971638Stations AR Digital TwinClosedSmall Business Research InitiativeInnovate UKAugmented reality (AR) is the integration of digital information with the user's environment in real time. Unlike virtual reality, which creates a totally artificial environment, augmented reality uses the existing environment and overlays new information on top of it. The project team (led by PAULEY, supported by HS2, the National College for High Speed Rail, WSP (lead developer of two HS2 stations) and Inventya) will demonstrate the unique capabilities of a AR digital twin platform for use within a station environment. The project will focus on the potential for AR technology to revolutionise the way in which rail station staff are trained and upskilled. The immersive environment will be modelled on HS2’s Old Oak Common station. The AR platform will allow companies to collaborate in this new synthetic environment. Broader end uses include: • Skills and training – Provide opportunities for professional training and competencies that are currently learnt in situ. • Customer experience – Attempting to imagine the world of expectation for millennials, their travel requirement and the impact that a station has on this process. • Maintenance – Visualise engineering maintenance activities to ensure that the impact on passenger experience is minimised. • Health and safety – Deployed to the emergency services to optimise scenario planning of major incidents (people flow, evacuation, emergency procedures). • Variable usage of space – Visualising the impact of design concepts upon the traveling public will facilitate improved engagement with perspective users and stakeholders. • Wayfinding and signage – Relieving the directional frustration of travellers, enabling customers to locate their platform (or shop, restaurant, preferred exit etc) quickly and easily.