MoGeo, a Mobile Application to Promote Geotourism in Molise Region (Southern Italy)

Abstract

Geotourism represents a powerful and new form of sustainable tourism that has rapidly expanded worldwide over the last decades. To promote it, the use of digital and geomatic tools is becoming of increasing importance. Especially mobile information represents one of the most efficient and smart ways to bring geotourism closer to a wide audience. This applies in particular to rural and inner areas, where the exploitation of geoheritage can represent a crucial resource for eco-friendly and sustainable tourism development. With the aim to promote geotourism on a regional scale, we have implemented a mobile devise application for Molise region, tested in the Alto Molise area. This application, called MoGeo App, aims at providing diversified geotourism information that combines geologic attractions (geosites and geologic itineraries) with other possible tourist attractions (other sites of natural and cultural interest), to respond to differentiated interests and needs of a wide audience. Besides geotourism purposes, the structure of MoGeo App can be used also for other purposes such as educational targets, by adapting contents and language. It appears to be a flexible, easily updatable digital tool, adaptable to various target groups, as well as other regional contexts, both inside and outside of Italy.

Geoheritage and Geotourism Resources

“…We finally want to highlight some papers [22][23][24] that introduce new, original and interesting approaches in the valorization of geoheritage at different levels. These papers deal with the utility of new visualization techniques as well as of devoted mobile applications in the promotion and popularization of geosites.…”

“…Filocamo et al [24] have implemented a mobile devise application for the Molise region, in central Italy, with the aim of helping the promotion of sustainable and eco-friendly tourism development in rural and inner areas of the Apennine. This application, called MoGeo App, aims at providing diversified Geotourism information that combines geologic attractions (geosites and geologic itineraries) with other possible tourist attractions (other sites of natural and cultural interest), to reach an audience as wide as possible and to respond to different interests and needs.…”

“…Proposal of a geo-itinerary and 3D models (Valente et al[14]); -Proposal of fieldtrips and virtual tours (Perotti et al[15]); -Proposal of a geoitinerary with educational purposes (Santangelo et al[16]); -Piacentini et al[17]; -Sansò,[18]; -Selmi et al[19]; -Kubalíková,[20]; -Carrión-Mero et al[21] Geological -Promotion of Geoheritage and Geotourism -Areas not included in a Geopark -Proposal of a Geo-archaeological itinerary (Piacentini et al,[17]); -Recognition, selection and Promotion of a single Geomorphosite (Sansò,[18]); -Recognition, selection and quantitative assessment of geosites (Selmi et al,[19]); -Assessment of tourist's potential of geomorphosites and extended SWOT analysis(Kubalíková,[20]); -Qualitative and quantitative assessment of a potential geosite (Carrión-Mero et al[21]) -Melelli,[22]; -Pasquarè-Mariotto et al[23]; -Filocamo et al[24] Geological -Promotion of Geoheritage and Geotourism by exhibition, remote sensing analysis and apps -Areas not included in a Geopark -Proposal of a multimedia exhibition(Melelli,[22]); -Field photos, UAV images and 3D models (Pasquarè-Mariotto et al[23]); -Creation of an app for electronic devices (Filocamo et al[24])-Rozenkiewicz et al[25]; -Widawski et al[26]; -Zgłobicki et al[27]; Geographical -Investigate Geotourism and Geoheritage from the tourists' perspective -Online information availability on georesources (Rozenkiewicz et al[25]); -Opinion of weekend tourists (Widawski et al[26]) -Geosite assessments and questionnaire to tourists (Zgłobicki et al[27]);…”

Sharing Soil and Building Geophysical Data for Seismic Characterization of Cities Using CLARA WebGIS: A Case Study of Matera (Southern Italy)

“…WebGIS is one of the most widely used technologies for the dissemination of open data, for multiple purposes and in varied contexts, such as tourism, archeology, agriculture, the environment, etc. [11][12][13][14][15]. Aiming at improving global cooperation and communication with other countries, Shi et al (2009) [11] designed a WebGIS system to relate the genetic classification of the soils of China to the soil taxonomy.…”

CLARA WebGIS: Sharing Soil and Building Geophysical Data for Seismic Characterization of the City of Matera (Southern Italy)

“…WebGIS is one of the most widely used technologies for the dissemination of open data, for multiple purposes and in varied contexts, such as tourism, archeology, agriculture, environment, etc. [11][12][13][14][15]. Aiming at improving global cooperation and communication with other countries, Shi et al (2009) [11] designed a WebGIS system to relate the genetic classification of the soils of China with the soil taxonomy.…”