Un-Lough Neagh-Ture

Download for free and immerse yourself in this unique environmental app.

Download for free and immerse yourself in this unique environmental app. Un-Lough Neagh-ture has been designed as a working prototype to trail mobile device technology as a public education, awareness and environmental monitoring tool. It provides users with an opportunity to explore the highly designated and ecologically important landscape known as the Northern Ireland Lough Neagh Wetlands.

What makes this app unique is its AR technology, which allows for a digitally enhanced view of the real world. Each user of the app will be able to view specific information that floats in front of them in a virtual world using their camera function, to identify, locate and report natural heritage species and habitat features; while at the same time exploring environmental sites and their key public facilities. The ‘Un-Lough Neagh-ture’ app is the first environmental AR app of its kind in the UK and Ireland, and possibly even Europe!!

The main function of the app is to use it as a tool to navigate around 16 environmentally important sites located around the Lough Neagh Wetlands; from Local Nature Reserves to National Nature Reserves. There are over 3,000 virtual points of interest spread over 400km² of the Lough Neagh Wetlands which have been obtained from historic records collated by the CEDAR Unit at the Ulster Museum. Users can also use the app to take images from their devices camera of wildlife or environmental concerns they have witnessed, these images are then tagged with a GPS co-ordinate and can be forwarded onto the LNP for observation using the ‘Report It’ tool.

A 30 minute trip on public transport from Belfast can take members of the public to an area that holds regional, national and international prestige due to its rich and unique biodiversity and is highly coveted in designations. Translink Journey Planner has also been included within its many functions. Lough Neagh is a haven for wildlife with many viewpoints around the shoreline, attracting bird watchers from all over the world due to the number and variety of birds which winter and summer on its shores. The journey planner allows members of the public to plan their own journey to Lough Neagh using the Un-Lough Neagh-ture app. It is hoped that the wider community and tourists within N. Ireland will download the app and begin visiting one of the UK’s most environmentally significant hidden gems.

All sites offer free access and a fantastic day out that can now be made even better using the Un-Lough Neagh-ture app!

Featured sites:

Ballyronan LNR, Gort Moss, Coalisland Canal, Slantry Wood LNR, Craigavon Lakes, Washingbay LNR, Toome Canal, Rea’s Wood NR, Rams Island, Crumlin Glen, Lough Beg NNR, Brookend NR, Randalstown Forest & Farr's Bay NR, Peatland Park NNR, Portmore Lough NR, & Oxford Islands NNR.

Featured species:

Blue-tailed damselfly, Common Spotted Orchid, Fox, Great Crested Grebe, Hedgehog, Mallard Duck, Marsh Fritillary, Mute Swan, Peacock Butterfly, Irish Hare, Red Admiral Butterfly, Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly, Speckled Wood Butterfly, Tree Sparrow & Whooper Swan.

Featured habitats:

Fen Carr Woodland, Grassland, Lowland plantation / meadow, Mire: lowland raised bog, Parkland and scattered trees, Purple Moor-Grass & Rush Pasture, Swamp: tall fen vegetation & Woodland and scrub.

This app has been funded by the 2014 Challenge Fund administrated by Northern Ireland Environment Link (NIEL) through funds generated via the N. Ireland plastic bag levy.