Human-Augmented Reality Interaction in Rebar Inspection

A new study from researchers Mahsa Sanei and Fernando Moreu evaluated an Augmented Reality (AR)-assisted rebar inspection system deployed on Microsoft HoloLens 2. In a within-subjects experiment with 30 participants, full-body kinematics were recorded at 100 Hz using motion capture. Participants performed traditional and AR-assisted spacing inspections. The results showed AR reduced mean trunk flexion by 30.8%, mean neck flexion by 32.8%, and task completion time by 67.7%. Walking distance and hand-path length each decreased by over 50%. The NASA Task Load Index scores dropped 45.6% overall, with the largest reduction in physical demand. Inspection accuracy was maintained across conditions, and the System Usability Scale yielded a mean score of 76.1, with 83% of participants rating the system acceptable.

This research provides convergent objective and subjective evidence that AR-assisted inspection reduces ergonomic risk and perceived workload while maintaining inspection quality. For construction professionals, this means fewer repetitive strain injuries and faster inspections without compromising accuracy. The study was published on arXiv under subject Human-Computer Interaction (cs.HC) and is available at arXiv:2604.26112.