A systematic review of application development in augmented reality navigation research

Augmented Reality (AR) is a technology that has been used extensively in the field of cartography, with one particular application being that of navigation. However even now, AR in navigation is still at an active exploratory stage with multiple different approaches regarding the techniques, methodologies, and development processes. In this work, we present a systematic review of application development in AR navigation research, aiming to fill the gap in the literature by identifying trends in aspects such as hardware, software, and methodologies in AR navigation. We review 107 publications from the past 25 years that present AR navigation software for real-world environments, and analyze their main characteristics regarding intended environments and users, hardware, development platforms, and AR methodologies. We note a rise in AR navigation research interest from 2010 onward, driven in large part by smartphone and mobile device ubiquity, supported further by significant advances and streamlined processes in AR application development. Furthermore, we highlight a rise in the use of increasingly more complex AR methodologies in recent years, signaling that the field is steadily evolving and maturing. At the same time, we also identify significant inconsistencies and omissions regarding the reporting of technical details, with nearly half of reviewed works not reporting one or more of the aspects of interest. After identifying the level of maturity and complexity in the field AR navigation, we provide a list of recommendations and future directions for researchers aiming to develop AR navigation applications.