Clean, safe water on demand is a fundamental expectation and mainstay of our lives in the developed world. Even initially minor faults or interruptions in a water supply network can cause issues which can quickly escalate, with potentially catastrophic effects on health and safety on an urban, regional or even national scale.

For this reason, fast and  accurate responses are vital when even minor issues are detected anywhere on a water network. Developments in technology have removed much of the potential for human error in these processes, but the human element remains essential. Clearly, the optimisation and development of this operator-technology partnership is fundamental to the seamless provision of this critical utility. A water network testing and research facility in Finland (WaterLAB) has been using the new ThingLink AR Solution to ensure that maintenance, fault finding and troubleshooting is as fast, efficient and accurate as possible.

The work of WaterLAB

Systems modelling using digital methods to optimize the water sector is the specialized field of expertise of Patryk Wójtowicz, Research Manager at Savonia University of Applied Sciences. Patryk is leading Smart Water Group leveraging the WaterLAB – a dedicated space for development and testing at the university. WaterLAB incorporates a number of different water systems testing facilities using specialized equipment and laboratories. WaterLAB is also equipped with WaterLOOP – a Distribution System Simulator (DSS) – in simple terms, it is a small-scale version of a typical urban water network (from a source to a tap).

Leveraging WaterLAB facilities, Patryk and his colleagues can introduce and manipulate a huge variety of simulated events, to test various scenarios that could occur in a real water network. WaterLAB also has access to the SuperDMA (district metered area) full-scale demonstrator, which is part of the water distribution system operated by the local water authority, located close to WaterLAB.

Augmented reality applications in Smart Water

Patryk leads the Smart Water Group at Savonia UAS, who are developing applications of digital solutions such as augmented and extended reality, artificial intelligence and machine learning. In 2020 the group began investigating how the new generation of digital solutions could best support field technicians, specifically in optimizing the speed, efficiency and safety of troubleshooting operations.

They initially experimented with a number of solutions using available virtual reality and AR headsets, but found that all potential solutions were too bulky, unreliable and took too long to master. In addition, the AR software platforms would have required significant development time to build the content. 

However, via the SWIM (Smart Water Management) project supported by Business Finland, Patryk was put in touch with ThingLink, who were in the initial stages of developing their new AR Solution. The ease with which materials could be created and updated, and the user-friendly interface suggested that this would be the ideal solution for supporting field technicians.

Augmented Reality solutions for the energy and water sectors

Augmented Reality has been used for training and field technician support by energy grids for some time to help minimize the risk of operator error, and Patryk realised the potential of using the ThingLink AR Solution in the water industry in a similar way. The Smart Water Group were provided with funding by the Finnish government’s SPECTRAL project to develop the AR project using ThingLink.

Together, WaterLAB and ThingLink are creating resources using the AR Solution for maintaining and troubleshooting a number of applications and instruments that feature in the WaterLAB and in the SuperDMA, and which are used in water networks around the world. One of the AR resources is designed to be used with the EventLab system by Optiqua and PipeScan by Scan (Badger Meter Group), just one of the many instruments installed in the WaterLAB. 

Simplifying the complex with augmented reality

EventLAB is a compact but highly sophisticated water quality monitoring instrument using ‘Lab-on-Chip’ technology. It gives operators a complete grid network overview, with graphical analysis tools and automated early alerts for 24/7 network monitoring. It consists of sensor hardware, data transmission infrastructure and data analysis and event detection software. This is exactly the sort of complex and critical instrument which would benefit from a comprehensive but easy-to-use app for use by technicians in the field when troubleshooting issues. A video of the AR Solution in action with EventLab is provided below.

How does the AR Solution work?

In the video below you can see both the quick and simple process of the content creation, as well as the functionality of the AR Viewer App when used by the field technician in situ. 

• Creating interactive resources for viewing in AR is exactly the same, and just as simple, as creating any ThingLink content. The process can be mastered in minutes, even by those with no previous experience of AR technology. You simply upload the product/instrument image to the ThingLink editor, and click on the image to add interactive tags in the relevant locations. In each tag, you then add any combination of text, images, 3D models, videos (singly or as carousels), links out to additional information, or even an entire manual as a PDF. 
• In the viewing stage, the operator simply points their smartphone’s camera at the object and they see the interactive tags appear on the on-screen image as an overlay. They then tap them to read, view or watch, going through the troubleshooting process step-by-step.

