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Journal of Southern Hemisphere Earth Systems Science Journal of Southern Hemisphere Earth Systems Science SocietyJournal of Southern Hemisphere Earth Systems Science Society
A journal for meteorology, climate, oceanography, hydrology and space weather focused on the southern hemisphere
RESEARCH FRONT (Open Access)

Content enhancement with augmented reality and machine learning

Justin Freeman
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Bureau of Meteorology, GPO Box 1289, Melbourne, Vic 3001, Australia. Email: justin.freeman@bom.gov.au

Journal of Southern Hemisphere Earth Systems Science 70(1) 143-150 https://doi.org/10.1071/ES19046
Submitted: 21 March 2020  Accepted: 10 August 2020   Published: 1 October 2020

Journal Compilation © BoM 2020 Open Access CC BY-NC-ND

Abstract

Content enhancement of real-world environments is demonstrated through the combination of machine learning methods with augmented reality displays. Advances in machine learning methods and neural network architectures have facilitated fast and accurate object and image detection, recognition and classification, as well as providing machine translation, natural language processing and neural network approaches for environmental forecasting and prediction. These methods equip computers with a means of interpreting the natural environment. Augmented reality is the embedding of computer-generated assets within the real-world environment. Here I demonstrate, through the development of four sample mobile applications, how machine learning and augmented reality may be combined to create localised, context aware and user-centric environmental information delivery channels. The sample mobile applications demonstrate augmented reality content enhancement of static real-world objects to deliver additional environmental and contextual information, language translation to facilitate accessibility of forecast information and a location aware rain event augmented reality notification application that leverages a nowcasting neural network.

Keywords: augmented reality, content enhancement, environmental information delivery channels, machine learning, mobile device computing, neural networks, user centred rain nowcasting, weather forecast situational awareness.


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