Finland’s forests and interesting nature sites offer opportunities to increase wellness tourism. Attracting travelers and visitors requires increasingly diverse marketing and communication materials. One way to achieve this is by producing digital and virtual material about the destinations. What could this look like in practice? And how do satellites fit into the picture?
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A mobile game got people moving
Many are familiar with the phenomenon created by the Pokémon GO game, where a mobile game got children, teenagers, and adults alike to go outside and be active. Technically, the game utilized augmented reality (AR), meaning that virtual elements were added to the surrounding environment – in this case, characters to be caught. Could a similar augmented reality element showcase interesting parts of a local nature destination? Could AR spark interest in a nature site from someone who wouldn’t otherwise be attracted to it through traditional means? These are some of the questions being explored and tested as new methods are developed to attract tourists.
Where there’s a map, there’s a satellite
Satellites play a key role in the Pokémon GO game because the game relies on a terrain map. All the maps we use in our daily lives are based on satellite data. At the University of Vaasa, professionals are currently developing a map application as part of the Havu project, which will compile various interesting nature elements of a specific area onto a single map platform.
Nowadays, there is a wide variety of satellite data available, but the application will select the datasets and digital or virtual technologies that best support wellness or other types of tourism in nature sites. The goal is to utilize open data on terrain observations, as well as data collected by the EU and ESA’s Copernicus program’s Sentinel satellites. The project focuses on private forest owners’ lands, making it crucial to engage in discussions and obtain permission from landowners for creating the maps.
Should I check my phone or go to the forest?
Many of us go for walks in the woods or skiing and might wonder if a stretch of the trail or ski track is covered by rain or meltwater, for example. As part of the project, tests have been conducted to see if satellite images can be used to monitor the conditions of paths and trails. Unfortunately, publicly available and free satellite data is not yet precise enough for such maintenance information. So, for now, we’ll still have to visit the forest or ask our neighbor about the condition of the nearby trail or path!
Authors: Heli Siirilä and Jyri Nieminen
The University of Vaasa and the Finnish Forest Centre are partners in the “Havu – Well-being and Experiences from Private Forests through New Technologies” project, led by Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences. The project runs from January 2024 to June 2026. It is co-funded by the European Union, with funding provided by the Regional Council of South Ostrobothnia as part of JTF funding. Additional funding comes from the South Ostrobothnia Higher Education Foundation.