“Pocket City AR”: a story that makes architecture accessible
The “Pocket City AR” project is a series of initiatives by the Skeiron team aimed at preserving and promoting Ukraine’s cultural heritage using modern photogrammetry and augmented reality (AR) technologies. Here we explain how it started and what results we have achieved.
Lviv: The Beginning
It all started in 2019 in Lviv, when together with our Kharkiv partners Gwara Media we launched our first major project — “Pocket City – Lviv.” The primary goal was to digitize 24 landmarks of Lviv’s architecture. For convenience, they were divided into three thematic sets, which included the Opera House, the Ratusha (City Hall), the Potocki Palace, and other notable sites.
Technically it was a challenge: we lacked equipment, the drone batteries ran out quickly, and we had to recharge them at friends’ places across Lviv. The result, however, was a popular AR exhibition at the Sheptytsky Center (UCU) that attracted young people and laid the foundation for scaling the project across Ukraine.
Project presentation at the Sheptytsky Center, Lviv
Chortkiv: the story of a multicultural town
The second town we “put in our pocket” was Chortkiv. This project was carried out in cooperation with the “Initiative” Center and with support from the Re_HERIT grant and the local city council. We selected 8 landmarks that reflect Chortkiv’s cultural diversity — from an old fortress to the city hall and the synagogue.
We created interactive AR postcards that allowed tourists and local residents to literally “bring history to life” through their smartphone screens.
“Pocket Country”: a journey from Lviv to Crimea
In 2020, with the support of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation, we launched our largest project — “Pocket Country” It was more than an expedition; it was a true adventure that spanned the whole of Ukraine. Over several months the Skeiron team digitized 40 architectural landmarks, traveling through all 24 oblasts of Ukraine, including the Autonomous Republic of Crimea (ARC) and Donbas. We aimed not merely to create a collection of 3D models, but to build an interactive map that would reveal Ukraine in a new way.
One of the highlights of the project was an open-air interactive AR exhibition on Market Square in Lviv. Despite unpredictable weather and an unexpected downpour, our team held the stands until the end while passers-by eagerly explored Ukraine’s landmarks in augmented reality on their smartphones.
To bring cultural heritage closer to tourists and history enthusiasts, we created the free mobile app Pocket City AR. Thanks to the app, users anywhere in the world could take a virtual “walk” through iconic Ukrainian sites — from the Swallow’s Nest in Crimea to the legendary Donetsk Airport. The app featured AR models of the monuments with audio guides in Ukrainian and English, enabling a fully immersive experience of each place.
Photo from the exhibition at the IT College of Lviv Polytechnic
This project became important not only for our team but for Ukraine as a whole, as we were able to draw attention to the importance of preserving cultural heritage in digital form and make it accessible to everyone.
Pocket Lviv Region: history and technology in one set
The next step was the “Pocket Lviv Region” project, implemented together with the Department of Architecture of the Lviv Regional State Administration and the Institute of Cultural Strategy. We used laser scanning and photogrammetry to create 3D models of 16 significant sites in Lviv Oblast — from the well-known Brody Castle to the picturesque wooden church in Matkiv.
These monuments became accessible through unique AR postcards that not only allow users to see the structures in augmented reality but also support future planning for the revitalization of the sites.
Ivano-Frankivsk: the flight permit we waited two months for
The digitization of Ivano-Frankivsk became our ninth Pocket City release. Work in this city was one of the most challenging due to bureaucratic hurdles: obtaining permission to fly drones in the city centre took almost two months. But thanks to perseverance, the team successfully completed the scanning.
As a result, we created 8 AR postcards featuring the city’s most prominent landmarks, including the famous Stanislav Fortress, the Cathedral of the Intercession, and the Ratusha (City Hall).
Postcards from Ivano-Frankivsk and a mobile app for viewing 3D models
Sataniv: a history that sounds like music
In Sataniv the project took a particularly creative approach. In addition to creating precise 3D models of the Town Gate, Sataniv Castle and the Holy Trinity Monastery, the team decided to enhance the emotional perception of the history with musical promo clips. Each building was paired with a distinct musical instrument: brass for the gate, strings for the castle, and the bandura for the monastery.
Digitization process of Sataniv Castle
For this purpose, 1,000 sets of AR postcards were produced — they not only promoted the city’s architecture but also became an innovative souvenir for tourists and local residents.
The future is digital heritage
The “Pocket City AR” projects are more than digitization. They are a comprehensive effort to promote, preserve and renew architectural landmarks, opening up new opportunities for the development of local tourism and culture in the modern world.
We continue this mission and remain open to new ideas and partnerships. Ukrainian heritage deserves to be known, cared for, and shared around the world.