User-Centric Design and Augmented Reality in Cultural Heritage Preservation: A Comprehensive Review of Interactive and Educational Applications

Abstract

This paper explores the world's first augmented reality (AR)-based art project, discussing the innovative role of AR in cultural heritage, with a particular focus on its application in heritage education and user-centred design. Over the past decade, AR has markedly revolutionised cultural heritage preservation through its ability to deliver an immersive, interactive learning environment that stimulates public interest in heritage sites and practices, and facilitates the digital documentation and reconstruction of artefacts. This paper reviews past literature to understand how AR interacts with other digital tools, such as BIM and GIS, and demonstrates the synergistic interplay between them in heritage preservation, enabling users to manage local communities via these multiple interfaces. The paper also identifies key rationales in the literature that lack a user-centred design approach, as well as problems relating to the integration of AR and heritage building data. The paper concludes with the following policy recommendations: supporting the scaling up of AR applications in small, under-exploited heritage sites and integrating AR and sustainability aspects into cultural heritage management. In summary, this paper highlights how AR can transform the experience, preservation and dissemination of cultural heritage in various contexts, offering valuable insights for future endeavours.