Challenges facing the water sector:

• Even minor faults can escalate to major issues such as interruptions to supply which can cause risks to health, secondary risks to other industries, a loss of consumer confidence and reputational damage. Fast and precise troubleshooting is therefore critical.
• The 24/7 nature of the sector means that there is little opportunity or time for creating technical or training resources, so fast and efficient production of materials that does not require any interruption or compromise to operations is crucial.
• Lack of support for new technologies at all levels, from field technicians, through senior management to board level.
• Staffing and HR issues throughout the sector. These include:
  • Skilled Workforce Shortages, particularly in specialized areas, affecting water resources management and essential services delivery.
  • Workforce Aging/Retirement: Many water sector professionals are approaching retirement, leading to concerns about a “brain drain” and loss of knowledge and expertise, impacting operational and service continuity.
  • Training and Capacity Building: Training and CPD on emerging technologies, best practices, and regulatory requirements is essential. However, budget constraints and competing priorities can limit training investment.
  • Workplace Safety and Health: Common hazards include exposure to hazardous chemicals, confined spaces, and physical risks around fieldwork and construction activities. Ensuring workplace safety and implementing health and safety protocols is crucial to protect staff.

The Benefits of ThingLink’s AR Solution:

“It’s much easier for even untrained staff to go into the field with this kind of support. You can be confident that that person is doing their job correctly.”

Patryk Wojtowicz

• Reduces errors, increases success rate and precision of troubleshooting.
  Which in turn:
  • Reduces costs – less unintentional damage to expensive or critical equipment, less time spent in the field troubleshooting or awaiting resolution.
  • In some cases can reduce danger to staff.
  • Mitigates for staff shortages in water industry.
  • Simplicity of the user experience reduces the need for specialist employee training and onboarding in assistive technologies
  • Increases confidence in staff, which in turn increases staff morale and, in turn, retention.
• The ThingLink AR solution is incredibly simple and intuitive for resource creators, even those with no augmented reality training or experience.
  • Speed: It’s incredibly fast to create material in ThingLink. For example the Optiqua AR resource seen above took less than two hours to create.
  • Ease: Easy and intuitive to create and update. Slick and accessible, the content is easy to update when any changes or updates to the system are made. In fact it allows for constant and regular updating of materials if required. 
• The AR Viewer App user interface is also very intuitive, clean and easy to navigate for viewers.
  • Rather than using AR glasses, the app is accessed via the technician’s phone or other mobile device, instantly providing a sense of familiarity and confidence, and a somewhat gamified experience. There is no need for specific AR training programs to introduce it, which will shorten the training process on new instruments, in turn reducing training costs.
  • This can help address resistance to change that often comes with the introduction of new technology in the utilities sector.

“ThingLink is very user friendly, even with a small phone screen. It’s very responsive. That’s what you need.”

Patryk Wojtowicz

ThingLink’s AR Solution: Ideal for challenges common to the water industry and the wider utilities sector

Fast and efficient fault finding and resolution is the key to increasing the overall efficiency of water networks, so having access to the correct technical help in the instantly accessible format that ThingLink’s AR Solution provides is crucial. 

“At the end of the day what we want to achieve in the water sector by providing the ThingLink AR Solution is to increase efficiency, safety and knowledge. Guesswork is not efficient. It could take you a whole day to solve the problem. In the AR Viewer App you are given instructions one by one, you are shown which button to press, which valve to close – you are minimizing the time taken to troubleshoot.”

Patryk Wójtowicz

Join our Webinar to learn more!

Sign up to our webinar (watch live or on demand) to hear Patryk and other special guests discuss their use of the amazing new ThingLink AR Solution!

Further reading:

Read how the AR App made this Ohio art exhibition more accessible

Breathe life into the ordinary with ThingLink’s brand new Augmented Reality Solution! Easily create an overlay of hotspots containing multimedia information on your images of real-world objects, then share as AR experiences to view via any mobile device. 

What is the ThingLink AR Solution?

ThingLink has always offered the easiest and fastest way to create interactive and immersive experiences for viewing on screens or in Virtual Reality. Now you can add Augmented Reality viewing to the list of easy-to-create interactive media.

The ThingLink AR Solution consists of the new AR Mode in the ThingLink suite (for creating), and the ThingLink AR Viewer App (for viewing).

How does the ThingLink AR Solution work?

Creation:

Using advanced AR technology, ThingLink allows you to upload any image of a real-life object, and then add hotspots to it via the super-simple and intuitive ThingLink interface. The interactive hotspots can contain any combination of multimedia content: images, videos, gifs, text, links, 3d models and much more! Add your hotspots, then add the content you would like to share with your viewers. After creating your AR resource or ‘Collection’ ThingLink generates a share code for you, which you can also convert to a QR code for sharing if you wish.

