Discover a quarry of great biological interest by augmented reality

The call for the BNIP pilot projects in 2017 was a success and resulted in eight small-scale inspiring projects. In almost 2 years’ time these projects achieved great things.

Read here what Empreintes has realised.

Empreintes puts an industrial nature reserve in the spotlight thanks to an interactive app

Empreintes asbl puts an industrial Natura 2000 site in the spotlight. The company participated in developing an app that takes you on a journey through the area, with all sorts of fun assignments and games.

The quarries of Asty-Moulin are located near the city centre of Namur and are part of the Natura 2000 network. These quarries are a wonderful example of industrially valuable nature with a unique biodiversity. This green lung close to the city creates a place where children, young people, district residents and schools from the municipality can relax and actively enjoy nature.

To motivate young and old to discover this area, a fun interactive app has been developed. The app was created by a team of professionals and local residents of all age groups and socio-economic backgrounds. Together they mapped out a walking route, created the content of the app, and tested the app. In the app you help ‘Asty‘, a common wall lizard, to find its broken tail through all kinds of games and challenges. The participants gradually learn a lot about the fauna and flora of the area and the importance of both nature conservation and industrial heritage.

Read more below the movie.

Involving local residents in the development of the app increases both the sustainability and the impact of the project, as it creates support for the conservation of the area. In addition, the ‘Ravel 2’ cycle route passes through the area, increasing the project’s visibility even more. The app was enthusiastically received during the launch in October 2019, with no less than 50 families and 30 school groups exploring the area with a smartphone or tablet.

Empreintes intends to include the app and walking route in its educational package, specifically aimed at schools. They are also exploring whether the same approach can be applied to other nature areas.