Civil War Battlefield Experience: Historical Event Simulation using Augmented Reality Technology

In recent years, with the development of modern technology, Virtual Reality (VR) has been proven as an effective means for entertaining and encouraging learning processes. Users immerse themselves in a 3D environment to experience situations that are very difficult or impossible to encounter in real life, such as volcanoes, ancient buildings, or events on a battlefield. Augmented Reality (AR), on the other hand, takes a different approach by allowing users to remain in their physical world while virtual objects are overlaid on physical ones. In education and tourism, VR and AR are becoming platforms for student learning and tourist attractions. Although several studies have been conducted to promote cultural preservation, they are mostly focused on VR for historical building visualization. The use of AR for simulating an event is relatively uncommon, especially for a battlefield simulation. This paper presents a work-in-progress, specifically a web-based AR application that enables both students and tourists to witness a series of battlefield events occurring at the Battle of Palmito Ranch, located near Brownsville, Texas. With markers embedded directly into the printed map, users can experience the last battle of the Civil War in the US.