SEXO

29. IDENTIFICATION: GENDER

Masculino / Male
38%

Feminino / Female
62%

Value Percent Count

Feminino / Female 62.5% 15

Masculino / Male 37.5% 9

Total 24

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 2)

IDENTIFICAÇÃO: GRAU DE ESCOLARIDADE Qual o grau de Escolaridade?

30. IDENTIFICATION: LEVEL OF EDUCATION - What is your level of Education?

Outra / Other Fundamental -

4% Obrigatória / Basic -
Obl
8%

Pós Graduação -
Superior / Superior
Mestrado / Post
42%
Gradu
46%

Value Percent Count

Fundamental - Obrigatória / Basic - Obligatory 8.3% 2

Superior / Superior 41.7% 10

Pós Graduação - Mestrado / Post Graduated 45.8% 11

Outra / Other 4.2% 1

Total 24

Luís Marques, 2017 306

 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 2)

IDENTIFICAÇÃO: EMPREGO Situação perante o Emprego?

31. IDENTIFICATION: EMPLOYMENT - Employment situation?

outro / other Desempregado /

4% Unemployed
4%

Empregado /
Employed
38%
Estudante / Student
54%

Value Percent Count

Desempregado / Unemployed 4.2% 1

Estudante / Student 54.2% 13

Empregado / Employed 37.5% 9

outro / other 4.2% 1

Total 24

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 2)

IDENTIFICAÇÃO: FORMAÇÃO Qual a área de Formação em que se insere?

32. IDENTIFICATION: FORMATION - What is your area of Formation?

1. Agricultura e
Recursos Naturais
(e.g.
4%
14.
Outro /
8. Economia, Gestão Other
e Contabilidade / 13. Tecnologias 4%
4% (e.g. Multimédia,
Engen
8%

2. Arquitectura /
Architecture
25%

6. Ciências Sociais e
3. Artes e Design /
Serviços (e.g. A
Arts and Design
33%
9%

4. Ciências (e.g.
Biologia, Física, Ma
13%

Value Percent Count

1. Agricultura e Recursos Naturais / Agriculture and Natural Resources 4.2% 1

2. Arquitetura / Architecture 25.0% 6

3. Artes e Design / Arts and Design 8.3% 2

4. Ciências / Sciences (and. Biology, Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry) 12.5% 3

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 2)

6. Ciências Sociais e Serviços / Social Sciences and Services (e.g. 33.3% 8

Anthropology, Geography, Tourism)

8. Economia, Gestão e Contabilidade / Economics, Management and 4.2% 1

Accounting

13. Tecnologias... / Technologies (e.g. Multimedia, Engineering, 8.3% 2

Informatics)

14. Outro / Other 4.2% 1

Total 24

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 2)

Charts of the question 21

Classifique a App considerando o potencial aumento do Valor intrínseco do do objecto de

estudo (Aqueduto) para cada grupo de Agentes no território (e.g. turistas, comerciantes locais,
técnicos, políticos)

21. Classify the App considering the potential increase of the intrinsic Value of the study
object (Aqueduct) for each group Agents in the territory (e.g. tourists, local commerce
and services, technicians, politicians)

Promotores (Entidades Publico Privadas) /

Promoters (Public and Private Entities)

3
4%

4
33%

5 Max
63%

Value Percent Count

3 4.2% 1

4 33.3% 8

5 Max 62.5% 15

Total 24

Luís Marques, 2017 310

 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 2)

Charts of the question 21

Técnicos Associados a Património /

Heritage Related Technicians

3
8%

4
13%

5 Max
79%

Value Percent Count

3 8.3% 2

4 12.5% 3

5 Max 79.2% 19

Total 24

Luís Marques, 2017 311

 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 2)

Charts of the question 21

Outros Técnicos /

Other Technicians

3
17%

5 Max
42%

4
41%

Value Percent Count

3 16.7% 4

4 41.7% 10

5 Max 41.7% 10

Total 24

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 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 2)

Charts of the question 21

Outros Stakeholders: e.g. Comércio e Serviços /

Other Stakeholders: e.g. Commerce and Services

3
12%

5 Max
50%

4
38%

Value Percent Count

3 12.5% 3

4 37.5% 9

5 Max 50.0% 12

Total 24

Luís Marques, 2017 313

 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 2)

Charts of the question 21

Público em Geral: e.g. turistas /

Main Public: e.g. tourists

3
8%

4
13%

5 Max
79%

Value Percent Count

3 8.3% 2

4 12.5% 3

5 Max 79.2% 19

Total 24

Luís Marques, 2017 314

 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 2)

Charts of the question 22

Classifique a App tendo em consideração do Impacto nos diversos Domínios (e.g. técnico-
científico, socioeconómico, político-administrativo, simbólico) 22. Classify the App taking
into consideration the Impact on various Domains (e.g. technical-scientific, socio-
economic, political-administrative and symbolic)

Político-Administrativo /

Political-Administrative

2
4%
3
21%

5 Max
46%

4
29%

Value Percent Count

2 4.2% 1

3 20.8% 5

4 29.2% 7

5 Max 45.8% 11

Total 24

Luís Marques, 2017 315

 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 2)

Charts of the question 22

Técnico-científico /

Technical-Scientific

4
37%

5 Max
63%

Value Percent Count

4 37.5% 9

5 Max 62.5% 15

Total 24

Luís Marques, 2017 316

 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Annexes 3 – Questionnaires Report (questionnaire 2)

Charts of the question 22

Socioeconomic /

Socio-Economic

3
12%

4
25%

5 Max
63%

Value Percent Count

3 12.5% 3

4 25.0% 6

5 Max 62.5% 15

Total 24

Luís Marques, 2017 317

 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA – PhD THESIS
Augmented Valuation of Cultural Heritage through Digital Representation based upon Geographic Information Technologies (GIT)

Use the URL: http://www.luisfilipemarques.com/site/doctor/

Official Lisbon Plan

- Download and install the prototype APP Lx_W: AqueductAR and AqueductGPS (Android OS. Enable
Unknown sources);
- Visualize the Lisbon Aqueduct information pointing the camera of the smartphone to the Lisbon Plan.

Anaglyph 3D glasses
- Visualize videos and images in 3D.

Anaglyph Glasses box Official Lisbon Plan box

Luís Marques, 2017 318

Doctoral Program: Urban and Architectonic Management and Valuations
UPC/ETSAB/DTA – Spain 2017