Dublin City Council has launched an augmented reality map that allows people to virtually visit the city without actually being there. The map of the Irish capital, called “DiscovAR Dublin”, includes visits to historical and cultural locations, such as the Guinness Storehouse, the Irish Emigration Museum, and 14 Henrietta Street. It is part of the city’s smart tourism strategy that aims to improve the visitor experience by employing digital technology options.

Originally, the plan was for a digital heritage trail, called “Doors into Docklands”. However, this has been expanded to a platform that hosts multiple trails and the augmented reality map. Jamie Cudden, Smart City Lead at the City Council, said: “DiscovAR offers a new way for visitors and locals to experience the capital city. Through our Smart Dublin programme, we are always thinking about how we can embrace new technologies to enhance how people engage with our city. This app through its immersive AR technology is a new and fun way to explore the city’s culture and history and we see huge potential to expand this.”

The interactive 3D map works on smartphones using the Dublin Discovery Trails app. 

Article published first at CitiesToday on 6 September 2023.

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