Using Geo-Located Augmented Reality for Community Evaluation

摘要

Conventional practices of two-dimensional representation of three-dimensional objects remain an impediment to end-user engagement in participatory urban design. An alternative is to harness geo-located augmented reality (GAR) technology to embed life-sized virtual three-dimensional images at the actual site of proposed interventions. This format offers closest to real-life visualizations for end-users, enabling them to firstly comprehend and then express feelings concerning future proposals. This paper presents an iPhone web-app that capitalizes on the Layar browser's GAR interface to tip the economies of scale in favor of intimately attached users of public space, rather than often remotely detached clients and their commissioned designers. Walk-around virtual images of public space designs can be viewed and commented via iPhones by the public. It further allows users to display their own ideas as alternatives, thus in effect serving as an instrument for advancement of CAAD-enabled participative environmental design in general and the idea of reclamation of authorship of public space in particular. This paper briefly describes the development of a prototype, including its preliminary evaluation, and then highlights a study to determine the 3D rendering performance parameters of GAR technology, as the core component of the idea. The paper concludes with a discussion of future implications.