Assessment Task

Your task is to build a web-based AR or VR application using the technologies covered in class together with the findings of additional research. You have a choice of three different scenarios, described below.

a) Augmented Reality Points of Interest Application.

Develop a mobile AR web app which will download OpenStreetMap (OSM) Points Of Interest (POIs) from a GeoJSON-based web API (the API URL and specification will be given to you in class). The application should show, in augmented reality, POIs as three-dimensional models. Each POI type (e.g. restaurant, pub, cafe) should be shown ideally as a 3D model (a different model for each POI type), or if not, a 3D geometry with different colours for different POI types. The POI name and some information about the POI must be shown, ideally in a sophisticated way (e.g. a virtual noticeboard) but at the very least, as simple text. For a more advanced answer, clicking on the POI text should lead to the POI’s website, if available via the API. Some of the more advanced aspects will require further research.

The application should show your latitude and longitude. A more advanced answer will also show altitude, in metres, sourced from an API (details will be given in class), and set the y-coordinate of each POI model to the elevation of that POI in metres (calculated from a Digital Elevation Model – this will require further research)

b) Virtual Reality World Viewer.

Develop an application which shows a VR view of your current position in the world. The application should download OpenStreetMap (OSM) data from a GeoJSON-based API (this will be given to you in class) and should render different types of object using different geometries and models. For example, roads can be rendered as simple lines, trees as a simple model of a tree (or at the very least, a cylinder topped by a sphere) and pubs, restaurants and cafes as models of a building (or at the very least, a box of appropriate size). Ideally, points of interest should have the POI name rendered on the surface of the model or geometry used to represent the building.

The application should show your latitude and longitude. A more advanced answer will also show altitude, in metres, sourced from an API (details will be given in class), and render the data with elevation included as the y coordinate, by accessing elevation from a Digital Elevation Model – this will require further research.

c) Augmented Reality Treasure Hunt Game.

Develop an AR application to find treasure buried at a particular latitude and longitude. To find the treasure, the user must visit a sequence of clues (of which there must be at least three) along the way, which should display a hint indicating where to go for the next clue. The clues must be presented in an appealing way, ideally using 3D models with the text super-imposed. The treasure should be shown as a 3D model of a treasure chest. A given clue, and the final treasure, must only be shown if the user has visited the previous clue – in other words, all clues must be visited for the user to see the final treasure. The user wins if they come within 5 metres of the final treasure, and a score awarded based on time taken. If the user desires, “help mode” can be enabled in which augmented reality arrows pointing the way to the next clue are shown. “Help mode” must, however, reduce the user’s final score.

You must develop code and produce a report. Each are described below.

Code

Whichever scenario you pick, you must follow the directions below:

- Your application must be a web application, written in HTML and JavaScript (you may use a server-side technology such as PHP or Node.js if you have access to your own server space and you believe it will enhance your application, but this is not necessary as APIs will be made available for you to use). You may use A-Frame and/or Three.js, with help from AR.js or WebXR if appropriate. You should not use other frameworks such as Unity. You should not use commercial AR packages.

- Your application must be usable on typical mobile devices.

- Any third-party A-Frame components you intend to use must be checked with the tutor before use, in case they make the task too easy.

Report

Your report, which should detail the work undertaken in developing the application, must include the following sections.

a) Discussion of technical issues and problems encountered (around 1500 to 1750 words, plus code extracts). In this section, discuss any particularly interesting features of the code you developed, together with problems encountered and how you solved them. This should be accompanied by code extracts.

b) Evaluation. Evaluate your product and discuss any shortcomings and possible improvements (around 250-500 words).

Submission instructions

You should also make your code available on a private GitHub (or other provider, such as GitLab) repository. It must be private to prevent plagiarism by other students. You should invite the assessor to get access to your repository (the assessor will give you their GitHub or GitLab username