Isidro Navarro Delgado

Augmented and geo-located information in architectural education framework

This work is focused to design an academic experience involving the implementation of augmented reality tool in architecture education practices to improve the motivation and final marks of the student. We worked under differ-ent platforms for mobile devices to create virtual information channels through a database associated to 3D virtual models and any other type of media content, which are geo-located in their real position. The basis of our proposal lies in the spatial skills improvement that students can achieve using their innate affinity to friendly digital media as Smartphones or tablets, to visualize educational exercises in real geo-located environments and allowing sharing and evaluating own-generated student’s proposals, on site. The proposed method aims to improve the access to multimedia content on mobile devices, allowing access adapted to all types of users and contents. The students divided into various groups, both control and experimental in function of the devices and practices to perform, have as goal display 3D architectural geo-referenced content, using Sketchup and ArMedia for iOS and a custom platform for Android environment.In this paper we propose a novel interaction technique that creates the illusion of tactile exploration of museum artefacts which are otherwise impossible to touch. The technique meets the contextual necessity, often requested by museum curators, to background technology and to direct the focus of the museum visitor’s experience to the artefact itself. Our approach relies on the combination of haptic interaction and the adaptation of a well-known illusion that enables museum visitors to make sense of the actual physical non-touchable artefact in an embodied way, using their sensory and motor skills. We call this technique Haptic Augmented Reality.

Mobile learning in the field of Architecture and Building Construction. A case study analysis

This educational research focuses on the use of mobile learning (m-learning) in the field of Architecture and Building Construction. It was conducted at various levels of university teaching (bachelor’s and master’s degree courses) to assess the integration of augmented reality (AR) technology on mobile devices. Several cases employing different strategies were studied. These strategies ranged from using Quick Response (QR) codes or specific markers to download multimedia content created by the students, to 3D georeferencing models that allowed information to be visualised, adjusted and assessed on site. Specific practical exercises were therefore designed for different topics, where the two most common forms of registering were tested (optical image recognition and GPS positioning). Light integration at the scene was also addressed. Owing to the high cost and limited availability of these devices, experimental groups made up of small numbers of students were formed so that devices could be shared if necessary. Improvement in academic performance and system usability were assessed in each specific case using standardised questionnaires, and the results were compared to those obtained for the control group students. The results show that these devices have become an effective, efficient and satisfactory tool for the use of hand-held AR technology.ResumenEn esta investigación educativa nos hemos centrado en el uso del aprendizaje móvil (ML) en el campo de la arquitectura y la construcción. Se llevó a cabo en distintos niveles de la enseñanza universitaria de grado y de máster, a fin de evaluar la integración de la tecnología de la Realidad Aumentada (RA) en dispositivos móviles. Se han realizado varios estudios de caso, en los que se han abordado diferentes estrategias, que van desde el uso de los códigos QR (quick reference) o marcadores específicos para descargar contenidos multimedia generados por los estudiantes tales como los modelos 3D georeferenciados para ser ajustados y evaluados en el lugar. Por lo tanto, se diseñaron prácticas específicas en el marco de diferentes temas, donde los dos tipos más comunes de registro han sido probados (reconocimiento óptico de imagen y posicionamiento GPS). También se ha abordado la integración de la luz en la escena. Debido al alto costo y a la disponibilidad limitada de estos dispositivos, hemos creado grupos experimentales con pocos alumnos que comparten, si es necesario, los terminales. La mejora del rendimiento académico y la manejabilidad de los sistemas han sido evaluadas en cada caso específico utilizando cuestionarios estandarizados, en comparación con el grupo de estudiantes de control. Los resultados muestran que estos dispositivos se han convertido en una herramienta eficaz, eficiente y satisfactoria para el uso de esta tecnología móvil, la RA en su versión (hand-held) manejable a mano.This educational research focuses on the use of mobile learning (m-learning) in the field of Architecture and Building Construction. It was conducted at various levels of university teaching (bachelor’s and master’s degree courses) to assess the integration of augmented reality (AR) technology on mobile devices. Several cases employing different strategies were studied. These strategies ranged from using Quick Response (QR) codes or specific markers to download multimedia content created by the students, to 3D georeferencing models that allowed information to be visualised, adjusted and assessed on site. Specific practical exercises were therefore designed for different topics, where the two most common forms of registering were tested (optical image recognition and GPS positioning). Light integration at the scene was also addressed. Owing to the high cost and limited availability of these devices, experimental groups made up of small numbers of students were formed so that devices could be shared if necessary. Improvement in academic performance and system usability were assessed in each specific case using standardised questionnaires, and the results were compared to those obtained for the control group students. The results show that these devices have become an effective, efficient and satisfactory tool for the use of hand-held AR technology. En esta investigación educativa nos hemos centrado en el uso del aprendizaje móvil (ML) en el campo de la arquitectura y la construcción. Se llevó a cabo en distintos niveles de la enseñanza universitaria de grado y de máster, a fin de evaluar la integración de la tecnología de la Realidad Aumentada (RA) en dispositivos móviles. Se han realizado varios estudios de caso, en los que se han abordado diferentes estrategias, que van desde el uso de los códigos QR (quick reference) o marcadores específicos para descargar contenidos multimedia generados por los estudiantes tales como los modelos 3D georeferenciados para ser ajustados y evaluados en el lugar. Por lo tanto, se diseñaron prácticas específicas en el marco de diferentes temas, donde los dos tipos más comunes de registro han sido probados (reconocimiento óptico de imagen y posicionamiento GPS). También se ha abordado la integración de la luz en la escena. Debido al alto costo y a la disponibilidad limitada de estos dispositivos, hemos creado grupos experimentales con pocos alumnos que comparten, si es necesario, los terminales. La mejora del rendimiento académico y la manejabilidad de los sistemas han sido evaluadas en cada caso específico utilizando cuestionarios estandarizados, en comparación con el grupo de estudiantes de control. Los resultados muestran que estos dispositivos se han convertido en una herramienta eficaz, eficiente y satisfactoria para el uso de esta tecnología móvil, la RA en su versión (hand-held) manejable a mano.

The experience of using ICT in the development of a singular architectural project: The Romanian Orthodox Church in Barcelona

This article explains the experience of using ICT (Information and Communication Technology) for the design, visualization, verification and execution of the construction of the Romanian Orthodox Church in Barcelona. The goal is to evaluate and check if the procedures and devices tested through scientific and academic investigations are applicable in a real case, and in which degree, from the point of view of the design architect, of the user/client and the contractor (builder) executing a construction work. On one hand, this article presents the results obtained in the first phase of the project, and on the other hand it formalizes the starting hypothesis to take into account during the second phase, the execution of the work on the site.