AR City Guide with Navigation & Info Overlays – IT & Computer Engineering Guide
1. Project Overview
The AR City Guide project enhances urban exploration by overlaying real-time navigation, historical facts, points of interest, and business information on a user's view of the city through augmented reality. By utilizing AR, GPS, and object recognition technologies, this mobile-based system provides tourists and residents with an engaging and informative city experience.
2. System Architecture Overview
- GPS Module: Retrieves real-time location of the user
- AR View Renderer: Projects overlays aligned with real-world objects
- POI Database Access: Fetches data for landmarks, shops, and routes
- Navigation Engine: Calculates directions and displays step-by-step guidance
- Camera + Object Detection: Recognizes major landmarks for dynamic info
rendering
3. Hardware Components
|
Component |
Specifications |
Description |
|
Smartphone |
Android/iOS ARCore/ARKit compatible |
Core device to run the application |
|
Camera |
Minimum 8MP with autofocus |
Captures real-world view for AR overlay |
|
GPS Module |
Integrated GPS chip |
Used for accurate location-based data fetching |
|
IMU Sensors |
Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Compass |
Used for orientation and direction tracking |
4. Software Components
4.1 Development Tools
- Unity 3D with AR Foundation for cross-platform AR
- Mapbox or Google Maps API for navigation and map rendering
- Firebase/Firestore or custom cloud database for POI info
- OpenCV for object detection and image tracking (if needed)
4.2 Programming Languages
- C#, Java (Android), Swift (iOS), Python (for backend services)
4.3 Libraries and SDKs
- ARKit/ARCore via Unity AR Foundation
- Mapbox Unity SDK or Google Maps SDK
- REST APIs for fetching live data (weather, events)
- GPS/IMU sensor data handling libraries
5. Functional Modules
- Location Detection Module: Tracks real-time user location
- AR Overlay Engine: Renders info labels and navigation arrows in AR space
- POI Info Display: Pulls data from a cloud database about nearby places
- Navigation Guidance: Step-by-step AR navigation to destination
- User Interaction Layer: Tap or voice control to get more info on landmarks
6. User Experience and Interaction
- Users launch the app and point their camera around the
city
- The app overlays place names, direction arrows, distance indicators
- Users can tap on buildings or pins to get more detailed info
- Route guidance helps users reach a selected landmark with AR arrows
7. Applications and Benefits
- Tourism enhancement by providing instant contextual info
- City navigation aid for new residents or visitors
- Integration with business directories for commercial exposure
- Educational utility by displaying historical facts and trivia
8. Privacy and Security
- User location is anonymized and not stored without consent
- HTTPS-secured APIs for data transfer
- Permissions management for location, camera, and microphone
9. Testing and Deployment
- Test AR alignment accuracy on various phone models
- Ensure POI accuracy and latency under real GPS conditions
- Compatibility tests for Android/iOS platforms
- Deploy via Google Play Store or Apple App Store
10. Future Enhancements
- Indoor AR navigation using beacons
- AI-based personalized recommendations (restaurants, routes)
- Crowd-sourced data updates from local users
- Language translation overlays for international tourists