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Purpose

This page documents the art and technical learnings from building a location-based Augmented Reality (AR) experience for the Edmonton Chinatown Cultural Centre project.

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Edmonton Chinatown Cultural Centre Project

This project involved designing a location-based AR experience inspired by Pokémon Go, tailored specifically for the Edmonton Chinatown Cultural Centre.

Project Vision

Chinatown is one of Edmonton's most culturally significant historic districts. In recent years, reduced foot traffic and safety concerns have discouraged visitors, negatively impacting local businesses and community vibrancy.

The goal for this project was to create positive reasons for people to return through art, storytelling, and interactive technology.

The experience was designed to:

• Encourage foot traffic in Chinatown
• Increase cultural engagement through interactive public art
• Provide a safe, guided digital layer that enhances the physical environment
• Connect users to local history and artistic expression
• Reintroduce Chinatown as a welcoming space for everyone

Research & Platform Selection

Testing AR Development Tools

The initial phase focused on evaluating Lens Studio by Snap Inc. as the primary AR development platform.

Testing Included:

• Image Tracker and other tracking systems