Viewing:

Your viewer then:

1. Downloads the AR Viewer App from the AppStore and opens it.
2. Enters the share code/scans the QR code.
3. Points their phone camera at the object. 
4. Interacts with the hotspots that appear on their screen!

Both the ThingLink creator interface and the AR Viewer App are very easy to navigate. Our intuitive interface ensures that everyone can enjoy a simple and seamless user experience, without any specific technical expertise.

You can read full instructions, account limitations and details at our Support Article here.

Video above shows the AR solution being used at Savonia University of Applied Sciences’ WaterLAB – a dedicated space for development and testing.

What are the benefits of ThingLink’s AR Solution?

For learning and training

More impactful training with Mixed Reality 

Instantly engage learners with your training by adding augmented reality experiences. From educational institutions to corporate training, the app provides an opportunity for experiential learning. Make complex topics, physical processes or even machinery easier to understand and more engaging through interactive, hands-on experiences that guide learners through processes step-by-step.

Increased accessibility

Providing accessible content is essential. ThingLink is designed to break down barriers and open up new opportunities for exploration for everyone. We’ve built an AR training solution that’s not just easy to use but also makes learning fun and inclusive. No matter their age, training needs or tech skill level, your viewers can dive right into augmented reality training on demand with the ThingLink Viewer App, on a device that’s familiar to them. 

Keep training costs down

Create interactive employee training experiences that don’t rely on expensive AR headsets or training software and can be instantly updated at no additional cost. Create a variety of different overlays for different event simulations and training scenarios. Reduce the training process from two steps (theory, then practical) to one, saving time and money.

For cultural venues:

Clear and accessible information for visitors

No more dealing with cluttered information signs or panels on each object. With the ThingLink AR Viewer App your viewers simply point their device at the image, tap on the hotspot, and access information seamlessly. A whole catalog of objects or artefacts can be accessed with one short code. Retain the original aesthetic integrity of your location, no need for ‘out of context’ information panels that disrupt the experience. Providing information via your visitors’ own devices rather than providing audio guides to visitors keeps your exhibition costs down.

Drive engagement 

Engagement is the key to a memorable experience, and the ThingLink AR Viewer App excels in this area. By adding interactivity to your exhibition or display, you’re not just looking at artefacts – you’re truly experiencing them. Dive deep into historical contexts, gain artistic insights, or even share personal stories attached to objects – the possibilities are endless.

For business:

Increase safety and efficiency and lower costs with optimized troubleshooting 

With the ThingLink AR Solution, you can be sure that whatever the problem, your operators and agents can deal with it swiftly, safely and efficiently. You can reduce potentially costly and hazardous errors with interactive AR product guides that demonstrate correct processes. 

How can you use the ThingLink AR Solution?

The AR Solution has multiple applications in learning, training, industry, marketing, retail, art and culture, tourism and more. In fact its applications are almost limitless!

Add multimedia tags to paintings, structures, products, machinery and technical equipment, production lines or in fact any workplace object, unlocking layers of information and insights in an instant. Here are some key use cases by sector.

1. Galleries and Exhibitions

Augmented reality can transform the traditional gallery and exhibition experience into a truly immersive one. This application can add an extra layer of interpretive content to artworks, bringing them to life with interactive, animations, audio descriptions, artist interviews, 3d objects or historical contexts. Visitors, equipped with the AR app on their smartphones or tablets, can point their devices at an artwork and watch as the static display evolves into an interactive multimedia experience. This not only boosts visitor engagement but also offers an exciting new way to delve deeper into the stories and ideas behind each piece.

In the example below, you can watch how the solution was used to create AR guides for an exhibition in Columbus, Ohio. You can read the full case study blog here.

2. Onboarding and Impactful Training

The use of augmented reality in onboarding and training programs can revolutionize the way companies educate their new hires or existing employees. By incorporating AR features into their training, companies can make complicated training materials interactive and engaging. For example, employees could scan a machine with their phone to see a step-by-step AR guide on how to operate it, minimizing risks and facilitating a faster learning curve. This hands-on learning approach helps improve the understanding and retention of information, making training more effective.

