Developing outdoor augmented reality for architec- ture representation in educational activities

This work examines an application of Augmented Reality (AR) for architectural education and fire prevention training for Korean Traditional Buildings. In February 2008, the Namdaemun Gate (Korean National Treasure N o 1) burned down, despite efforts of many firemen, as the main difficulty was getting fire under control without any structural knowledge of wooden buildings. Hence, in state of the art of digital technology, an application of virtual information to traditional buildings is needed, and AR is already being considered as new design approach for architecture. In this example , outdoor AR is another practical application that takes advantages of Wearable Computer devices to superimpose virtual graphics of traditional buildings in real outdoor scenes. Plus, outdoor AR also allows user to move freely around and through inside virtual building, thereby offering intuitive training opportunities for architects, archaeologist, firemen, etc. For study case, the prototype AR system demonstrates its ability to assist firemen in their mission. 1 Introduction The Namdaemun Gate is one of the most famous wooden structures in the Republic of Korea. Its construction began in 1395 during the fourth year of the reign of King Taejo from the Joseon Dynasty, and was completed in 1398. Over the next six centuries, the Gate underwent several renovations with the last major repairs conducted in 1962, when the Korean government designated it as " National Treasure N o 1 ". Unfortunately, on February 10, 2008, the Gate was completely destroyed by fire, despite the efforts of over 360 fire-fighters. Due to the complex hermetic structure of the Gate, the jets of water were unable to reach the centre of the fire, making the rescue attempts useless. However, if the fire-fighters had been able to see a virtual model of the traditional building, it could have provided valuable information for more effective rescue strategies. In fact, various graphic technologies already exist that could provide such support. Extensive research has already been conducted on the application of CAD to Historical and Cultural buildings, for example, 3D Laser Scans, GIS, and VR. Plus, 3D graphic applications have played an important role in the design and restoration of several heritage projects. Among such applications, Augmented Reality is a new technology that enables the interaction of 3D computer graphics in a real world context real-time. As such, the user is not limited to viewing the real world augmented with virtual objects generated by computer graphic software …