Augmented Reality

Abstract

Augmented reality (AR) is a form of interface technology and information experience where real‐world environments are enhanced (augmented) with virtual objects of information. Trends in the development of enabling technologies have led to the emergence of tangible and mobile augmented reality interfaces that are robust enough to adapt to geographic applications. This entry introduces AR, mixed reality, tangible AR, mobile AR, augmented virtuality, and flexible mixed reality. Technological and conceptual trends are summarized. The use and application of these methods for spatial information and geographic work are described.

The ‘almost white’ children, 1904–1910

“…The Tumut valley 'appealed so much' that he purchased a butcher's shop and settled in Tumut. 9 In 1892, he became a local government council member, held that position for nine years, and was mayor for the years 1897 and 1898. 10 In July 1898, Donaldson was elected to the Legislative Assembly as member for Tumut and held the seat (renamed Wynyard) until 1913.…”

Extended Reality in Spatial Sciences: A Review of Research Challenges and Future Directions

“…While the merits of classical spatial analyses are well-established, XR contains integrated spatial computing that provides new explicit and implicit ways to connect data-driven representations directly to real-world phenomena. Thus, XR technologies provide unique experiences with significant potential to transform how and where we produce and consume geospatial data, providing not only new methods (to view, interact with, and understand that data), but also fundamentally new spaces of engagement and representation [1]. Hugues et al (2011) [38] proposed a classification scheme that categorized AR applications (in which MR is implicitly included) for the display of GIS-derived data as either augmented maps or augmented territories; the former provides augmented views of geographic data as self-contained digital 3D models, and the latter provides augmented views of the natural environment superimposed with digital content.…”

“…The recent turn has led to a wider uptake in society such as in civil defense, aviation, emergency preparedness and evacuation planning, and nearly all educational disciplines as well as in the private sector. In Geographic Information Science (GIScience) and related domains, XR concepts and technologies present unique opportunities to create spatial experiences in the ways humans interact with their environments and acquire spatial knowledge [1][2][3], a shift that GIScience scholars had already envisioned [4,5] 20 years ago. With recent developments in software, spatial computing [6,7] has emerged as a powerful paradigm enabling citizens with smartphones to map their environment in real time, in 3D, and in high fidelity.…”

“…Pre-exposure to 3D Immersion and Geovisualization (3DIG), 425 students self-reported knowledge of AR, VR, and MR technologies in percent (1). No prior knowledge, (5) High understanding.…”

Communicating Multilevel Evacuation Context Using Situated Augmented Reality

“…The following prototypes provide examples of image-based AR (also known as tangible AR or marker-based AR), which uses computer vision software to identify pre-defined images, subsequently rendering virtual objects on the display system according to the position and orientation of those images in real space. One of the most common forms of AR image is a coded black-and-white design similar to a QR code (Cheng and Tsai, 2013); however, the presented prototypes use natural feature tracking and are designed to recognize visual patterns in the real-world based on photographs of those features (Hedley, 2017). This workflow would allow emergency managers to supplement existing infrastructure without having to modify it.…”