Impact of Mobile Augmented Reality System on Cognitive Behavior and Performance during Rebar Inspection Tasks

Abstract

Mobile augmented reality (MAR) enhances the real world through the superimposition of computer-generated information while not interfering with their users' mobility, having great potential to support various construction tasks. However, such information may lead to cognitive overload and thus could lead to adverse effects on the performance of tasks. Also, the narrowing of a user's field of view that comes with MAR use could limit his/her ability to notice events in their surroundings. Therefore, it is important to understand how MAR use affects cognitive behavior, as well as task and safety performance for better design and applications of MAR in construction. As a preliminary investigation, this study conducted laboratory simulations of rebar-inspection tasks, and compared the cognitive load (CL), task performance (TP) and situational awareness (SA) of users of two types of MAR system -i.e., head-mounted and handheld -against those of inspectors using traditional paper-based methods. In particular, participants' CL was measured with the NASA-TLX; their TP, by completion time and the number of rebars correctly detected; and their SA, with Taylor's SART. Based on the results, This material may be downloaded for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Impact of Virtual Reality-Based Design Review System on User’s Performance and Cognitive Behavior for Building Design Review Tasks

“…This score is based on the weighted average of ratings on six subscales: mental demand, physical demand, temporal demand, performance, effort, and frustration. NASA TLX has measured CL in physical, virtual, simulations, and lab tests [15,19,54,55].…”

“…Augmented reality frequently supports users' cognitive abilities by providing superimposed information. However, such knowledge can cause cognitive overload, which might negatively impact the participants' performance [19]. Zhong studied that VR training may help individuals with their cognitive and executive function [20].…”

Identifying user requirements in order to digitally enable the off-site fabrication of steel reinforcement

“…This is of particular concern in a construction site where spatial and situational awareness is critical for site safety (S5). In an experiment, Abbas et al (2020) found that rebar-drawing information provided by superimposed computer imagery helped to reduce their users' cognitive load in a 'clean' environment, compared to a paper-based (control) group. The paper-based control group took longer but were able to identify more errors than those using MAR technology due to the perception issues associated with MAR systems.…”

“…Head-mounted MAR was found to decrease the users understanding of the surrounding environment and increase the inspection task completion times, not only compared to the control group but also compared to a tablet-based MAR test group. Overall, the two main existing modalities of MAR-based inspection were found to negatively affect cognitive load, task performance and situational awareness (Abbas et al 2020). The phenomenon of simulation sickness, a subset of motion sickness, must also be considered when proposing a MAR system for head-mounted MAR devices.…”

Potentials of Augmented Reality in a BIM based building submission process

“…Kwon et al (2014) adds an AR app to this defect management framework. Mobile AR systems allow easier inspections of concrete and masonry embedment (Olson et al, 2019) and reinforcement (Abbas et al, 2020). AR inspection tools with 3D annotations have proved to be even more effective (Marino, 2021).…”