During the first phase of the project, MEMEX analysed the heterogeneous target groups within its three pilot locations. This encompassed the needs of different communities, which developed a larger understanding of both the social and technical requirements aided by a field study.
A methodology for digital storytelling was developed tuned to the participants and local stakeholders needs. The methodology was a structured process which, with the support of storytelling, facilitated new interpretations of CH through personal creativity and expression, and produced new narratives that fostered individual and community empowerment. Participants in the three pilot cities engaged in mediated digital storytelling workshops and guided visits, reinterpreting local CH sites through their personal memories to create their unique story. In total, 70 stories were produced by the pilots. The pilots were a key component of the MEMEX co-creation process, including participants and local stakeholders in the testing sessions that provided systematic feedback for the design of MEMEX digital tools to the technical partners.
In parallel, the pilot’s feedback was used for the creation of the MEMEX digital tool that was embodied in the form of an App on a smartphone. The first version consisted of essential digital story viewing and authoring tools. The second iteration of the App interconnected an open-source Knowledge Graph (KG) to the story authoring tool, to act as a knowledge resource for storytelling. The final version brought the stories and knowledge in the KG into reality as AR experiences. All these steps required the creation of a novel technology platform for digital storytelling with AR. The platform exploited crowd-sourced maps, high-quality maps of pilot areas using a custom capture system, and conceptualised alignment with the MEMX KG to localise and visual the stories and CH assets. These digital assets were anchored into reality through a novel multi-site mapping approach which allowed easy creation of AR experiences.
To maximise impact MEMEX conducted extensive efforts to maintain the projects presence and showcase its methodologies, activities and results. This was done through workshops and conferences across research fields for a total of 12 peer-reviewed publications, in addition to capacity building events. In total, 71 presentations were performed. In addition to 12 press releases and 3 policy briefs were written. As part of exploitation efforts, MEMEX provided plans for use and re-use of projects results for different stakeholders, beyond the target participants of the project. The consortium also produced open-source code and 15 datasets, with content ranging from stories to 3D maps, providing resources for future use and re-use.
