GIS and Augmented Reality to boost field activities and improve work safety

Union between GIS and “virtual” data allows users to visualize geospatial data in the real world, enriching with information otherwise invisible. The GIS application we present enables to view networks and technical assets in Augmented Reality On back-end side, it allows to manage and configure the connection with external GIS systems. Based on their position, field users display on their device data coming from a geodatabase (pipes, assets, buildings) in Augmented Reality by overlapping them to the observed reality. Although all parameters to graphically represent the assets come from a GIS service (e.g. Esri Feature Service), which exposes data regarding size, color, layer compared to the ground level, etc., they can be customized through the application: users can include 3D models in the application representing the layers as real assets, instead of points. The GIS application runs both on handheld devices and on smartglasses. Other wearable devices, such as smartwatches, can also be used to increase the accuracy of the user’s position and give a more precise representation. Moreover, such integration becomes essential when monitoring field technicians’ safety: through advanced sensors on smartwatches and smartphones, the operators’ vital signs are measured in order to efficiently and promptly manage emergency situations.