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Interactive software

As part of a research and development (R&D) project entitled "Sustainable Sailing Tour: Developing Sustainable Tourist and Educational Sailing Products Using Digital Technologies" (2011-2013), co-funded by the General Secretariat for Research and Technology, the EEL has designed original educational material for lifelong environmental learning that can be utilised in the context of sailing tourism. This material was the content of an interactive geoinformatics application developed by Talent Information Systems S.A., based on Cruiser and Sail Applications (by Marine & Sailing Enterprises S.A.).

The application allows two-dimensional (2D) and 3D (3D) cartographic navigation to be performed throughout Greece. It depicts maps consisting of a set of layers, either vector or raster, that can be positioned on top of each other. It includes map administration tools (for resizing and navigating, for measuring distance, for obtaining concise information at each point of the map), for exploring and viewing map data (organized in thematic categories, giving the ability to use filters that allow users to easily locate and select which map elements they are interested in to display), for adding content from the users (to insert, move or change points, add object groups, route lines), for generation of "intelligent" collections etc.

The EEL has collaborated with Talent Information Systems S.A. and Marine & Sailing Enterprises S.A. in the formulation of 5 integrated sailing tours in islands and seaside areas of Greece for adult audiences. A flexible learning framework has been designed on each of, which seeks to familiarize sailing tourists with different dimensions of the local environment of the areas they visit, to understand the necessity and prospects for sustainable tourism development in these areas and to make them aware of responsibility for shaping a more sustainable "tourist footprint".

The educational material produced to support the implementation of each of these 5 sailing routes consists of two complementary parts:

  • informational texts, for each of the stations on the route and for other points in the wider area, as well as on topics of particular interest highlighted by the cross-section analysis of each route,
  • detailed suggestions for educational and entertaining activities, which are proposed as ideas for participants to enjoy during their journey, either at sea or at selected points-stations of each route.

The purpose of this material is to stimulate participants to create links and correlations between environmental, economic, political, social and cultural aspects of the environment, starting with an understanding of the key concepts involved in such relationships (such as what “sustainability” generally means as well as in the context of tourism, what is meant by "industrial" and "architectural heritage" etc.) and in the formulation of personal interpretations of the area of visit.