3. Troubleshooting, Maintenance and Product Guidance 

Provide detailed visual guides to instruments, machines and appliances for your field operators, agents and customers. Reduce costly errors and the time taken to resolve issues by providing clear and sequenced instructions in multimedia format, including videos to show processes and functionality in action. Increase accuracy and confidence, avoid potentially dangerous and/or expensive mistakes from incorrect use and procedures and reduce hazards to employees and customers. Step-by-step walkthroughs with videos, images and even 3D models can guide them independently through the correct actions when products and machinery display a fault. These AR applications work across a wide spectrum of industries – from those as diverse as manufacturing, utilities, healthcare and hospitality.

ThingLink’s AR solution is one of the best AR apps for use in environments where information or guidance needs to be regularly updated. Any changes that you make to your content in ThingLink are updated in real-time, meaning that whenever the viewer opens the app, their material will automatically be the most up-to-date version. In the example below, the AR solution is used to troubleshoot complex instruments in a water network.

4. Escape Rooms and Treasure Hunts

Augmented reality can bring an innovative twist to traditional escape rooms and breakout sessions. With AR technology, you can design thrilling scavenger hunts or gamified experiences in any location or space. For instance, clues or puzzles could be placed in real-world environments, but only visible through the AR app, making the challenge more immersive and engaging. You can also incorporate educational content in these AR games, turning any location or learning experience into an interactive adventure. This can be especially impactful in settings like museums, educational institutions, or corporate team-building exercises. Popular experiences such as Pokemon Go have made the concept of an AR treasure hunt familiar to everyone, and now with ThingLink AR solution, it’s incredibly easy to make your own! In the video below, educator Christoffer Dithmer has used the AR solution to add additional layers of information to a history book for his students.

5. Information Panels and Directions for City Guides and Trails

Augmented reality applications can provide interactive information or direction panels in a variety of spaces, from public parks to buildings and tourist attractions. Users can simply point their AR-enabled device at a location or object to view a layer of digital information – this could include historical facts, architectural details, or even directions to nearby points of interest. This provides an innovative way for visitors to interact with their surroundings, making navigation easier and experiences richer.

6. Historical Education and Tourism

Historical sites and museums can adopt augmented reality to provide immersive tours and educational experiences. Users can view re-enactments of historical events, see how historical figures looked, or visualize how ruins and buildings looked in their prime, all by downloading the augmented reality app. This application of AR makes history more accessible and engaging, and helps users develop a deeper appreciation for cultural heritage. 

Device and Platform Compatibility

ThingLink’s AR Viewer App is available as a mobile app for iOS (for iphone/ipad/other Apple devices) and for Android devices/operating systems.

Experience the ThingLink AR Solution 🌐💼: Transforming everyday tasks into seamless and efficient experiences!

Registration

Discover the new ThingLink Augmented Reality App! In this exclusive free webinar Louise from ThingLink is joined by Special Guests Patryk Wójtowicz, Savonia University of Applied Sciences and Sarah Dove from Ohio State University.

Together they’ll explore how to create AR experiences with the new Augmented Reality app and just a handful of the uses of this versatile solution.

What is the new ThingLink Augmented Reality Solution?

Breathe life into the ordinary with ThingLink’s brand new Augmented Reality Solution! Easily create an overlay of hotspots containing multimedia information on your images of real-world objects, then share as AR experiences to view via mobile devices with the ThingLink AR Viewer app.

With our new solution, a phone or tablet can be a portal to a vibrant world brimming with multimedia information, offering immersive experiences like never before.

Watch our playlist with introduction from ThingLink Founder and CEO Ulla-Maaria Koivula and our expanding list of real world and live use cases

Six Key Takeaways! What You Will Gain:

1. In-depth Understanding: Grasp the fundamentals and advanced features of the ThingLink Augmented Reality App. Learn how it can breathe life into ordinary settings with hotspots of multimedia / multimodal information.
2. Hands-On Demos: Experience live demonstrations on creating and deploying AR experiences. See real-world applications that showcase the app’s versatility across various industries and education sectors.
3. Creative Inspiration: Spark your imagination with innovative use cases presented by our guest speakers. Discover how AR can transform learning, training, and customer engagement.
4. Networking Opportunities: Connect with like-minded professionals, educators, and AR enthusiasts. Share ideas, challenges, and solutions in an interactive Q&A session.
5. Future Trends: Hear from ThingLink’s Founder and CEO, Ulla-Maaria Koivula, about the vision behind the AR app and what the future holds for AR in education, training, and beyond.
6. Resource Access: Get exclusive access to resources that will help you get started with the ThingLink Augmented Reality App immediately after the webinar.

Who Should Attend?

