Usefulness of Plane-Based Augmented Geovisualization—Case of “The Crown of Polish Mountains 3D”

Abstract

In this article, we suggest the introduction of a new method of generating AR content, which we propose to call plane-based augmented geovisualizations (PAGs). This method concerns cases in which AR geovisualizations are embedded directly on any plane detected by the AR device, as in the case of the investigated “Crown of Polish Mountains 3D” application. The study on the usefulness of the AR solution against a classic solution was conducted as part of an online survey of people from various age and social groups. The application in the monitor version showing 3D models of mountain peaks (without AR mode) was tested by the respondents themselves. The use of the application in the AR mode, which requires a smartphone with the appropriate module, was tested by the respondents based on a prepared video demonstrating its operation. The results of the research on three age groups show that the AR mode was preferred among users against all compared criteria, but some differences between age groups were clearly visible. In the case of the criterion of ease of use of the AR mode, the result was not so unambiguous, which is why further research is necessary. The research results show the potential of the AR mode in presenting 3D terrain models.

Keywords

• mountain geovisualizations
• augmented reality
• mobile devices
• 3D visualization of landscapes
• geomedium efficiency
• relief representation