Prioritising the places and people that need it the most
OLP AR Experience
Augmented Reality Navigation and Exploration of The Port of Piraeus
Our proposal introduces an Augmented Reality (AR) system for the Piraeus Port Authority (OLP) to enhance navigation and user experience. Using mobile devices, users can scan the port area, view 3D markers for ships, docks, taxis, and key locations, and access real-time schedules. This smart port solution benefits passengers, boosts local services, and fosters innovation through a University of Piraeus collaboration, improving both practical navigation and economic activity.
Greece
Local
Piraeus
Mainly rural
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
Prototype level
No
No
As an individual partnership with other persons/organisation(s)
Our proposal involves integrating Augmented Reality (AR) elements within the premises of the Piraeus Port Authority (OLP) and the surrounding complexes. Recent advancements in hardware and software have enabled the use of AR features on any modern mobile phone and their seamless integration into various applications. This allows new and existing applications to provide users with the ability to interact with the real world through a virtual environment displayed on their mobile screens, featuring “live” three-dimensional virtual objects placed within the real-world setting. Moreover, the technological framework has evolved to support the detection of predefined points of interest in the environment without the need for QR codes or other outdated techniques—simply by utilizing the mobile camera, GPS sensors, and AR technologies such as Google’s ARCore.
Additionally, users can share virtual objects between different devices located in a specific (predefined) area for displaying these objects.
The proposed solution aims to develop a comprehensive AR system that, through a dedicated application, will allow users to scan the port area with their mobile phones and receive navigational assistance within it (smart port). Specifically, large 3D markers (such as large pushpins or checkpoints) will appear at key locations within the port, including:
Markers for each docked ship, providing details upon selection
Markers indicating the docking locations of arriving ships (e.g., the pier where a passenger’s ship will arrive)
Markers for taxi stands and internal bus stops
Markers for waiting areas
Markers for key landmarks in the broader area, viewable from the ship’s deck (e.g., Piraeus Tower, Train Station) At the same time, the application will provide schedule information and port announcements.
Additionally, users can share virtual objects between different devices located in a specific (predefined) area for displaying these objects.
The proposed solution aims to develop a comprehensive AR system that, through a dedicated application, will allow users to scan the port area with their mobile phones and receive navigational assistance within it (smart port). Specifically, large 3D markers (such as large pushpins or checkpoints) will appear at key locations within the port, including:
Markers for each docked ship, providing details upon selection
Markers indicating the docking locations of arriving ships (e.g., the pier where a passenger’s ship will arrive)
Markers for taxi stands and internal bus stops
Markers for waiting areas
Markers for key landmarks in the broader area, viewable from the ship’s deck (e.g., Piraeus Tower, Train Station) At the same time, the application will provide schedule information and port announcements.
Augmented Reality
Commodity Mobile Devices
Navigation and Exploration
Mobile Application
Port Navigation Application
The key sustainability objectives of our project focus on enhancing efficiency, reducing environmental impact, and promoting smart urban mobility. By integrating Augmented Reality (AR) into the Piraeus Port Authority (OLP), we reduce the need for physical signage and printed materials, minimizing waste. The system optimizes passenger navigation, reducing congestion and unnecessary transportation within the port, leading to lower carbon emissions. Additionally, by supporting local businesses through digital engagement, we contribute to economic sustainability.
Our project exemplifies sustainability through its innovative use of digital solutions that improve accessibility while reducing resource consumption. By leveraging existing mobile technologies, we eliminate the need for additional infrastructure, making the solution both cost-effective and environmentally friendly. Furthermore, the collaboration with the University of Piraeus fosters research in sustainable technology, setting an example of how smart solutions can enhance urban mobility in a green and efficient manner.
Our project exemplifies sustainability through its innovative use of digital solutions that improve accessibility while reducing resource consumption. By leveraging existing mobile technologies, we eliminate the need for additional infrastructure, making the solution both cost-effective and environmentally friendly. Furthermore, the collaboration with the University of Piraeus fosters research in sustainable technology, setting an example of how smart solutions can enhance urban mobility in a green and efficient manner.
