Development of Augmented Reality Application for Onsite Inspection of Expressway Structures Using Microsoft HoloLens

This research introduces an augmented reality (AR)-based approach for the onsite inspection of expressway structures by developing an AR application, namely HoloSpector, deployed on the first generation of the Microsoft HoloLens headset. It was tested by a focus group of 10 postgraduate students, followed by three inspectors from the Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT), to investigate the practical applicability of the application. A questionnaire was employed as a research tool for measurement and assessment of the application and the HoloLens in this study. The results of this study indicated that the developed digital approach was satisfactory, easy to use and learn, useful, user-friendly and practical for EXAT expressway inspections; the users also intended to use it. Compared to the conventional approach, the current data communication and management could be significantly improved; this digital approach has the potential to help save resources, time and cost and increase work productivity.