Innovative Themed Hiking Trail In Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis - Experience Wild Animals Virtually Using Augmented Reality

At the initiative of the Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis Tourist Board, the first augmented reality themed hiking trail in the Alps was created in Fiss. This pioneering project allows visitors to experience local wildlife up close – all without disturbing the animals.

The new Wildlife Trail in Fiss, initiated by the Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis Tourist Board, offers a playful way to experience wildlife that is usually not seen in the immediate vicinity of hiking trails. Augmented reality transforms hikers into explorers and allows them to virtually observe foxes, hares, ibex, eagles, deer, stags, and vultures in their natural habitat. The free "Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis" app blends nature and technology into a unique experience.

Realistic animation and impressive technology

Complex laser scanning and detailed 3D visualizations by the Innsbruck-based animation studio ARTFABRIK were necessary to achieve this lifelike result. Florina Bertel, project manager at ARTFABRIK, explains: "We placed particular emphasis on lovingly crafting the graphics with great attention to detail. The goal was to portray the animals so realistically that users feel as if they are up close." Other partners for the implementation of the virtual hiking experience were Erlebnisplan AG and General Solutions.

An experience for the whole family and the next generation

Technical know-how isn't necessary to visit the Wildlife Trail, which is open from June to October: Visitors place their smartphones in specially designed holders along the trail and experience how the digital wildlife enriches the real landscape. "We wanted to create something that doesn't exist yet, while also being considerate of our sensitive wildlife. With the Wildlife Trail, we're setting new standards in the combination of nature and technology. It's an accessible, innovative experience that opens up new perspectives for families and nature lovers, while also being extremely gentle on wildlife," says Josef Schirgi, Managing Director of the Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis Tourist Board. "With this project, we demonstrate that digitalization and nature are not opposites, but together open up fascinating new paths. The interactive learning stations bring this interplay to life and invite visitors to discover the surroundings in a completely new way.