Our project prioritizes aesthetics and quality of experience by seamlessly integrating Augmented Reality (AR) into the Piraeus Port environment, enhancing both functionality and cultural appreciation. Through intuitive design, users interact with immersive 3D markers that provide real-time information on ships, transport hubs, and landmarks, creating a visually engaging and user-friendly experience. The design ensures clarity, accessibility, and aesthetic harmony with the port’s surroundings, offering a modern, interactive way to navigate the area.
Culturally, the project enriches the visitor experience by highlighting key landmarks and historical sites, fostering a deeper connection with Piraeus' heritage. The digital enhancement of navigation and information access respects the port’s visual identity while improving convenience. By blending innovation with cultural storytelling, our project serves as an exemplary model of how technology can enhance public spaces, making them both more beautiful and more informative without physical disruption.
Culturally, the project enriches the visitor experience by highlighting key landmarks and historical sites, fostering a deeper connection with Piraeus' heritage. The digital enhancement of navigation and information access respects the port’s visual identity while improving convenience. By blending innovation with cultural storytelling, our project serves as an exemplary model of how technology can enhance public spaces, making them both more beautiful and more informative without physical disruption.
Our project is designed with inclusion at its core, ensuring accessibility, affordability, and equal participation for all. By leveraging Augmented Reality (AR) through widely available smartphones, we provide a cost-effective, barrier-free solution that does not require specialized equipment. The intuitive interface follows universal design principles, making navigation and information easily accessible for diverse users, including tourists, elderly passengers, and individuals with disabilities.
In terms of governance, the system promotes inclusive engagement by integrating feedback from stakeholders such as port authorities, local businesses, and passengers, ensuring a user-centered approach. By offering multilingual support and clear visual cues, the project accommodates diverse demographics, fostering equitable access to real-time transport and cultural information. As a model for inclusive urban innovation, this initiative demonstrates how technology can bridge gaps in accessibility, making public spaces more navigable and welcoming for everyone.
In terms of governance, the system promotes inclusive engagement by integrating feedback from stakeholders such as port authorities, local businesses, and passengers, ensuring a user-centered approach. By offering multilingual support and clear visual cues, the project accommodates diverse demographics, fostering equitable access to real-time transport and cultural information. As a model for inclusive urban innovation, this initiative demonstrates how technology can bridge gaps in accessibility, making public spaces more navigable and welcoming for everyone.
The benefits of such a solution span multiple dimensions: On a practical level, passengers will have access to a user-friendly tool that enables them to navigate the port and its surroundings without requiring additional interventions. Such an application would be particularly useful both for the large influx of tourists flooding the port in the summer and for regular passengers who would have the ability to know the exact arrival point of their ship in advance.
The proposed system also aims to generate economic benefits for all stakeholders by encouraging users to utilize paid services (such as taxis, refreshment stands in waiting areas, canteens, and ticket booths).
A collaboration between the University of Piraeus and local entities will highlight local activities and enhance the communication profile of both the Municipality and the University.
Finally, this solution presents significant research interest for the University of Piraeus, as the technologies combined and the prototype to be developed represent a novel innovation.
A collaboration between the University of Piraeus and local entities will highlight local activities and enhance the communication profile of both the Municipality and the University.
Finally, this solution presents significant research interest for the University of Piraeus, as the technologies combined and the prototype to be developed represent a novel innovation.
Our project brings together multiple disciplines, integrating expertise from technology, urban planning, design, cultural heritage, and business development. The core technological foundation relies on Augmented Reality (AR), geolocation services, and mobile application development, requiring collaboration between software engineers, UI/UX designers, and AR specialists. Urban planners and transport experts contributed to optimizing navigation and ensuring the system enhances mobility without disrupting the port’s existing infrastructure.
