Visitors to Dublin can enjoy some extra help touring the city after Dublin City Council announced the launch of a new augmented-reality (AR ) mapping feature that allows users of the Dublin Discovery Trails app to open up a 3D map of Dublin on their device and allow them to explore the city in a new, innovative way.
DiscovAR Dublin uses new open Google Maps technology to form an interactive 3D map where users can be transported into the city to interact with the map to uncover Dublin landmarks, museums and attractions. Users can also learn more about the history and significance of locations such as the Guinness Storehouse, EPIC - the Irish Emigration Museum and 14 Henrietta Street.
The project is a collaboration between the Dublin City Council, Smart Dublin and Virgin Media Business alongside Peel X, which developed the feature for the app.
Launched last year, the Dublin Discovery Trails app is a platform on which the Dublin local authorities can develop new and exciting immersive experiences combining the real-world history with smart technologies. Already there are unique experiences published including Doors into Docklands, Balbriggan and Castleknock heritage tours.
“This is first for Ireland, the user can ‘literally’ step into the city from anywhere in the world and explore Dublin in the palm of their hand," said Lord Mayor of Dublin, Daithí de Róiste. "This innovative technology will help further position Dublin as a world-class destination with this new experience. I’m delighted to launch DiscovAR and I’d encourage everyone to download the app and try it today to explore the best of what Dublin has to offer.”
Tourists and locals alike can use the app before they visit Dublin, or while they are there, to learn more about the city and its extensive history, sights, monuments and streets.
“DiscovAR offers a new way for visitors and locals to experience the capital city," said Jamie Cudden, Smart City lead, Dublin City Council. "Through our Smart Dublin programme, we are always thinking about how we can embrace new technologies to enhance how people engage with our capital city. This app through its immersive AR technology is a new and fun way to explore the city’s culture and history and we see huge potential to expand this.”
The Dublin Discovery Trail app is part of a larger Smart Tourism strategy to invest in digital to transform Dublin’s tourism experience of the history of the city, and was developed as part of the new Dublin City Council Tourism Strategy 2023-2028 - Innovation Pillar.
For more information on DiscovAR and to download the app visit dublindiscoverytrails.com or search Dublin Discovery Trails on the App Store or Google Play.
