Improvement and Evaluation of the Wendelstein Observatory XR Application

Aufgabenstellung / Topic:

Mountain observatories provide exceptional opportunities for scientific research and public education. However, their remote and physically demanding locations significantly limit accessibility. This project explores how web-based Extended Reality (XR) can overcome these barriers by creating immersive, accessible digital experiences of such environments. The aim is to design, implement, and evaluate an XR application that enables broader public engagement with mountain observatories, independent of physical presence.

You will:

• Perform a literature review on the topic
• Extend and improve the existing Wendelstein WebXR application using A-Frame
• Perform an large scale study with the application
• Summarize your findings in a thesis and presenting them to an audience
• (Optional) Co-writing a research paper

You need:

• High research interest in XR for public spaces
• Experience in web development (ideally A-Frame / WebXR / PHP)
• Strong English communication skills

References

• Stars Without Steps: Bridging Observatory Access Based on Physical Proximity Through Educational XR