Coordinate Geometry Augmented Reality Process for Internal Elements Concealed Behind an External Element

A mobile device for providing coordinate geometry augmented reality for visualizing 3D digital models of internal elements concealed behind external elements in a real environment, the mobile device comprising:

• a processor;
• a computer-readable medium coupled to the processor and storing a plurality of instructions, which, when executed, cause the processor to provide coordinate geometry augmented reality, the plurality of instructions comprising:
• instructions that cause the processor to capture, using a camera of a mobile device, an image of a marker placed on an external element covering internal elements in the real environment, wherein the marker is placed at a predetermined set of coordinates associated with one or more marker point locations on the external element determined by surveying equipment;
• instructions that cause the processor to analyze the image of the marker to determine a 3D digital model of the internal elements associated with the marker;
• instructions that cause the processor to retrieve, from data storage, a data file comprising the 3D digital model of the internal elements associated with the marker and relation data between the 3D digital model of the internal elements and the marker;
• and
• instructions that cause the processor to provide, on a display screen of the mobile device, an augmented reality image comprising a real view of the external element seen through the camera in real-time, overlaid with the 3D digital model of the internal elements in relation to the marker according to the relation data so that the 3D digital model of the internal elements is seen in a geometrically correct orientation with respect to the external element at a calculated distance in depth behind the external element.

A method of providing coordinate geometry augmented reality for visualizing a 3D digital model of internal elements concealed behind external elements in a real environment, the method comprising:

• generating, using a 3D modeling module, a 3D digital model of internal elements embedded with coordinate data in relation to a real-world coordinate system;
• surveying the real environment with an external element covering the internal elements, with one or more control target points positioned on the external element, to determine coordinates of the one or more control target points in relation to the real-world coordinate system;
• importing the surveyed control target points into the 3D modeling module to tie in the surveyed control target points with the 3D digital model of the internal elements embedded with the coordinate data in relation to the same real-world coordinate system;
• determining a distance in depth between the external element and the internal elements using the surveyed control target points on the external element and the 3D digital model of the internal elements;
• selecting at least a portion of the 3D digital model of the internal elements to be used for augmented reality visualization;
• associating, in an augmented reality module, the selected portion of the 3D digital model of the internal elements with a selected marker, wherein the 3D digital model of the internal elements is set at the determined distance in depth behind the selected marker;
• determining relation data between the selected portion of the 3D digital model of the internal elements and the selected marker so that the 3D digital model of the internal elements is configured to be positioned, oriented, and sized according to a position, orientation, and size of a marker when the marker is placed on the external element in the real environment;
• and
• storing a data file comprising the selected portion of the 3D digital model of the internal elements and the relation data in data storage, wherein the data file is retrievable from the data storage when the marker placed in the real environment is detected by a mobile device.