title: From urban planning and emergency training to Pokémon Go: applications of virtual reality GIS (VRGIS) and augmented reality GIS (ARGIS) in personal, public and environmental health.
abstract: The latest generation of virtual and mixed reality hardware has rekindled interest in virtual reality GIS (VRGIS) and augmented reality GIS (ARGIS) applications in health, and opened up new and exciting opportunities and possibilities for using these technologies in the personal and public health arenas. From smart urban planning and emergency training to Pokémon Go, this article offers a snapshot of some of the most remarkable VRGIS and ARGIS solutions for tackling public and environmental health problems, and bringing about safer and healthier living options to individuals and communities. The article also covers the main technical foundations and issues underpinning these solutions.
authors.affiliation: The Alexander Graham Bell Centre for Digital Health, Moray College UHI, University of the Highlands and Islands, Moray Street, Elgin, IV30 1JJ, Scotland, UK. maged.kamelboulos@uhi.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Maged N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Kamel Boulos
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science, University College London, 66-72 Gower Street, London, WC1E 6EA, England, UK.
authors.forename: Zhihan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science, University College London, 66-72 Gower Street, London, WC1E 6EA, England, UK.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guerrero
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science, University College London, 66-72 Gower Street, London, WC1E 6EA, England, UK.
authors.forename: Charlene
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jennett
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science, University College London, 66-72 Gower Street, London, WC1E 6EA, England, UK.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Steed
mesh_terms: D002958:City Planning / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D002959:Civil Defense / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D004782:Environmental Health / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D040362:Geographic Information Systems / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D011634:Public Health / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D018910:Video Games / Q000639:trends*
keywords: ARGIS (augmented reality GIS); Emergency training; Environmental planning; Physical activity; Pokémon Go; Public health; Smart cities; Urban planning; VRGIS (virtual reality GIS)