Providing Information on the Spot: Using Augmented Reality for Situational Awareness in the Security Domain

Abstract

Abstract. For operational units in the security domain that work together in teams, it is important to quickly and adequately exchange context-related information to ensure well-working collaboration. Currently, most information exchange is based on oral communication. This paper reports on different scenarios from the security domain in which augmented reality (AR) techniques are used to support such information exchange. The scenarios have been designed with a User Centred Design approach, in order to make the scenarios as realistic as possible. To support these scenarios, an AR system has been developed and evaluated in two rounds. In the first round, the usability and feasibility of the AR support has been evaluated with experts from different operational units in the security domain. The second evaluation round then focussed on the effect of AR on collaboration and situational awareness within the expert teams. With regard to the usability and feasibility of AR, the evaluation shows that the scenarios are well defined and the AR system can successfully support information exchange in teams operating in the security domain. The second evaluation round showed that AR can especially improve the situational awareness of remote colleagues not physically present at a scene.

Viability of Augmented Content for Field Policing

“…Similarly, Poelman et al [8] used AR to have investigators obtain support remotely by experts, which enabled spatial collaboration. There has been evidence to suggest that AR does serve as a possibly valuable technology in the security domain for information exchange [2] and has further been shown to improve situational awareness of remote experts [5]. With the availability of quick and adequate information being a necessity in the security domain [4], the potential of AR as an additional information layer needs to be investigated.…”

Affective Computing and Augmented Reality for Car Driving Simulators

“…By scaling down real-life, more complex problems, the study compares presence, workload and situational awareness in real world and AR collaboration scenarios. Additionally, Datcu et al [6][7] developed a platform for tele-collaboration by AR for supporting teams in the security domain. Schnier et al [26] focus on studying the issues around establishing joint attention toward the same object or referent, in a physically co-located collaboration AR environment.…”

“…Augmented reality systems have been used to allow experts to spatially collaborate with others at any other place in the world without traveling and thereby creating the experience of being virtually co-located, e.g. in the field of a crime scene investigation [6], [28].…”

“…Due to its capability to improve perception of reality, to support collaboration, a visual display of virtual objects, and to enable transitions between real and virtual environments, augmented reality (AR) technology can be used to create novel interfaces for face-to-face and remote collaboration for training [5] [6].…”

Comparing the Effect of Audio and Visual Notifications on Workspace Awareness Using Head-Mounted Displays for Remote Collaboration in Augmented Reality

“…Virtual colocation entails that people are virtually present at any place of the world and interact with others that are physically present in another location by using AR techniques. Example of such virtual colocation can, e.g., be found in the field of crime scene investigation [39], inflight maintenance [13] or information exchange in the security domain work [34]. Such new approaches create new collaborative experiences and allow distributed users to collaborate on spatial tasks, create a shared understanding and establish a common ground.…”