Σχεδιασμός και υλοποίηση location-based εκπαιδευτικού παιχνιδιού «κρυμμένου θησαυρού» επαυξημένης πραγματικότητας (AR) για την ενίσχυση της εμπλοκής κοινού και της κοινοτικής εξωστρέφειας πολιτιστικών οργανισμών
Design and implementation of a location-based Augmented Reality (AR) educational “treasure hunt” game to enhance engagement and community outreach of cultural organizations

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Keywords
Cultural heritage ; Gamification ; Serious game ; Community outreach ; Experiential learning ; Engagement ; Museums ; Android application ; Digital culture ; Augmented reality ; Πολιτιστική κληρονομιά ; Παιχνίδι σοβαρού σκοπού ; Κοινοτική εξωστρέφεια ; Βιωματική μάθηση ; Εμπλοκή ; Μουσεία ; Εφαρμογή android ; Ψηφιακός πολιτισμός ; Επαυξημένη πραγματικότηταAbstract
This MSc thesis investigates the design, implementation, and pilot evaluation of a location-based augmented reality (AR) “treasure hunt” titled ARtSCAPE, which recontextualises selected artworks from the Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation Collection into an urban walk in Pangrati, Athens. The study addresses three research questions: (RQ1) enhancing museum engagement, (RQ2) delivering effective micro-learning “on the move”, and (RQ3) supporting community outreach through urban exploration. The application was developed in Unity 6.2 for Android using AR Foundation and the ARCore Geospatial API for geospatial anchoring of 3D content, alongside proximity-driven discovery (locked/unlocked), per-artwork multimedia (text, images, audio guides), an AR snapshot gallery, and a map view based on OpenStreetMap. A pilot study with 12 participants (SUS plus custom Likert scales and two open-ended questions) reported good usability (SUS 75.6/100) and overall positive signals aligned with RQ1–RQ3. The thesis concludes that a location-based AR urban walk can provide a viable and compelling bridge between museum content and the city, while highlighting clear directions for further refinement and expansion.