Cultural heritage experts provided insights into historical landmarks and key points of interest, enriching the AR experience with meaningful content. Business development specialists analyzed the economic impact, ensuring the system benefits local businesses and service providers. These diverse fields worked together through iterative co-design workshops, where stakeholders contributed their perspectives, refining the solution to be both functional and engaging.
This interdisciplinary approach added significant value by ensuring the project was not just a technical innovation but also a culturally rich, user-centered, and economically viable solution. It serves as a model for future smart urban environments, demonstrating how cross-sector collaboration leads to holistic and impactful digital transformation.
Cultural heritage experts provided insights into historical landmarks and key points of interest, enriching the AR experience with meaningful content. Business development specialists analyzed the economic impact, ensuring the system benefits local businesses and service providers. These diverse fields worked together through iterative co-design workshops, where stakeholders contributed their perspectives, refining the solution to be both functional and engaging.
This interdisciplinary approach added significant value by ensuring the project was not just a technical innovation but also a culturally rich, user-centered, and economically viable solution. It serves as a model for future smart urban environments, demonstrating how cross-sector collaboration leads to holistic and impactful digital transformation.
Our project stands out for its innovative integration of Augmented Reality (AR) in a smart port environment, offering a seamless, interactive, and real-time navigation system for passengers. Unlike traditional solutions that rely on static signage, printed materials, or QR codes, our system utilizes ARCore and AI-driven spatial recognition to dynamically overlay 3D markers and real-time information on mobile devices without additional hardware.
Compared to mainstream digital navigation solutions, which often rely on maps or basic GPS-based directions, our approach creates an immersive, user-friendly experience that enhances both functionality and engagement. The ability to share AR objects between multiple users in the same space further distinguishes the project, allowing for enhanced collaboration and information sharing.
Additionally, our solution bridges technology, cultural heritage, and economic sustainability, offering a comprehensive smart port model that not only improves mobility but also promotes local businesses and enhances historical awareness. This pioneering application of AR in port infrastructure makes our project exemplary for future smart city initiatives, setting a new standard for digital urban navigation.
Compared to mainstream digital navigation solutions, which often rely on maps or basic GPS-based directions, our approach creates an immersive, user-friendly experience that enhances both functionality and engagement. The ability to share AR objects between multiple users in the same space further distinguishes the project, allowing for enhanced collaboration and information sharing.
Additionally, our solution bridges technology, cultural heritage, and economic sustainability, offering a comprehensive smart port model that not only improves mobility but also promotes local businesses and enhances historical awareness. This pioneering application of AR in port infrastructure makes our project exemplary for future smart city initiatives, setting a new standard for digital urban navigation.
Our project follows a user-centered, interdisciplinary, and iterative approach, combining technology, urban planning, cultural heritage, and business strategy to create an effective and inclusive solution. The methodology consists of the following key phases:
1. Research & Needs Assessment
Conducted stakeholder interviews (port authorities, passengers, local businesses) to identify key challenges and opportunities.
Analyzed existing navigation and digital solutions in transport hubs to benchmark best practices.
Assessed technical feasibility, evaluating ARCore, geolocation, and AI-driven spatial recognition for seamless implementation.
2. Design & Prototyping
Developed wireframes and UX/UI prototypes based on accessibility and inclusivity principles.
Created AR-based navigation markers and 3D models for wayfinding and information display.
Integrated multilingual support and real-time data feeds to enhance user engagement.
3. Development & Testing
Built an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) using agile methodologies, allowing for incremental improvements.
Conducted usability testing with diverse users (tourists, locals, people with disabilities) to refine interactions.
Piloted the solution in real-world conditions at the port, adjusting based on feedback.
4. Deployment & Continuous Improvement
Launched the application with phased rollout, monitoring adoption rates and user behavior.
Established feedback loops for ongoing updates, ensuring the system evolves based on user needs.
Partnered with local businesses and institutions to expand service offerings and long-term sustainability.
By combining co-design, iterative testing, and cross-sector collaboration, our approach ensures the solution is efficient, user-friendly, and scalable, setting a model for future smart transport initiatives.
