Human-Augmented Reality Interaction in Rebar Inspection

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that AR-assisted rebar inspection using HoloLens 2 significantly reduces ergonomic strain, task time, and workload while maintaining accuracy, showing promise for safer construction practices.

Contribution

It introduces and evaluates an AR system for rebar inspection that reduces physical effort and workload without compromising inspection quality.

Findings

AR reduced trunk flexion by 30.8% and neck flexion by 32.8%.

Task completion time decreased by 67.7%.

System usability score averaged 76.1, with 83% acceptance.

Abstract

Rebar inspection in reinforced concrete construction requires sustained awkward postures and complex mental mapping of two-dimensional drawings onto three-dimensional assemblies. This study evaluated an Augmented Reality (AR)-assisted rebar inspection system deployed on Microsoft HoloLens 2 through a within-subjects experiment with 30 participants. Full-body kinematics were recorded using a motion capture system at 100 Hz while participants performed traditional and AR-assisted spacing inspection. AR reduced mean trunk flexion by 30.8%, mean neck flexion by 32.8%, and task completion time by 67.7%. Walking distance and hand-path length each decreased by over 50%. NASA Task Load Index scores decreased by 45.6% overall, with the largest reduction in physical demand. Inspection accuracy was maintained across conditions. The System Usability Scale yielded a mean score of 76.1 with 83% of participants rating the system acceptable. These results provide convergent objective and subjective evidence that AR-assisted inspection reduces ergonomic risk and perceived workload maintaining inspection quality.