Spatial Analysis and Visual Communication of Emergency Information through Augmented Reality

Abstract

Abstract During emergencies like fire and smoke or active shooter events, there is a need to address the vulnerability and assess plans for evacuation. With the recent improvements in technology for smartphones, there is an opportunity for geo-visual environments that offer experiential learning by providing spatial analysis and visual communication of emergency-related information to the user. This paper presents the development and evaluation of the mobile augmented reality application (MARA) designed specifically for acquiring spatial analysis, situational awareness, and visual communication. The MARA incorporates existing permanent features such as room numbers and signages in the building as markers to display the floor plan of the building and show navigational directions to the exit. Through visualization of integrated geographic information systems and real-time data analysis, MARA provides the current location of the person, the number of exits, and user-specific personalized evacuation routes. The paper also describes a limited user study that was conducted to assess the usability and effectiveness of the MARA application using the widely recognized System Usability Scale (SUS) framework. The results show the effectiveness of our situational awareness-based MARA in multilevel buildings for evacuations, educational, and navigational purposes.