BEAM-SCE: Building an environment for augmented reality monitoring of structures in civil engineering

增强现实（AR）是一种将计算机生成的图像叠加在用户对真实的世界的视图上的技术。显示器可以由不同的设备组成：护目镜、监视器、屏幕、沉浸式CAVE、平板电脑等。虚拟内容叠加到真实的世界中，以实现下一节中描述的各种目标。为了使AR有用，虚拟内容必须与其叠加的真实的世界保持良好的一致。虚拟内容还应当使得其可以被真实的内容遮挡。理想情况下，增强现实应该是交互式的，实时运行，这意味着由摄像机拍摄的真实的世界和虚拟的组件应该被对齐，渲染和显示在用户显示设备上，给人的印象是虚拟元素实际上是物理世界的一部分。本项目提出了开发增强现实框架的研究，用于监测土木工程中的结构。感兴趣的结构可以是现有结构或正在建设的结构，并且可以由可见结构（例如，建筑物等）组成。或隐藏结构（如地下管道、电缆内壁等）。该框架将用于各种应用，包括：i）建筑工地监测（将3D建筑模型与实际建筑物进行比较，从而能够识别差异或工作延迟）; ii）识别和查询物理对象（通过“点击”对象，AR系统将显示其属性）; iii）显示隐藏对象（例如墙壁后面的电缆或螺柱、地下管道）; iv）通过将它们显示在物理世界中的3D位置来促进2D图纸解释; v）获得建筑工程的“竣工”模型以供将来参考; vi）显示3D维护指令。

Augmented Reality (AR) is a technology that superimposes a computer-generated image on a user's view of the real world. The display can consist of different devices: goggles, monitors, screens, immersive CAVEs, tablets, etc. The virtual content is superimposed to the real world in order to achieve a variety of goals to be described in the next sections.For AR to be useful, the virtual content must be well aligned with the real world on which it is superimposed. Virtual content should also be such that it can occluded by real content. Ideally, AR should be interactive and run in real-time, meaning that the real world captured by a camera and the virtual components should be aligned, rendered and displayed in real-time on the user display device giving the impression that the virtual elements are actually part of the physical world.This project proposes research for developing an Augmented Reality Framework for monitoring structures in civil engineering. The structures of interest may be existing structures or structures under construction and may consists of visible structures (e.g. buildings, etc.) or hidden structures (e.g. underground pipes, cable inside walls, etc.). The framework will be used for a variety of applications, including: i) construction site monitoring (comparing the 3D construction model with the actual building, enabling the identification of discrepancies or work delays); ii) identification and query of physical objects (by "clicking" on an object, the AR system would display its attributes); iii) displaying hidden objects (e.g. cables or studs behind walls, underground pipes); iv) facilitating 2D drawings interpretation by displaying them at their 3D position in the physical world; v) obtain an "as- built" model of the construction work for future reference; vi) displaying 3D maintenance instructions.