Mobile Augmented Reality for Smart Tourism: Reviving Modern Architectural Heritage and Urban Spaces of Arab Gulf States
Creators: name: Allawi, Hannah A.
Publisher: name: Environmental Design
Year: 2021
Subjects: subject: Arab Gulf States
subject: Architecture
subject: FOS: Civil engineering
subject: Heritage
subject: Mobile Augmented Reality
subject: Smart Cities
subject: Smart Tourism
subject: United Arab Emirates
subject: Urban Design
subject: Architecture
subject: Urban and Regional Planning
subject: FOS: Social and economic geography
subject: Education--Technology

description: The cities of the Arab Gulf States have gone through an immense architectural and urban change in a manner that would allow them to compete among the top cities of the world and become a place of destination and financial prosperity. Among these Gulf cities, the capital city of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), once contained the Old Souk (former outdoor shopping center and a modern architectural landmark). The Old Souk stands as an example of such landmarks that have been demolished so as to allow for the construction of more ‘contemporary’ architecture in its place as part of the city’s economic growth. Such landmarks have, in some cases, forever been lost. As such, this research implements the use of Mobile Augmented Reality (MAR) technology so as to experience those once existing landmarks; the Old Souk being an initial case study. Thereof, MAR is eventually tested so as to conclude its usability as a tool that would contribute to the city experience; especially for Tourists and Residents (Emirati Nationals and Expatriate Residents) alike. To proceed with the assessment, three separate groups of people were associated in the exercise; i.e. Emirati Nationals (UAE), Expatriate Residents (RES) and Tourists (TST).  These groups were requested to visit the current site of where the Old Souk once stood and accordingly respond to a set of questionnaires; once without the use of MAR (Test 1) and the other, with MAR (Test 2). Responses received from the three groups were analyzed statistically with the support of certain software aids. Such an analysis concluded, as a target, the viability and the usefulness of MAR to the experience of architectural heritage and urban spaces that are no longer existing. The final and overall conclusion of the research work demonstrated a positive conclusion whereby using an Augmented Reality (AR) medium would definitely add to the various individuals’ experiences and, in turn, encourage the use of MAR as part of the 'Smart Tourism' endeavors of the UAE and potentially, the region at large. The use of MAR also enables participants to experience again, or for the first time, the architectural heritage and once-existing urban spaces of cities in the Arab Gulf States. It was also concluded the participants’ categories (UAE, RES, &amp; TST) did not play a large role in the results of the experiences, since the majority of the participants share similar experiences and a common understanding of the region. As such, categorical division, in terms of one’s status in the country, may be removed for the future work of this type of research.