Combining Image Targets and SLAM for AR-Based Cultural Heritage Fruition

Augmented Reality (AR) is one of the prominent technologies in Cultural Heritage (CH) exploitation. Taking advantage of commonly used tools as smartphones and tablets, digital contents have the potential to improve visitors’ understanding and enjoyment of historical buildings and museums. In this regard, the early stage research described in this paper aims to develop an AR app combining image target-based AR and Simultaneous Localization And Mapping (SLAM). Leading visitors’ attention, the app will enhance CH fruition turning it in an interactive learning experience. The presented case study, the “Studiolo” of the Duke in the “Palazzo Ducale” of Urbino, with its high concentration of depicted elements, is ideal to explain the advantages of combining image target and SLAM to achieve a stable and reliable AR. In addition to information superimposed to Points of Interest (POIs), SLAM can be used to anchor suggestions about different POIs into specific positions inside the “Studiolo”, guiding the users’ orientation during the visit.