1. Research & Needs Assessment
Conducted stakeholder interviews (port authorities, passengers, local businesses) to identify key challenges and opportunities.
Analyzed existing navigation and digital solutions in transport hubs to benchmark best practices.
Assessed technical feasibility, evaluating ARCore, geolocation, and AI-driven spatial recognition for seamless implementation.
2. Design & Prototyping
Developed wireframes and UX/UI prototypes based on accessibility and inclusivity principles.
Created AR-based navigation markers and 3D models for wayfinding and information display.
Integrated multilingual support and real-time data feeds to enhance user engagement.
3. Development & Testing
Built an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) using agile methodologies, allowing for incremental improvements.
Conducted usability testing with diverse users (tourists, locals, people with disabilities) to refine interactions.
Piloted the solution in real-world conditions at the port, adjusting based on feedback.
4. Deployment & Continuous Improvement
Launched the application with phased rollout, monitoring adoption rates and user behavior.
Established feedback loops for ongoing updates, ensuring the system evolves based on user needs.
Partnered with local businesses and institutions to expand service offerings and long-term sustainability.
By combining co-design, iterative testing, and cross-sector collaboration, our approach ensures the solution is efficient, user-friendly, and scalable, setting a model for future smart transport initiatives.
Since the project concerns the creation of a mobile app, it can be configured to run to any port that participates to the project.
Our project addresses key global challenges such as sustainable urban mobility, digital accessibility, economic resilience, and cultural preservation by providing a localized smart port solution in Piraeus.
Sustainable Urban Mobility
Globally, congestion in transport hubs increases emissions and inefficiencies. Our AR-based navigation system optimizes movement within the port, reducing unnecessary travel and enhancing eco-friendly mobility by promoting public transport and reducing reliance on printed materials.
Digital Accessibility & Inclusion
Many smart city solutions require costly infrastructure. Our project leverages existing mobile technology, making it an affordable and accessible digital tool for tourists, commuters, and people with disabilities, ensuring equitable access to information and services.
Economic Resilience & Smart Tourism
Ports are economic lifelines, yet many struggle to connect passengers with local businesses. By digitally linking users with nearby services (taxis, shops, and cultural sites), our project boosts the local economy while improving the traveler experience.
Cultural Preservation & Awareness
Many cities face the challenge of maintaining cultural identity amid rapid urbanization. By embedding historical and cultural information in AR experiences, we help preserve and promote heritage, making it more engaging for visitors and residents.
This local solution serves as a scalable model for other global ports and transport hubs, demonstrating how technology-driven innovation can tackle universal urban challenges while enhancing economic and cultural sustainability.
Sustainable Urban Mobility
Globally, congestion in transport hubs increases emissions and inefficiencies. Our AR-based navigation system optimizes movement within the port, reducing unnecessary travel and enhancing eco-friendly mobility by promoting public transport and reducing reliance on printed materials.
Digital Accessibility & Inclusion
Many smart city solutions require costly infrastructure. Our project leverages existing mobile technology, making it an affordable and accessible digital tool for tourists, commuters, and people with disabilities, ensuring equitable access to information and services.
Economic Resilience & Smart Tourism
Ports are economic lifelines, yet many struggle to connect passengers with local businesses. By digitally linking users with nearby services (taxis, shops, and cultural sites), our project boosts the local economy while improving the traveler experience.
Cultural Preservation & Awareness
Many cities face the challenge of maintaining cultural identity amid rapid urbanization. By embedding historical and cultural information in AR experiences, we help preserve and promote heritage, making it more engaging for visitors and residents.
This local solution serves as a scalable model for other global ports and transport hubs, demonstrating how technology-driven innovation can tackle universal urban challenges while enhancing economic and cultural sustainability.
Complete the creation of a prototype application (current status of the application contains a web interface for creating Anchors and a mobile application for previewing them). The scenarios need to be defined and the graphics to be enriched. A working demo may be distributed to possible organizations to demonstrate the effectiveness of the application.
