Requirements for Augmented Reality Solutions for Safety-Critical Services - The Case of Water Depth Management in a Maritime Logistics Hub

Augmented reality (AR) is widely acknowledged to be beneficial for services that have exceptionally high requirements regarding knowledge and simultaneous tasks to be performed and are safety-critical. In such services, AR enables to augment service provision by delivering seamless integration of information in the field of view while enabling hands-free usage in the case of head-mounted displays. This study explores the user-centered requirements for AR solutions in the operations of a large European maritime logistics hub. Specifically, it deals with the process of soil sounding. Based on eleven think-aloud sessions during service delivery, two expert interviews, and two expert workshops, we derived five core requirements for AR in soil sounding. Thus, we present the first study on the applicability and feasibility of AR in the maritime industry and identify requirements that impact further research on AR use in safety-critical environments.