Augmented Reality for Information Visualisation in Fusion plant monitoring and operations

The use of Augmented Reality (AR) is growing with the market estimated to be worth $17.8bn in 2018 [1]. Studies have shown that Augmented Reality (AR) can play a valuable role in assisting users to design, navigate, operate and monitor complex building systems [2]. By layering information over real world environments and controls, with the support of AR, users can potentially perform tasks more efficiently, safely and accurately. However, there still remain significant technical and usability barriers to adoption of AR. Confidence in assistive AR remains low, particularly in hostile, demanding and complex environments, where systems are often unreliable. For example [4], when prototyping AR in a marine navigation context, experiments have highlighted accuracy and usability issues resulting from GPS compass calibration errors, camera night vision challenges, performance issues and magnetic interference all contributing to operational challenges. AR use cases, particularly in hostile environments such as nuclear, petrochemical, space exploration, construction and mining are lightly evaluated: User based studies in the field are underutilised, with a historic focus on technology, rather than application [3]. The motivation to continue improving the accuracy, acceptance and usability of these technologies arises from the many opportunities AR can offer when assisting users in manual environments. To achieve formal proof of concept, a strong, methodologically sound, technical and user based evaluation of AR applied in hostile environments in required to realise the potential benefits for industry. Central to this research is the application and evaluation of AR in hostile environments through 'proof of concept' prototype: This will allow a thorough unpacking of the challenges, opportunities, user needs and technical obstacles key to the discovery phase. An in depth user based evaluation will yield data to inform our answers to key research questions.