This webinar is designed for everyone keen on exploring new dimensions of interactive and immersive experiences. It’s perfect for:

• Educators and trainers looking to enhance learning with AR.
• HR and development professionals interested in innovative onboarding and training solutions.
• Product managers and marketers seeking to create interactive product guides.
• Museum, exhibition, and visitor attraction managers aiming to offer engaging displays.
• Technology enthusiasts eager to explore the latest in AR innovations.

Join Us!

Mark your calendars and don’t miss out on this opportunity to step into the future with ThingLink’s Augmented Reality App.

If you can’t join the live webinar, sign up anyway to receive the action replay and all the resources shared during the event. Embrace the power of AR and transform any space or object into a dynamic, interactive canvas. See you there!

The Scalable-XR Project (Project Code: A90684) is funded by ELY (Centre for Economic Development, Transport, and the Environment) and EU (ERDF; European Regional Development Fund). The duration of the project is 15.6.2022-14.6.2024.

XR: From Niche to Mainstream Solution

At the heart of the Scalable XR Project is the goal to make XR content creation effortlessly accessible across existing mobile devices, thereby ensuring that the content is not only compatible with the latest headsets but any device the learner carries at work. This approach is pivotal in transitioning XR from being perceived as a niche, high-end technology to a mainstream educational solution. By enabling content to be created once and deployed across any device, the project addresses the critical scalability issue, ensuring that XR’s benefits in education can be fully realized and not confined to a limited audience.

Addressing Standards for Quality and Security

Quality standards and data security are paramount within the project’s framework. Recognizing the importance of these aspects, ThingLink Oy has dedicated significant resources to enhancing its technological infrastructure, ensuring that the XR solutions developed not only meet but exceed the highest standards of quality and security. This commitment to excellence and security is fundamental in fostering trust and reliability in XR technologies for learning and development purposes.

Building an Ecosystem of Trusted Partners

Partnerships are instrumental in pushing the boundaries of what kind of XR solutions can be offered to cater the needs of larger customers. In the Scalable-XR Project, one of the goals is to bring together complementary technology companies in Eastern Finland and package solutions that cover services from hosting to content creation and sharing XR experiences.

Scalable-XR Project Poster Summarizes Goals 

To ensure that project’s goals are visible and accessible, an A3-poster has been created and displayed prominently at ThingLink’s offices in Kontiolahti and co-working space in Helsinki. This poster serves as a tangible representation of the project’s mission, encapsulating the essence of the Scalable-XR Project and its dedication to advancing XR technology in learning and development. Furthermore, a dedicated Website for the Scalable-XR Project has been created in which further information about the project can be explored as well as some practical case studies and blog posts related to the project are illustrated. 

As the project progresses, ThingLink Oy remains committed to addressing the challenges and harnessing the opportunities presented by XR technology. Through our efforts in simplifying content creation, enhancing security and quality standards, and fostering collaborative innovation, the Scalable-XR Project is poised to make a significant impact on the future of learning and development, paving the way for a more immersive, accessible, and engaging learning experiences.

Past and Upcoming Workshops

So far in the project, we have organised:

Workshop in Kontiolahti headquarters in January 2023: ThingLink and 3D Talo Finland teams planning joint offering for the health care sector.

Workshop in Stuttgart in June 2023: ThingLink, Process Genius, and 3D Talo Finland teams planning joint offering for the German manufacturing market.

XR-workshop and a visit to Meta offices in Berlin on June 2023

VR/AR-workshop in Kontiolahti headquarters on October 2023

Atea Focus in Helsinki on October 2023

DigiSote in Helsinki on November 2023

Slush in Helsinki on December 2023

Scalable-XR Project Poster: Abstract & Goals & Technical Aims

Achieved Results So Far in the Scalable-XR Project

Project’s key achievements include:

1. Enhancing ThingLink’s technological infrastructure to comply with high security standards (ISO28001 audit phase 1 passed).
2. Developing new solutions to facilitate the creation and disseminate immersive (VR and AR) experiences (Unity PlugIn, Pano-to-360 application, and ThingLink AR application for iOS & Android).
3. Creating collaborative service models for enterprise sales (healthcare, defense, and manufacturing).

These actions play a significant role in achieving project’s goals and outcomes as well as supporting ThingLink’s international growth and competitiveness. Furthermore, project’s success is crucial for strengthening the Eastern Finland region as a collaborative hub for immersive training technologies. The project has so far progressed according to the established project plan and we are very pleased with how it has already accelerated our development work and international growth.

More information can be found at the Scalable-XR Project website: