Seeing Paris on an Apple Vision Pro
We often tell our patrons that what distinguishes the David Rumsey Map Center from the many other wonderful map libraries across the world is our immersive technology. From our wall-sized multi-touch screen to the David Rumsey Map Collection's experimental Text on Maps search feature, the technological resources available at the Center allow for unique and novel methods of interacting with our collections. Continuing in this same vein, we had the chance to collaborate with recent Stanford alumnus Umar Patel (BS ‘23, MS ‘24) this past summer through the development of Seeing Paris, an app for the Apple Vision Pro. Leveraging Apple’s advancements in augmented reality, Seeing Paris allows users to explore Paris through a historical map of the city published in 1868.
Soon after the headset’s release in February 2024, the Center acquired an Apple Vision Pro to experiment with how we might use the device in our programming centered around teaching and learning. At first we offered demos of the device and Globes, an app developed through a collaboration between the David Rumsey Map Center and Monash University’s Embodied Visualization Group. After attending one of these guided demos, a master’s student and friend of Umar’s told him about their experience at the Center and, given his pursuit of a Computer Science Coterminal degree at the time, Umar was quick to reach out and express his interest in a potential collaboration.
As it turned out, Umar was uniquely suited to developing an augmented reality application for the Center: during his undergraduate career at Stanford, Umar completed a dual Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Archaeology, and meanwhile discovered a passion for applying his knowledge of immersive technologies to a diversity of fields, particularly the realms of history and art. His previous work on projects such as an augmented reality-based immersive French language learning experience gave him the skills necessary to develop apps for visionOS, Apple’s Vision Pro system software. We at the Center envisioned the project as an opportunity to bring students into our efforts to curate and expose our collections, while also giving them an opportunity to gain skills and experience working with our team. We were fortunate to have been able to fund Umar's summer position through gifts to the Center.
Umar spent three months this past summer with us in the Center developing Seeing Paris, a virtual reality experience that allows users to explore both contemporary and historical Paris simultaneously. The app is built around a composite map of Paris from the David Rumsey Map Collection. This map, made by George Eugene Haussmann and published in 1868, depicts the historic landscape of Paris while emphasizing its 20 arrondissements— local governmental structures that act as administrative districts within the city.
The Seeing Paris app allows for exploration of this historical map alongside modern satellite imagery of the area, conveying the changes Paris has undergone between the late nineteenth century and today. Users can observe how both the historical and modern maps depict Cathédrale Notre-Dame (constructed prior to the publication of Haussmann’s map) or how many roads were present hundreds of years ago but have since been demolished and no longer exist today. Additionally, immersive views featuring nineteenth century film photographs of Paris taken by Charles Marville provide a glimpse into the past, seen from the perspective of an individual contemporary to the map’s publication.
This app, which will become available to download at a future date, is a unique way of appreciating some of our library’s collections while enjoying the cutting-edge experience of augmented reality. Furthermore, it lays the groundwork for us to continually add maps and content from other important collections within the Library, such as the Roxane Debuisson Collection of Paris History.
Altogether, our experience working with Umar on this project was very rewarding and fun. We look forward to the next chance we get to bring our student experts into our work.