Testing AR/VR Apps for Tourism, City Planning, and Maintenance in a Real-World Setting
Vilanova i la Geltrú, the beautiful Mediterranean city serving as a pilot site for the DIDYMOS-XR project, has successfully tested its first wave of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) applications. Through two engaging Living Labs held at Neàpolis, we gathered valuable feedback that will shape the final digital twin solutions for urban management and sustainable and immersive tourism.
First Results: Tourism and City Management Apps Tested
Our core takeaway is that users are eager to adopt digital twin solutions that offer both economic value and efficiency for the city.
The first Living Lab was held on July 22, focused on the Tourism applications. Participants explored immersive AR/VR experiences designed to enrich the visitor experience by overlaying historical and geographical data onto key Points of Interest (POIs). The focus was on engaging the public and enhancing Vilanova’s heritage and cultural offer.
Building on this success, the second Living Lab took place on September 25. This session shifted focus to City Planning and City Maintenance applications. Attendees tested tools designed to help municipal staff visualize construction impacts, manage public works, and streamline infrastructure maintenance tasks using the digital twin’s 3D models.
Who is Driving the Feedback?
The success of these testing sessions lies in the diverse professional profiles of the attendees. The Living Labs brought together a wide array of stakeholders, including:
- Employees and managers from the Vilanova i la Geltrú City Council
- Public sector workers
- Industry professionals
- Students and entrepreneurs
This mix ensures that the feedback is comprehensive, covering technical feasibility, administrative workflows, and real-world user experience—all critical elements for a successful deployment of the DIDYMOS solutions.
Looking Ahead: The Third Living Lab
The VNG team is already preparing for the third Living Lab, scheduled for November 13, 2025. This will act as the second part of the tourism session, diving deeper into specific functionalities and refining the user interfaces based on the initial feedback. We are committed to making these immersive tourism applications intuitive, captivating, and ready for public deployment.
Capturing the Digital Twin: Data is Everything
Outside of organizing these crucial events, Neàpolis is also heavily focused on data capture, the foundation for Vilanova’s high-fidelity digital twin. We are meticulously gathering images and videos of a vast number of Points of Interest (POIs) that will later be reconstructed and integrated into the city’s digital twin.
To ensure comprehensive and precise coverage, we are employing a multi-sensor strategy:
- Drone aerial mapping.
- The Basler camera system mounted on a car.
- Four integrated cameras on a FICOSA vehicle.
- Insta360 camera for “sidewalk” recordings, capturing interiors and exteriors in 360∘.
This rigorous data collection process ensures that the final digital twin is a living, accurate, and powerful tool for both urban management and tourism promotion in Vilanova i la Geltrú. Stay tuned for more updates as we approach our final Living Lab!
Author: Alba Megias – Neàpolis
