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Turning London's skyline into an interactive vista with breakthrough AR technology

Turning London's skyline into an interactive vista with breakthrough AR technology

Find out more

Find out more

The challenge

At 58 floors above London, Horizon 22 is Europe's highest free public viewing platform. But with hundreds of iconic landmarks stretching across the skyline, visitors had a common question: "What exactly am I looking at?"

The attraction needed a digital experience that could help visitors identify famous and hidden landmarks instantly, from any angle.

It had to work in any weather condition – day or night, clear skies or cloudy – and provide a premium, story-driven product that generated revenue.

The challenge of connecting people with this panorama was one that traditional solutions like static signage or downloadable PDF maps couldn't solve.

That's where Smartify's web-based 'skyline scanner' came in.

An augmented reality experience that transforms smartphones into intelligent 'skyline scanners'

AR skyline scanner

Our bespoke AR technology allows visitors to simply point their phone at any part of the skyline to instantly identify landmarks.

Instant landmark recognition across a 300° view of the city

We used device geolocation and compass technology to pick out points of interest in real-time: from Cutty Sark, the Tower of London and Tower Bridge in the east, to the Shard, St Paul's Cathedral and Wembley Stadium further west.

Embedded audio content for a full immersive experience

We paired the visual technology with an expert-curated audio guide featuring voices including the director of Tate, the architect of the London Eye and the Canon Chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral. Each stop explores a different facet of London: from the financial heart of the City to the creative pulse of its art galleries.

Seamless functionality

Because it uses WebXR, the experience works flawlessly via web browsers on both iOS and Android – no downloads or device setup required. It also works when it's cloudy, foggy or at night!

Everything you needto get started, for free

An augmented reality experience that transforms smartphones into intelligent 'skyline scanners'

A home for your venue

Showcase your institution with a dedicated profile on the world’s leading arts and culture app. Upload your logo and cover image, and start reaching millions of cultural enthusiasts worldwide.

AR skyline scanner

Our bespoke AR technology allows visitors to simply point their phone at any part of the skyline to instantly identify landmarks.

Publish your first guided tour

Start engaging visitors onsite and online. When you're ready to grow, add more tours and turn them into paid content to generate revenue.

Instant landmark recognition across a 300° view of the city

We used device geolocation and compass technology to pick out points of interest in real-time: from Cutty Sark, the Tower of London and Tower Bridge in the east, to the Shard, St Paul's Cathedral and Wembley Stadium further west.

Support for multiple languages

Welcome every visitor by uploading your content in different languages, including sign language or audio described.

Embedded audio content for a full immersive experience

We paired the visual technology with an expert-curated audio guide featuring voices including the director of Tate, the architect of the London Eye and the Canon Chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral. Each stop explores a different facet of London: from the financial heart of the City to the creative pulse of its art galleries.

Seamless functionality

Because it uses WebXR, the experience works flawlessly via web browsers on both iOS and Android – no downloads or device setup required. It also works when it's cloudy, foggy or at night!

Map integration

Help people find their way around your venue and highlight key stops.

Seamless functionality

Because it uses WebXR, the experience works flawlessly via web browsers on both iOS and Android – no downloads or device setup required. It also works when it's cloudy, foggy or at night!

Embedded audio content for a full immersive experience

We paired the visual technology with an expert-curated audio guide featuring voices including the director of Tate, the architect of the London Eye and the Canon Chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral. Each stop explores a different facet of London: from the financial heart of the City to the creative pulse of its art galleries.

Technical innovation

Real-time geospatial accuracy

We built a proprietary system that combines smartphone compass data with precise GPS positioning to maintain accuracy, accounting for device orientation, magnetic interference and varying elevations.

Weather-agnostic functionality

Unlike traditional AR experiences that rely on visual recognition, our system uses geospatial positioning to work perfectly even in complete fog, at night, or during London's notoriously rainy weather!

Zero-friction adoption

By leveraging Smartify's existing infrastructure, we eliminated download barriers while maintaining cross-platform compatibility.

Scalable content architecture

The system supports hundreds of landmarks with rich multimedia content, all delivered seamlessly with fast data streaming.

"Smartify have been fantastic, both in terms of the team and the knowledge that they brought to the project. XR is an area they know really well."

Sophie Kenyon

Head of Culture, Bishopsgate 22

Frequently asked questions

Why is WebXR such an exciting innovation for the cultural sector?

How does WebXR work?

How is it able to operate in fog and rain?!

What sort of things can skyline scanner pick out?