Iterative Prototyping of Urban CoBuilder: Tracking Methods and User Interface of an Outdoor Mobile Augmented Reality Tool for Co‐Designing
Journal article, 2020

This research presents results from a study developing a smartphone app, Urban
CoBuilder, in which citizens can collaboratively create designs for urban environments using
augmented reality technology and game mechanics. Eight prototypes were developed to refine
selected design criteria, including tracking strategies, design elements, user experience and the
interface with game mechanics. The prototypes were developed through an iterative design process
with assessments and incremental improvements. The tracking was especially challenging and
using multiple bitonal markers combined with the smartphone’s gyroscope sensor to average the
user position was identified as the most suitable strategy. Still, portability and stability linked to
tracking need to be improved. Design elements, here building blocks with urban functions textures,
were realistic enough to be recognizable and easy to understand for the users. Future studies will
focus on usability tests with larger user groups.

iterative prototyping

smartphone app

userinterface

collaborative urban designing

game mechanics

outdoor mobile augmented reality

user experience

Author

Hyekyung Imottesjo

Chalmers, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Urban Design and Planning

Liane Thuvander

Chalmers, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Architectural theory and methods

Monica Billger

Chalmers, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Architectural theory and methods

Peter Wallberg

Atvis AB

Gustav Bodell

Atvis AB

Jaan-Henrik Kain

Chalmers, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Urban Design and Planning

Stig Anton Nielsen

IT University of Copenhagen

Multimodal Technologies and Interaction

24144088 (eISSN)

Vol. 4 2 1-21 26

Subject Categories

Media and Communication Technology

Interaction Technologies

Human Computer Interaction

Areas of Advance

Building Futures (2010-2018)

DOI

10.3390/mti4020026

More information

Latest update

3/21/2023