Description

Download for free and immerse yourself in thisunique environmental app. Un-Lough Neagh-ture has been designed asa working prototype to trail mobile device technology as a publiceducation, awareness and environmental monitoring tool. It providesusers with an opportunity to explore the highly designated andecologically important landscape known as the Northern IrelandLough Neagh Wetlands.

What makes this app unique is its AR technology, which allowsfor a digitally enhanced view of the real world. Each user of theapp will be able to view specific information that floats in frontof them in a virtual world using their camera function, toidentify, locate and report natural heritage species and habitatfeatures; while at the same time exploring environmental sites andtheir key public facilities. The ‘Un-Lough Neagh-ture’ app is thefirst environmental AR app of its kind in the UK and Ireland, andpossibly even Europe!!

The main function of the app is to use it as a tool to navigatearound 16 environmentally important sites located around the LoughNeagh Wetlands; from Local Nature Reserves to National NatureReserves. There are over 3,000 virtual points of interest spreadover 400km² of the Lough Neagh Wetlands which have been obtainedfrom historic records collated by the CEDAR Unit at the UlsterMuseum. Users can also use the app to take images from theirdevices camera of wildlife or environmental concerns they havewitnessed, these images are then tagged with a GPS co-ordinate andcan be forwarded onto the LNP for observation using the ‘Report It’tool.

A 30 minute trip on public transport from Belfast can takemembers of the public to an area that holds regional, national andinternational prestige due to its rich and unique biodiversity andis highly coveted in designations. Translink Journey Planner hasalso been included within its many functions. Lough Neagh is ahaven for wildlife with many viewpoints around the shoreline,attracting bird watchers from all over the world due to the numberand variety of birds which winter and summer on its shores. Thejourney planner allows members of the public to plan their ownjourney to Lough Neagh using the Un-Lough Neagh-ture app. It ishoped that the wider community and tourists within N. Ireland willdownload the app and begin visiting one of the UK’s mostenvironmentally significant hidden gems.

All sites offer free access and a fantastic day out that can nowbe made even better using the Un-Lough Neagh-ture app!

Featured sites:
Ballyronan LNR, Gort Moss, Coalisland Canal, Slantry Wood LNR,Craigavon Lakes, Washingbay LNR, Toome Canal, Rea’s Wood NR, RamsIsland, Crumlin Glen, Lough Beg NNR, Brookend NR, RandalstownForest & Farr's Bay NR, Peatland Park NNR, Portmore Lough NR,& Oxford Islands NNR.

Featured species:
Blue-tailed damselfly, Common Spotted Orchid, Fox, Great CrestedGrebe, Hedgehog, Mallard Duck, Marsh Fritillary, Mute Swan, PeacockButterfly, Irish Hare, Red Admiral Butterfly, Small TortoiseshellButterfly, Speckled Wood Butterfly, Tree Sparrow & WhooperSwan.

Featured habitats:
Fen Carr Woodland, Grassland, Lowland plantation / meadow, Mire:lowland raised bog, Parkland and scattered trees, Purple Moor-Grass& Rush Pasture, Swamp: tall fen vegetation & Woodland andscrub.

This app has been funded by the 2014 Challenge Fundadministrated by Northern Ireland Environment Link (NIEL) throughfunds generated via the N. Ireland plastic bag levy.