2019

Explore Forestry from Nature's Virtual Observation Towers

Inviting everyone interested to get acquainted with sustainable forest management, JSC “Latvia's State Forests” (LVM) has created seven virtual observation towers, which allows you to take a bird's-eye view of the Roja coast and learn about the management of the nearby forest.

“As you walk along the 15-kilometre-long Roja Nature Trail and come to the signposts of one of the seven observation towers, you scan the QR code to see the same spot in a  360° aero panorama 40 or even 120 metres above the trees. Listening to Māris Olte telling about the management work done in the nearby forest, everyone can enjoy the bird's eye view of the coastline,” says Andris Verners, LVM Ziemeļkurzeme Regional Forest Management Planning Manager.

There are seven such interactive checkpoints along the nature trail route, and there are three recreation areas equipped with benches, tables, amenities, swings, gymnastics facilities and a camp-fire. The nature trail's three routes are 2, 7 and 15 kilometres long, and they are marked with different colours that show directions along the trail.

 “The virtual watchtower project is a great opportunity to enjoy spectacular views over tree tops while gaining valuable information in an exciting and state-of-the-art manner. At the end of the active tourism season, we will evaluate the popularity of the virtual tour towers, user reviews to supplement our reference materials and evaluate opportunities for similar projects elsewhere in Latvia,” says Andris Verners.

LVM created the virtual viewing towers of Roja Nature Trail in collaboration with Ocean Multimedia virtual reality studio. This is one of the first augmented reality projects of its kind in Latvia.

 We wish you an exciting journey!