Augmented Reality Applied to Identify Aromatic Herbs Using Mobile Devices

Abstract

Correctly identifying and classifying food is decisive in food safety. The food sector is constantly evolving, and one of the technologies that stands out is augmented reality (AR). During practical studies at Companhia de Entreposto e Armazéns Gerais de São Paulo (CEAGESP), responsible for the largest food storage in South America, difficulties were identified in classifying aromatic herbs due to the large number of species. The project aimed to create an innovative AR application called ARomaticLens to solve the challenges associated with identifying and classifying aromatic herbs using the design science research (DSR) methodology. The research was divided into five stages according to the DSR methodology, from surveying the problem situation at CEAGESP to validating the application through practical tests and an experience questionnaire carried out by CEAGESP specialists. The result of the study presented 100% accuracy in identifying the 18 types of aromatic herbs studied when associated with the application’s local database without the use of an Internet connection, in addition to a score of 8 on a scale of 0 to 10 in terms of the usability of the interface as rated by users. The advantage of the applied method is that the app can be used offline.