Efstratios Stylianidis

Market potential for a location based and augmented reality system for utilities management

LARA project is an innovative combination of different emerging technologies to develop a hand-held and mobile device that integrates state-of-the-art technologies in the domains of mobility, positioning and sensors (Global Navigation Satellite System — GNSS), Augmented Reality (AR) and 3D Geographic Information System (GIS) geo-databases. The vision of the system is to develop a system that simulates an ‘x-ray camera’ and is able to guide utility field workers to ‘see beneath the ground’ the buried infrastructures. The system renders, in high accuracy 3D models, all the complexity of the different underground grids (water, gas, sewerage, electricity, etc.) that are stored in the 3D GIS geo-database. The project has a clear intention to commercialize the products and services built therefore a detailed market analysis for the system and the definition of the appropriate business models is required. In order to prepare the commercialization strategy of the final location based and augmented reality assistive system, during the project lifetime, all consortium partners are defining and agreeing the marketing strategy and the collaborative business models that best fit system requirements and needs developed through end user workshops and technical consultations. The project has received funding from the European GNSS Agency (GSA) under the European Unions Horizon 2020 research and innovation program; specifically, grant agreement no. 641460.

A Geographical Information System for Real Estate (GEOVAL)

The basic aim of the project is the design of a geographical system which has the ability to provide all the benefits of geoinformatics on issues and projects of land valuation and land management. By nature, real estate market is spatial market and thus GIS can provide, in one hand, several very powerful tools for land value estimation, management of real estate and on the other hand land promotion. These three procedures are the central components for the design of GEOVAL system. It is well known to real estate firms that the use of GIS can offer lots of bene? ts for them. These firms, which did use GIS, reported that GIS is important or very important to their overall mission (Fryrear et al. 2001). GIS can also provide more accurate measurements on land and contributes to productivity as well. For example, GIS can provide a superior location variable relative to the traditionally used straight-line distance assumption (Rodriguez et al. 1995). Mobile GIS provides also powerful tools for real estate firms, especially due to field work and the actual need for transportable solutions. Valuation is also a fieldwork-based process which is based on geodata collection in order to provide the best accuracy to the estimation of land values. All these advantages can lead to a major reduction of real estate firms costs.GIS can also provide important tools for storing a large amount of data with spatial relationship. GEOVAL system is a tool for many spatial functions like other GIS systems for real estate. The spatial functions are in general terms geographic selection, manipulation, exploration and finally confirmation (Anselin 1998).

Senior occupation after profession: Habit intriguing adults — SOPHIA

SOPHIA aims to create a network the core of which will be senior adults after retirement who would like to continue offering their skills. Some of the network branches will be companies and enterprises that would require knowledge and expertise of the seniors, or individuals who could use their help. This network will bring in contact the senior adults with the companies and handle all kinds of possible transactions they may have, in a friendly and efficient environment [1].

Specification of Symbols Used in Audio-Tactile Maps for Individuals with Blindness

The implementation of multisensory environments in the field of map construction for individuals with visual impairments can be a challenging area for both users and designers of orientation and mobility aids. Audio-tactile maps can utilize a large amount of spatial information represented by audio symbols, tactile symbols, audio-tactile symbols (combined) and Braille labels. In regard to audio-tactile maps an important clarification needs to be elaborated and in particular what needs to be carefully examined is the basic query of which information should be presented in haptic mode and which information should be presented in audio or audio-haptic mode. In practice this means that a reasoned process of defining the appropriate symbols for audio-tactile maps should be implemented. The fundamental aim of project “ATMAPS” - Specification of symbols used on Audio-Tactile Maps for individuals with blindness” presented in this paper is the specification of symbols to be used in audio-tactile maps for individuals with blindness.

User Requirements Regarding Information Included in Audio-Tactile Maps for Individuals with Blindness

The aim of this study is to investigate the user requirements of young adults with blindness regarding the information to be included/ mapped in two different types of audio-tactile mobility maps: (a) audio-tactile maps of indoors, and (b) audio-tactile maps of campuses. Forty young adults (aged from 18 years to 30 years) with blindness took part in the research. Participants came from four countries: 14 from Greece, 2 from Cyprus, 18 from Turkey, and 6 from Germany. The researchers developed two lists of information to be included in the two types of audio-tactile maps (indoor and campus) respectively. Participants were asked to evaluate the information, regarding: (a) the significance of the information in regard to safety, location of services, way finding and orientation during movement, and (b) the frequency the participants meet the information (within their surrounding and the environment they move in). The first list of information to be evaluated, related to the maps of indoor places consisted of 136 different information, and the second list of information to be evaluated, related to the campus maps consisted of 213 different information. The result of the study is the definition of the most important information that should be included in each one of the two different types of audio-tactile maps. Thus, the findings of the present study will be particularly important for designers of orientation and mobility (O&M) aids for individuals with blindness. Moreover, the findings can be useful for O&M specialists, rehabilitation specialists, and teachers who design and construct O&M aids for their students with blindness.