Zurich Airport and ETH are working on an augmented reality solution

There was great excitement when the media binoculars were installed on visitor terrace B at Zurich Airport in 2011. Visitors were able to view the surroundings and fixate on around 20 points such as the tower, the airside centre or scheduled flights in order to call up virtual information. The binoculars have now reached the end of their service life and a new, modern solution is needed.

The plan is to replace the airport scopes with a "bring your own device" solution that will allow guests on the terrace to call up information on the fixed and mobile points using their own smartphone. In order to realise the project, Zurich Airport has initiated a collaboration with ETH Zurich. As a first step, the international team of four ETH students led by Dr Martin Oswald will conduct basic research in the new "Mixed Reality Lab" course.

The students' best module concepts are passed on to the Berlin agency ART+COM Studios, which is responsible for the conception and realisation of the new media offering on spectator terrace B. It was also ART+COM Studios that developed the media binoculars for Zurich Airport almost ten years ago.

With the joint project between Flughafen Zürich AG and ETH Zurich, it is hoped to realise a long-term collaboration in the area of visitor services. The airport is a popular excursion destination and the aim is therefore to constantly expand the range of activities on offer. Next year, for example, the park will open as a new meeting and recreation centre right next to The Circle.

Source: flughafen-zuerich.ch