The talking poster: An example application of Augmented Reality for the mitigation of non-structural damage from earthquakes

Catania, Italy

Co-financed by European Commission's Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection Grant agreement ECHO/SUB/2015/718655/PREV28

The concept of Augmented Reality (AR) has spread out since the development of the famous game “Pokémon Go!” The game contains all the main features of AR and was downloaded more than 100 million times only in its first month of life (The Guardian, 2016, (https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/oct/23/augmented-reality-development-future-smartphone)). AR is part of the Virtual Reality approach, but creates a new experience around the user’s world in real time, adding some useful information based on the pointed target. Elements that “increase” reality can be detected through a mobile device, such as a smartphone, through a video camera on board on a tablet, or any new wearable devices. In addition, mobile on-board sensors, such as GPS, accelerometer, and gyrocompass, are exploited to enrich AR user’s experience.
In the framework of the European KnowRISK (Know your city, Reduce seISmic risK through non-structural elements) project, we focus on tools for the dissemination of science education in the field of seismic hazard and, in particular, for the mitigation of the non–structural damage caused by earthquakes. In this light, we develop new dissemination formats using AR features. In this paper, we propose a “talking poster” that deals with seismic hazard, providing useful information to increase common awareness on earthquakes. The poster covers different sections containing static images: they are the “virtual buttons” to start the KnowRisk software application. Based on a Tablet or similar mobile device, it is possible to run a demo scenario that highlights potential non-structural damage inside a house or in public buildings (schools, roads, public workspaces). The tool is developed by using the Wikitude™ framework provided by Wikitude GmbH (www.wikitude.com), under Android OS version 4+.

The Guardian, (2016). https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/oct/23/augmented-reality- development-future-smartphone.