3D Augmented Reality Mobile Application Prototype for Visual Planning Support

Abstract: The aim of this thesis is to implement a prototype of a 3D Augmented Reality mobile application. Using 3D is becoming more and more common for professionals as well as users. A good example of that is Google Earth and its 3D view. Implementing a mobile application that takes advantage of 3D and Augmented Reality may be very useful for planning new constructions in both urban and non-urban areas allowing to visualize how the construction will be in the future and how it will interact with its surrounding environment. There is a great potential for such kind of applications. An example could be the modification of a certain area of a city; allowing the inhabitants of that city to preview the project and, hopefully, avoiding unnecessary conflicts related to that project. In non-urban areas this application is also very useful for helping decision making by visualizing, on site, how the project will be and its impact on the environment. In order to preview a future construction there is the need to have a 3D model. Therefore, a 3D format for that model is necessary. Since COLLADA is a 3D standard interexchange format it is used in this thesis. Together with COLLADA, the computer graphics imagery and gaming technology called OpenGL ES 2.0 is used. Using COLLADA and OpenGL ES 2.0 combined with the properties of the views’ layers, the camera input, the sensors in the mobile device and the positioning technologies permit obtaining successful results displaying a 3D object in an Augmented Reality mobile prototype application. Interface elements are implemented as well in order to bring basic usability tools. The results show the advantages of combining technologies in a mobile device and the problems derived from the low accuracy in positioning in such kind of devices. Thus, ideas for improving the positioning accuracy are discussed as well.