Competencies of Industrial Engineers for Implementing Augmented Reality Metadata Systems

Abstract

The paper focuses on the use of augmented reality (AR) by industrial engineers, especially for determining the necessary competencies required for its use. Industrial engineers are not inherently programmers. Nevertheless, augmented reality is a modern trend in their field, especially in relation to the concept of Industry 4.0 and industry in general, where it has a higher potential than virtual reality. In the first part of this paper, we placed augmented reality and the competencies required for its use in the context of industrial engineering. Subsequently, we described our own methods of implementing an augmented reality industrial metadata visualization system, namely Help Lightning Fieldbit and Unity 3D, using the Vuforia extension. We chose the metadata used in the methods with regard to their environmental potential. In this part of the paper, we also described the chosen and applied testing methodology using a questionnaire survey. Subsequently, we described the results from the questionnaire surveys of both these approaches of implementing augmented reality methods. Finally, we evaluated the results and compared them with each other and with results from other authors. As the results show, the most important competencies for creating the described AR environments are analytical competencies. We draw conclusions from the collected data regarding the necessary competencies for the creation of AR scenes using these methods and their deployment in industry, including an outline for further research.