Abstract
Office buildings consume a significant amount of energy that can be reduced through behavioral change. Gamification offers the means to influence the energy consumption related to the activities of the office users. This paper presents a new mobile gamification platform to foster the adoption of energy efficient behaviors in office buildings. The gamification platform is a mobile application with multiple types of dashboards, such as (1) an information dashboard to increase the awareness of the users about their energy consumption and footprint, (2) a gaming dashboard to engage users in real-time energy efficiency competitions, (3) a leaderboard to promote peer competition and comparison, and (4) a message dashboard to send tailor-made messages about energy efficiency opportunities. The engagement and gamification strategies embedded in these dashboards exploit economic, environmental, and social motivations to stimulate office users to adopt energy efficient behaviors without compromising their comfort and autonomy levels. The gamification platform was demonstrated in an office building environment. The results suggest electricity savings of 20%. © 2020 Elsevier B.V.

Abstract
This article introduces a Special Issue that gathers a collection of effective tools to promote the teaching and learning of writing in school-aged and university students, across varied contexts. The authors present the theoretical rationale and technical specificities of writing tools aimed at enhancing writing processes (e.g., spelling, revising) and/or at providing writers with automated feedback to improve the implementation of those processes. The tools are described in detail, along with empirical data on their effectiveness in improving one or more aspects of writing. All articles conclude by indicating future directions for further developing and evaluating the tools. This Special Issue represents an important contribution to the field of technology-based writing instruction, in a moment in which online teaching and learning tools have shifted from being an instructional asset to a necessity. We hope that in the future the validation of each tool can be expanded by reaching out to different populations and cultural contexts.

Abstract
Invasive species present a global problem that requires better awareness from the general population. Serious games can serve as a tool for bringing attention to issues of this kind. People who are not informed cannot distinguish the invasive species apart from the ones native to a particular ecosystem. In this wok we present a serious game designed with the primary objective of informing people about the main characteristics of invasive plant species in Portugal, as well as showing proper ways of removing and disposing it, without allowing to spread throughout the local ecosystem. A game prototype was developed for mobile devices, since these are the most widely used platform, allowing the game's message to have a wider reach. Currently, the game has a single level focusing on a plant species, the water hyacinth, that thrive in rivers and lakes. User tests were performed to evaluate the prototype and to gather feedback and suggestions for future improvements. Results revealed a positive reception and an interest in further developments.

Abstract
Park visitors and tourists, in general, seek new experiences, leading to a growing search for ways to create more memorable experiences. Some technological solutions, such as Augmented Reality, have proved that they can be useful to create more immersive and interactive experiences, both in entertainment and education. An application with Augmented Reality, using location-based services in a gamified way, can create pleasant and entertaining outdoor experiences without losing its pedagogical ability, making it a promising fit for a nature park. We propose a conceptual framework for creating these mobile applications for nature parks. From which, a mobile application was prototyped with location-based services and augmented reality interactive experiences, with the purpose of disseminating scientific knowledge about the fauna and flora of a nature park. Gaming elements are also introduced in the application's design to try and improve the engagement and involvement in the various activities of the application and its contents. User tests were performed during the development of the prototype and with the final version. The results allow us to conclude that this type of applications can improve the visitors' experience while at the same time, improve the dissemination of scientific knowledge.

Abstract
Accurate 3D reconstruction and realistic visualization of cultural heritage allow experts to fine-tune their theories on the lost links in the history of civilization. Although the 3D reconstruction is a significant challenge, precisely because of the state of degradation over the years, it constitutes a crucial task for experts to study and interact with long disappeared settlements and structures. Furthermore, the public, in general, will be provided with the conditions to explore them in virtual environments, thus fostering cultural, social, and scientific participation. Highly accurate reconstruction is, nevertheless, a very complex task, where all stages of image synthesis must be carefully executed from highly detailed 3D models to obtain a faithful depiction of the object of interest. Meanwhile, the textual descriptions and geospatial data collected by archaeologists on-site may be used to overcome the absence of visual information. Still, this data will not suffice, in which case procedural modeling turns out to be essential to avoid a great deal of time and labor-consuming modeling processes. Procedural modeling tools automatically generate three-dimensional models through computational processes that extend the base information according to a specific algorithm. In order to avoid reprograming the procedural modeling systems, we use mathematical methods that operate on parametrical symbolic descriptions that, flexibly, can model different types of objects. The most used mathematical methods are fractal geometry and formal grammars, particularly L-systems and shape grammars. In this chapter, we will approach the current advances in the area of procedural modeling and how these tools can be used to generate 3D models of cultural heritage. We also explore the relevant dimension of time, extending the modeling tasks to 4D. These applications do not focus on very specific landmarks, like cathedrals or palaces, which require manual effort or image-based techniques to capture the model with a high level of visual fidelity. Instead, we focus on modeling cities and their evolutions or the surroundings of these landmarks, that allow for an increased automation of the modeling process. © 2020, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Abstract
People with visual impairments generally experience many barriers when visiting museum exhibitions, given the ocular centricity of these institutions. The situation is worsened by a frequent lack of physical, intellectual and sensory access to exhibits or replicas, increased by the inaccessibility to use ICT-based local or general alternative or augmentative communication resources that can allow different interactions to sighted visitors. Few studies analyze applications of assistive technologies for multisensory exhibit design and relate them with visitors’ experiences. This article aims to contribute to the field of accessibility in museums by providing an overview of the experiences and expectations of blind and visually impaired patrons when visiting those places, based on a literature review. It also surveys assistive technologies used to enhance the experiences of visitors with vision loss while visiting museum exhibitions and spaces. From this, it is highlighted that adopting hybrid technological approaches, following universal design principles and collaborating with blind and visually impaired people, can contribute to integrate access across the continuum of visits. © Common Ground Research Networks, Roberto Vaz, Diamantino Freitas, António Coelho, Some Rights Reserved,