Connecting People to Places through Extended Reality and Digital Engagement

The session will showcase four innovative civic technology and digital engagement projects.

1. Hemisfair Park Tree Donor Wayfinding and AR Web Application.

The HemisfairPark Area Redevelopment Corporation’s aspirational vision is to create one of the world’s great public places. To support their fundraising efforts, they created a Tree Donor Recognition App that encourages tree donors by providing a memorable augmented reality digital experience as a tribute to loved ones, companies, and organizations. The app launched in December 2021 with a pilot focused on the award-winning Yanaguana Garden section of the park and is being extended to support the ongoing philanthropic funding of the Civic Park launch in 2023 and Tower Park in 2025.

2. Mendez Tribute and Monument Park AR Web App

The Mendez Park project is an exciting partnership between the City of Westminster and the Orange County Department of Education (OCDE) to honor Gonzalo and Felicitas Mendez, plaintiffs in the historic Mendez v. Westminster civil rights case for school desegregation. Although not a Texas project like the other three examples, this project is included because it serves as a national model for the integration of augmented reality with an interpretive trail and park that features sculptures, art pieces, and interpretive panels with augmented reality (AR) features that include an educational scavenger hunt with an animated talking Sylvia Mendez, a 3D interactive mural slide puzzle, a 3D newspaper and graduation cap complete with exploding confetti, and other fun and educational AR experiences. In addition, the web app provides the entire AR and interpretive signage experience in three languages (English, Spanish, and Vietnamese).

3. Vision San Marcos (Vision SMTX) Virtual Open House and Digital Engagement

If you build it to be engaging and fun, they will come! The Vision SMTX Virtual Open House has been highly successful with thousands of visitors learning about and engaging in the planning process for a new Comprehensive Plan. The web experience is built upon an open-source 3D/AR/VR browser-based technology that enables extended reality experiences with just a smartphone. Thus helping to address digital divide concerns when using high-end technology for public engagement. In addition, the platform enables seamless integration with familiar third-party digital engagement tools resulting in a highly useful and fun tool for conducting public engagement.

4. Southwestern Medical Distruct Urban Streetscape Project

The Texas Trees Foundation (TTF) and its partners are launching a process to improve Harry Hines Boulevard, located in the heart of the Southwestern Medical District (“SWMD” or “the District”). SWMD is home to world-renowned hospitals and is a place for medical innovation, healing, and hope. However, the District also has an aging infrastructure, a lack of connectivity and safety within public spaces, and limited green space that provides refuge for patients, visitors, doctors, students, staff, residents, and local community members.

The goal of the Southwestern Medical District Urban Streetscape Project is to transform the current streetscape along Harry Hines Boulevard by enhancing safety, comfort, and mobility for all users. The streetscape is defined as elements within the realm of the street, including roadways, sidewalks, landscaping, trees, benches, street lights, and much more. The Maptionnaire survey tool, available on all digital devices, provides a highly visual interactive place-based survey providing specific, valuable, and relevant public feedback to shape the vision of the project.