Enhancing Architectural Heritage Engagement: A Comparative Study of a WebGL and Spatially-Aware AI-Guided Immersive Environment
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65638/2978-8811.2025.01.02Keywords:
Architectural heritage engagement, AI-guided interaction, 360° immersive environment, spatial awareness, virtual heritage educationAbstract
This study investigates the impact of a spatially-aware AI-guided immersive environment on architectural heritage engagement. A controlled experiment was conducted with 20 final-year Bachelor of Architectural Studies students, comparing a WebGL-based 360° virtual tour of Murray House, Hong Kong, enhanced by a Deep Seek AI-powered guide, against a traditional 360°-only tour. The AI system provided real-time, context-aware guidance by tracking user position and viewing direction, enabling dynamic interactions such as directing attention to specific architectural features. Quantitative results revealed significant improvements in the AI-guided group, including higher navigation comprehensiveness (90% vs. 60% of nodes visited). Survey data indicated elevated perceived engagement, learning, and satisfaction. Qualitative feedback highlighted the AI’s role in facilitating guided discovery and contextual dialogue, transforming passive observation into active inquiry. The findings demonstrate that integrating spatially-aware AI into web-based immersive environments significantly enhances engagement and educational value, offering a scalable model for future heritage education tools. Limitations include the use of an untrained AI model and mobile browser access, with future research targeting AI fine-tuning and VR headset integration.
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