Zubr partnered with White Hart Media, a specialist training and facilitator provider, who have served as the principal media supplier for the C1 section of the HS2 route since 2019. Collaborating with our knowledgeable partners, we also engaged several mental health and wellness organisations, including Lighthouse, The Samaritans, and others. This collaborative effort culminated in an augmented reality Induction Training Course distinguished as ‘industry-leading.’

Tasked with the development of an original augmented reality Induction Training course for in-person delivery, Zubr seamlessly integrated existing media, including training videos and incorporated multiple-choice questions into a facilitator-led Augmented Reality (AR) networked experience.

This framework enables Course Facilitators to monitor attendees’ progress in real-time, logging usernames, company affiliations, and roles to furnish analytics and feedback. Our innovative course departs significantly from conventional induction and construction industry training, owing to its hybrid nature and novel features.

Each attendee receives their own iPad as a guide for the day, providing site information and the training agenda. These iPads are networked, enabling Course Facilitators to monitor their status and track live responses to questions. This results in a higher standard of training, drawing attention to the areas that require the most improvement. Attendees engage in a variety of activities, including multiple-choice questions, complete with live graphs depicting real-time results, which promotes group discussion and knowledge retention.

Training materials are available in nine different languages, ensuring all attendees have access to high-quality training irrespective of language barriers. The AR Induction Training Course incorporates physical training activities and multi-user AR experiences, made possible by a Training Room meticulously designed as a large 10 x 10 metre tracking image. Here, participants collectively explore extensive 3D Augmented Reality training models. Content ranges from 3D visualisations of different site sections to an interactive ‘Hazard Perception’ game, allowing users to collaboratively explore, identify, and discuss potential risks.

By combining traditional in-person training with innovative AR technology, we not only delivered a familiar training format that users could relate to, but also exceeded attendees’ expectations, which fostered wider engagement and interaction. Since the project began, we have passed over 4500 users, with 95% expressing enthusiasm for the use of innovative technology. The attendees’ active engagement with such novel training features ultimately translates into an enhanced retention of critical training materials.