The measuring point of the Struve Geodetic Arc, located on Oravivuori Hill in Jyväskylä’s Korpilahti, is another UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Jyväskylä Region. A new mobile application and virtual realisation bring a new dimension to the experience of Oravivuori Hill.
In the 19th century, a point was drilled on the top of Oravivuori Hill in Korpilahti, Jyväskylä, whose significance is greater than its size. It is part of a chain of measurement points stretching from the Black Sea to the Arctic Ocean, which was used to measure the shape and size of the earth. Nowadays the Struve Geodetic Arc is on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The new mobile application and virtual implementation that can be experienced in the Museum of Central Finland bring the history and story of the Struve Arc and Oravivuori Hill survey point to life. To a large extent, the source of inspiration in the content has been Oravivuori’s splendid nature, but there was also a wish to gather new historical information.
– Our purpose was not only to tell a story based on existing information; rather, a historical researcher was also hired to the project who looked for quite new details regarding the Struve Geodetic Arc. The perspective of local residents was also included in the tale, Struce Experience Project Manager Johanna Muhonen points out in providing some background.
Four artists representing various fields of art were involved in creating the content: Minja Revonkorpi, Olga Kolari, Laura Rukola and Arto Polus. Art in various formats has indeed been utilised in the narration: for example, animation, the visual arts, music and dance.
The mobile application brings the artist right to Oravivuori Hill via augmented reality
A trail about a kilometre long that winds through the hilly terrain leads to the top of Oravivuori Hill. You can start the journey either from the parking lot or from the boating cove. From the triangulation tower erected at the top, Lake Päijänne’s breathtakingly beautiful vistas open to view.
When you traverse the route with the mobile application, you realise there’s much more to the site than just its impressive natural charm.
– The app is intuitive, and it’s interesting to gain familiarity with it with the children, for instance. The implementation can also be of benefit in cultural heritage education.
Alongside the nature trail, there are seven checkpoints in total, which open up by means of the GPS signal at the exact spot. They can also be opened manually. Enhanced reality is also utilised in the checkpoint content.
– For example, the artist emerges at one checkpoint in the midst of nature via the mobile device, Ms Muhonen notes.
The virtual realisation flies you up to experience the skies above Oravivuori Hill
The story behind the Struve Geodetic Arc and the Oravivuori Hill nature trail can be experienced virtually in the Central Finland museum, which is part of the new Aalto2 Museum Centre.
– The terrain of the Oravivuori Hill is challenging and public traffic connections are lacking, so this virtual realisation is excellent for seniors or other special groups wishing to experience Oravivuori Hill. On the other hand, the virtual realisation can also act as inspiration to try the place out “live”, Ms Muhonen points out.
The story and contents of the virtual implementation are practically the same as in the mobile application, and you can immerse yourself in them either by wearing a VR headset or from a giant touch screen. With a VR headset on your head, you feel as if you’re surrounded by the nature of Oravivuori Hill, and the adventure only increases when you view the hill up high in the skies.
– We’ve received positive feedback on the sensation you get when you use the VR headset – it’s as if you were flying up in the heavens. Alternatively, groups can inspect the checkpoints together by means of the touch screen, Ms Muhonen says.
The Struve Experience mobile application can be downloaded free of charge from the Apple and Google online stores. You can try out the virtual realisation itself at the Museum of Central Finland (Alvar Aallon katu 7, Jyväskylä).
Both the mobile app and its implementation have been produced as a result of the Struve Experience project. The goal of the project, realised between 1 September 2021 and 31 May 2023, was to reinvigorate nature tourism and the appreciation of the cultural heritage in the Oravivuori Hill area, through the aid of innovative virtual content. The project was funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture, and its partners are Visit Jyväskylä Region, the Museum of Central Finland, National Land Survey of Finland, and Digi & Game Center.
