Spain provides equal access to its outdoor spaces with a digital twin of a public park

In an effort to provide equal access to outdoor spaces, Andreas Grunau was contracted to create a 3D digital twin of Parque Natural Sierra de Baza in Spain. Grunau used Matterport to capture a public space that isn’t necessarily accessible to everyone, placing Mattertags strategically along the park’s path to offer an educational experience to all visitors.

We wanted to learn more about how Grunau created this space and reached out to ask him some questions. 

What inspired the 3D capture of this space?

This work arose at the request of the "Agencia de Medio Ambiente y Agua de Andalucía", a public agency that manages different trails through natural sites in the southern part of Spain.

The main reason for creating these Matterport models was to open the trails and allow people with less physical mobility to be able to move through them virtually. Because of the digital twin, visitors can evaluate the difficulty of these trails and choose to visit them in person. They are all located in places with great natural attractions. 

What are the “must-sees” you want visitors to explore and why?

This tour allows visitors to visit and get to know the "Visitors Center" and the trails of the "Parque Natural Sierra de Baza", a natural place of great beauty in Spain. I recommend visiting the interior of the Visitor Center, where you can see the different animal and plant species that make up the park. I also recommend virtually walking through the outdoor trails, which have been specially adapted for people of any age. An additional benefit of doing it virtually: it will be even easier and less tiring.

What’s the one thing you want visitors to take away after exploring your 3D tour?

The idea associated with this plan was to create a more personalized experience with an interpretive guide, including videos for people with hearing impairment and tags with text that describe what we are visualizing on the tour. This virtual space allows everyone to feel included, even if the person has a physical limitation that impedes them from walking certain distances during the tour.

During the past year and a half, it has become very valuable to be able to walk through natural spaces without leaving your home. These innovative initiatives to make spaces more accessible, demonstrating the importance of new technologies that can bring people into spaces that aren’t always easy to reach.

What are the benefits of Matterport digital twins?

Matterport technology is making it possible for the general public to experience places that would otherwise be inaccessible. In this particular case, the benefit of the Matterport digital twin is associated with the fact that visitors can explore the natural attractions in 3D, walk and visualize the natural park site from all angles, and have detailed information of the characteristic elements of the area throughout the experience.