Augmented Reality in Coastal Water Navigation

Abstract

When conducting Coastal Water Navigation, a ship’s Navigating Officer (NavO) has multiple sources of data to consider. In order to obtain the information required to safely manoeuvre the ship, they make use of specialized equipment. The time spent interacting with the equipment is a risk, as it prevents them from visually monitoring the ever-changing maritime environment. Augmented Reality (AR) offers a way to obtain the information while maintaining a proper and effective lookout. Additionally, our research suggests that the information can be presented in new ways. We created a simulator that allows testing and evaluation of AR Navigation Aids (ARNAs). These visualizations were evaluated by subject matter experts through a user study. The user study suggests that ARNAs can improve maritime safety and assist in the conduct of navigation.