Gerês Interpretive Center

ARDAL, known as the Alto Lima Regional Development Association, is a non-profit association created on February 29, 2000, with the aim of promoting local development and tourism in the regions that make up Arcos de Valdevez, so that it can improve the living conditions of the population through humanitarian actions. This association thus plays a fundamental role in society with regard to local development, specifically in villages located in the Peneda-Gerês National Park (PNPG).

ARDAL also provides support in drawing up local initiatives, as long as they correspond to its purpose, in other words, that they help to enhance places, and develop assessments on issues such as means and practices of local development, politics and so on.

Porta do Mezio is one of the five gates of the Peneda-Gerês National Park, located between the mountains and valleys of Soajo and Peneda, and covers 11 hectares with a variety of facilities.

ARDAL wanted to have instruments that would raise awareness and educate at an environmental level, in order to highlight quality as a differentiating brand and also communicate the national values of the territory, by disseminating information and supporting visits and knowledge. Thus, the aim was to bring new captivating experiences to the Mezio Park for the visiting public, in other words, to associate technological innovation with an organic park.

ARDAL wanted to bring new experiences. 3Decide therefore developed an experience in VR glasses that would allow the user to come into contact with the surrounding area, i.e. with the species that exist, the seasons and all the biology present, on an individual basis. In addition to this project, an interactive table was also made, which carries a map according to the territorial planning of the area. The mobile has the possibility of projecting various types of content, such as video mapping, i.e. a video that is adjusted to the relief of the map, allowing the user to see the map come to life. There are between four and five themes, each of which has an associated content, for example, one is about the animals present in the region, another is about the plants, another about the structures that have been built. In order to reconcile the projects developed, an application was also developed that is installed on the association's tablets which are used for children to tour the biological park, taking into account that whenever it detects a post of an animal or a plant, the application warns and it is thus possible to go to that place so that you can learn about the history associated with that post.

• Educational experience that allows close and realistic contact with the surrounding environment
• Versatile and sensory presentation of content
• Educational application with stories and information for children
• Connection between new technologies and nature