PERIPLOUS: Autonomous guided and narrated tour over the sunken city of Epidaurus

The objective of the proposed project is the identification, conservation, documentation and promotion of the sunken city of Epidaurus through the use of combined advanced technological practices. It involves a journey through past and present times, with the use of a floating vessel that will provide an automated guided tour, addressed to everybody (from now on PERIPLOUS). Through targeted scientific research, the underwater antiquities of the area will be properly highlighted, while the suggested pioneering technological approach will provide the visitors with a unique cultural experience, through activities which combine entertainment and learning. The PERIPLOUS suggests an automated guided tour with the following features: It is a float, as it takes place on board a floating vessel with a transparent bottom (from now on e-navigator) where advanced technological practices, pioneering techniques and appliances have been incorporated. It is autonomous, as not only the narration but also the navigation of the floating vessel take place without human intervention. It involves an automotive vessel which follows predetermined routes and stops mid-sea while providing pre-recorded descriptions and narrations. The e-navigator allows the safe implementation of automated guiding scenaria, taking into account information from sensors, such as the geographical detection of the vessel, the direction of the wind, the and location of obstacles with the use of ultra sounds, while regulating the operation of the electrical motor of the vessel, so that it can be immobilized in certain spots, at particular moments. It is multimedia, as it incorporates different means of presentation, providing various language options.

The visitor watches the sunken city through the transparent bottom of the vessel and listens to the narrations in his/her mother tongue. At the same time, a monitor shows the three-dimensional representation of the sunken city, as it was centuries ago, according to what has been registered in the international bibliography. It addresses everybody, Greek and foreign visitors of the sunken city of Epidaurus, youngsters and adults, pupils, students, guides, museologists, scholars of archaeological schools etc, as well as People with Special Needs, regardless of the time of the year.