TARGETS

The desired result of i-blueCulture is the creation of a real-time “navigation” system which helps the user carry out safe tours and precisely move in virtual underwater landscapes or shipwrecks either in land (eg museum) or in the sea (eg cruise ship above the wreck).

In order to achieve this main objective, the following keystones must be completed:

Highlighting archeological and natural landscapes and shipwrecks / Promoting culture and increasing tourism

Highlighting and promoting underwater areas, which are not easily accessible and known to the general public. A Key Performance Index is the increase of visitors who will be interested in getting to know the underwater heritage of our country in-situ. Traffic is expected to reach tens of thousands of visitors a year, compared to the current zero number. The main result is that it will offer the opportunity to “visit” and “immerse” in the marine treasures of the country to the general public (even to non-diving visitors).

Access to NON-diving citizens

I-blueCulture will give access and a complete picture of the underwater landscapes / wrecks to people who do not have the ability, knowledge, equipment, etc. to visit such monuments. At the same time, monuments in which diving is not possible today due to their great depth or other security features, will be highlighted . Key Performance Index is the number of non-diving people who will be interested in visiting the marine heritage of our country through i-blueCulture, who are expected to be more than 1,000 during the pilot tests.

Surveillance of the underwater monuments

Most of the underwater monuments in Greece at the moment are unattended without any surveillance. I-blueCulture will offer surveillance with low cost and energy sensors. Key Performance Indicator is the number of shipwrecks that can be protected, the low cost of the sensors and the total energy consumed by them.

Remote showcasing of the ancient shipwrecks

Creation of a pilot exhibition in a visitors’ area far from the ancient shipwreck that will allow at least 5,000 visitors during the pilot phase to “dive in” and browse the shipwreck live. In addition, the best 3D modeling techniques for underwater targets (ancient and modern shipwrecks and seabed geomorphology) will be developed at depths of up to 60 meters and will be rendered in a virtual reality and augmented information environment. The techniques, methodologies, hardware and software that will be developed, will concern human use up to 60m depth with technical diving.