Embedded visualizations in crane operation user interfaces for real-time assistance

While crane operations are becoming increasingly complex, challenges remain in creating user interfaces (UIs) that effectively support real-time decision-making and situational awareness. This paper presents a comprehensive review and evaluation of visualizations used in crane operations, focusing on user interfaces designed to enhance operator performance and safety during lifts. Through a systematic review of existing literature, this paper synthesizes key trends, design principles, and technologies in crane UIs, with a particular emphasis on the role of embedded visualizations. A tailored UI evaluation model is developed, drawing from principles in human-computer interaction and Augmented Reality (AR) design realms, to assess the efficacy of these systems in real-time operations. This review also identifies key research gaps, including the need for empirical testing of individual visualizations and comprehensive UI configurations to better understand their impact on operator performance. Overall, this paper makes valuable contributions to the field by laying the groundwork for improving both the safety and productivity of crane operations through more effective, user-centered UIs. © 2025 The Authors