Remote assistance with vGIS Remote assistance, troubleshooting, and stakeholder engagement

Remote assistance with vGIS AR

Remote assistance reduces the need for onsite visits. By providing you with instant access to the required expertise, it saves you time and money.

This guide explains how you can use free tools and standard collaboration platforms already deployed within your organization to provide the next level of remote assistance—remote assistance that is enhanced by Augmented Reality.

The Process

Advanced remote assistance using Augmented Reality requires no special configuration or tools. Simply use one of the existing enterprise collaboration apps—or even regular Skype—to share the screen of your device while vGIS is running in order to let the remote expert or client observe the job site with Augmented Reality overlays in real-time.

Compatible Screen-Sharing Apps

Broadcasting augmented reality visuals to enhance the remote assistance with contextual information requires an app capable of sharing the screen of your device. Here are a few popular platforms:

• Cisco Webex
• GoTo Meeting
• Microsoft Teams
• Skype
• TeamViewer
• Zoom

If your organization does not have a centralized web-conferencing solution, a few tools on this list, including Skype and Zoom, offer a free version you can download. We recommend Skype, since it is the most widely used free personal communication system.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Make sure you have a stable Internet connection.
2. On your phone or tablet, launch your preferred conferencing solution (e.g., Microsoft Teams) and begin a call or meeting.
3. Initiate screen sharing so that the participants can see the screen of your device.
4. While sharing your screen, launch vGIS and proceed to show AR visuals in context in order to explain your situation and get help.

Please watch the video below to review an example of a live remote assistance session using vGIS.

The method described in this guide will enable you to stream the required visuals from your phone or tablet to any screen: an office PC, another phone, or even the HoloLens. Being able to enhance your actual environment with AR visuals of the existing or proposed infrastructure or objects will give remote experts additional context to work with. Equipped with real-time visuals, they can more knowledgeably guide you through utility locates and clash reviews. You will also be able to show clients what a structure would look like once it is completed even if they cannot join you in person.