ImaGeo
ImaGeo: Accurate geotemporal coding in Photos
Background & Objectives
ImaGeo provides a new integrated scenario for geo-temporal visual media tagging and use in the converged world, transforming the way existing tagging processes are organised, in particular how geo-temporal tagged media content is offered and how people search for information.
The deployment of Galileo localisation technologies will generate a considerable amount of new multimedia data that, through hand-held devices, will be available to the general public, who could largely benefit from it. Nevertheless, the current technology is still unprepared to exploit the benefit of this evolution.
Accessing, searching and retrieving multimedia information requires manually attaching metadata, keywords and other information to content without the desirable degree of detail. Furthermore, users on the move do not currently have the appropriate interfaces to support efficient and flexible browsing of visual data in changing contexts and mobility requirements.
Description
ImaGeo implements a system that introduces positioning functions as key enablers of innovative services for web-based applications in the travel and leisure sectors. It will integrate the state of the art in image content processing techniques into a generic multimedia system framework. By combining visual features with location-based information, the project goes beyond the state of the art in object/scene detection and recognition, enabling GNSS applications and services for automatic location information retrieval on captured and queried images.
The ImaGeo users will have tools at hand that will allow them to automatically tag their images and manage their content according to their position on the travel workflow (pre-trip, on the spot, post-trip). With their connected mobile, users on the move will be able to search and retrieve on-the-spot information of the objects and scenes they photograph. This will also promote a shift from a text-based search paradigm towards a more intuitive and context-rich image-driven search.
To fulfil its objectives, the project applies a user-centric development approach that, as well as allowing the realisation of user expectations and assessment of the technical feasibility of the application, will also guarantee the maximisation of the return on investment and the exploitation potential of the results.
Objectives
ImaGeo designs and develops a service-oriented architecture that accommodates the elaborated user needs and the GNSS applications and cases of use. Additionally, the project also develops automatic and semi-automatic methods and tools for location-specific annotation of multimedia assets based on features combined with visual and location-based information channels, as well as third-party information from selected trusted sources.
The project provides an integrated Web 2.0 travel content and experience-sharing platform where users can seamlessly interact while preparing, undertaking or replaying a trip.
The project results will be demonstrated and disseminated through physical and online channels of communications. ImaGeo will also produce business models for the commercial exploitation of its results.
Work performed & results
The system will make a significant impact in the area of destination promotion, management and consumption, where it intercepts with the interests of a number of both public and private stakeholders.
By merging the pervasive adoption of Web 2.0 technologies with the emerging users’ behaviour of promotion and exploration of the environment, ImaGeo is destined to catalyse the increasing financial and creative energies that derive from tourism and, in particular, cultural heritage.
The growth of the tourism industry has, in fact, given way to a new touristic product called ‘heritage tourism’, which has been suggested to be one of the trump cards for the tourism industry of the future. Cultural heritage and heritage-related activities are directly or indirectly playing an important role in destination tourism strategy, especially in destination positioning, where cities aim to evoke unique images in people’s mind.
The guiding principle of the design work for cultural services is to give the individual user maximum freedom in accessing, selecting, personalising and creating archives, and sharing the cultural artefacts pulled from memory institutions. For the individual user, their experience of viewing artefacts will be of a much higher quality.
ImaGeo has been conceived to fulfil these requirements, and to define a new paradigm of cultural heritage consumption.
ImaGeo Photo Gallery
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ImaGeo workflow showing on-the-spot image capturing, searching and retrieving of related information
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ImaGeo project logo