Despite advancements in global positioning systems (GPS) and related sensor technologies, indoor navigation continues to pose significant challenges due to signal attenuation and scattering caused by surrounding objects. In underground spaces, specialized assisted technologies for mapping, positioning, and navigation are essential for effective search and rescue operations. Augmented reality (AR)-assisted navigation holds promise for enhancing emergency evacuations in such environments. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of AR-assisted navigation in an underground mine and simulate search and rescue scenarios. To accomplish this objective, LIDAR and thermal cameras were integrated onto the Microsoft Hololens using NUC computer and ROS Bridge. The LIDAR-based spatial mapping technique was employed to generate a tessellated model of the surrounding space, which was then rendered as a user interface. The display was updated every 5Hz to provide accurate and temporally relevant visualizations. User performance was assessed by measuring the total time to complete the path. Preliminary results demonstrated that AR-assisted navigation could provide valuable support to first responders and significantly enhance search and rescue operations in emergency situations. By leveraging the combined capabilities of LIDAR and thermal imaging, the proposed approach enables accurate mapping and visualization of the space and the people within, facilitating an efficient evacuation process.
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