The EurEauWeb project aimed at developing products to increase the commercial viability of Europe’s waterways and leisure related businesses, preserve the heritage and environment of Europe’s waterways, improve accessibility for the disabled, elderly and socially disadvantaged, and attract future generations of users. The products were intended for use on and beside the waterways but could be used anywhere.

THE PROJECT

The product set consisted of a Portable Audio-Visual device providing location sensitive multimedia information (including digital maps) on all aspects of waterways use and allow feedback from the users; a European Waterways Portal Web Site which will bring together all aspects of Europe’s waterways for world-wide user access.

In a number of European countries, the waterways networks used for tourism and recreation are rather extensive and inland waterways constitute one of the major natural and cultural resources: they comprise rivers and lakes as well as canals – in particular those that were built in 18th and 19th centuries – and attract millions of visitors every year. Furthermore, thousands of (generally small) enterprises are totally dependent on income from waterways related to tourism and leisure use.

There are a number of major problems facing European waterways, and in particular the associated leisure industry and all individuals, businesses and governments with an interest in it.

• Economic: a danger that leisure use of European waterways may not survive as a commercial viability
• Environmental: a danger that lack of use will lead to degradation of the environment
• Social:indications that fewer young people participate in waterways leisure activities than in previous generations limited access to the waterways for the disabled and growing elderly population of Europe
• Cultural: steady erosion of the rich traditions and heritage of Europe’s waterways.

EurEauWeb addressed these problems and concerns through the provision of a location-sensitive information device – the EurEauMap – usable by the wide range of waterways environment users. The EurEauMap will be a hand-held device that at one end of the possible range is simply a standard 2nd or 3rd generation mobile, and at the other, purpose built devices (tailored around a commercially available kernel) that can be mounted on a boat, cycle, wheelchair, etc.,

The main function was to provide users with “location aware” tourist information such as:

• points/places of interest indicated and described
• refreshment/entertainment establishments in the vicinity and accessible by different classes of user (e.g. mobility impaired, elderly, young, blind, etc.)
• retail outlets, marinas, chandlers, boat builders, hire companies, fuel, water and refuse points, etc.
• angling/rambling/jogging/wildlife information
• disabled access standards (in conjunction with UK BT ‘Countryside For All’ initiative) and accessibility information.
• canal societies, waterways magazines, rambling associations, travel agents, and cruising hotels/restaurants.

Digitised maps of the entire European waterways network with ‘hot spot’ linked to the information above.

The EurEauMap was triggered by either GPS or bankside devices coupled with GIS enabled systems to provide user locality information.

The design of the EurEauMap included lessons learnt from developments in the PDA market as well as developing the innovative concept of the device itself, to be tailored to meet the specific requirements generated by the waterways environment and its use.

CONSORTIUM

A consolidated research group with a renowned academic and industrial profile.

• Human Factors Research Group – University College Cork (GB)
• Fraunhofer – Institut für Integrierte Publikations und Informationssysteme (DE)
• Lancell Systems SL (SE)
• CRS4 – Centro di Ricerca, Sviluppo e Studi Superiori in Sardegna (IT)
• Radicalmedia Desenvolvimento, Produçao e Comercializaçao de Multimedia SA. (PT)
• Euromapping (FR)
• British Waterways (GB)
• Marketing Campaigns (GB)
• Fieldfare Trust (BG)
• Viking Afloat (GB)
• France Afloat Burgundy Cruisers S.A. (FR)
• Shannon Castle Line (GB)
• Deutscher MotorYachtVerband e.V. (DE)