Challenge
Bauska is a city with a rich history, here the Lielupe and Mūsa rivers meet, here the Livonian Order knights and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth forces clashed. Yet for most tourists these events remain abstract, information signs provide facts but create no emotional impact.
Visit Bauska wanted to engage a younger audience and make city sightseeing dynamic and personalized without major infrastructure investment.
Solution
We created an AR experience based on geographic location. The user downloads the app and starts walking around the city, at specific locations, historical events, characters and buildings appear on screen as they looked in different centuries.
At each point there is a short audio story, animated 3D elements and the ability to "photograph" yourself in the historical scene. The route is designed as a self-guided tour with 8 stops in the city and near the castle.
Technologies
The app uses GPS and compass data to precisely position AR elements in real space. The 3D historical models are optimized for mobile devices, fast loading and smooth performance even on older phones.
Result
The Bauska AR app was published on the App Store and Google Play and reached several thousand downloads in the first season. The average user engagement time with AR elements exceeded 30 minutes, significantly more than classic information signs.
The project received coverage in national media and was nominated as a digital tourism best practice example at the Latvian Tourism Forum.
