The Impact of AR in the Construction Industry

Construction and Augmented Reality sure seems like two concepts that are miles apart. However, the integration of Augmented Reality in the construction industry can produce very interesting results. With AR, the construction industry can finally move away from the 2D drawings and start interacting with designs and prototypes as they have never done before. And, this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Let us examine the changes that AR can bring to the construction industry and what we can expect in the coming years.

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Going beyond the 2D barrier

AR or Augmented Reality overlays a digital environment on top of the real environment, users can see the overlays using AR-enabled smartphones or AR headsets.

The construction industry might have grown in terms of design language and machine, but one aspect of the industry that remained in its primitive stages was the visualization of design or plan.

Generally, the builder or the clients could only see the building through drawings and they were represented on 2D planes like paper or a screen. However, not everyone can read through CAD drawings or plans with ease and additional communication was used to bridge the gap which keeps on adding delays. Then again, doubts still linger in the minds of the clients on how this will turn out.

The alternative was to use 3D models on a computer. This technology got the information across better than 2D plans but then again, the limitations added up since it also uses a 2D screen.

AR is different, and it is shaping up to be the best technology we have in rendering 3D objects in real-world environments. When a building or project site is visualized in AR, the users can interact with it in real time. They can walk around it, enlarge it or even make modifications in real-time if the platform allows it.

Smart Reality app from JBKnowledge is one such application that helps in visualizing AR models from drawing to better communicate the concept to clients.

B2B gains with Augmented Reality

We had discussed how the clients can make use of AR to see how their building will take shape. There is also another facet to AR in the Construction industry which is facilitating meaningful interactions between businesses.

When a builder has to get a building design from an architect or a design company, they are given the 2D layout of the design. And when the complexity of the design increases, the same is reflected in its blueprint, making it quite hard to decipher.

The result is many back and forth calls between the two businesses to sort of a design challenge when it arises. Much of these confusions can be avoided if there was a more meaningful way to show the design.

AR helps to do just that by creating a virtual model of the design that helps them understand how the building should look when it’s completed. The other advantage is that the builder can reference the design any time as the only hardware required for the process is an AR headset.

Project demonstrations are also impacted by the use of AR. Now businesses can showcase their designs to others without building a miniature model or spending a considerable amount of time to explain how the building is going to take shape.

AR making construction layouts easy for Engineers

Electric, plumbing and air conditioning lines in a building are a critical part of its functionality. And their drawings are complex, to say the least. The complexity arises from showing all the 3D paths in 2D. Each line is color-coded for helping the engineer and the builder differentiate between the lines through the length and breadth of the building.

The DAQRI SMART HELMET is specially designed for such work environments. It is a Mixed reality visor integrated into a safety helmet.

AR helps engineers to see in 3D and understand how the different lines are routed and if they need any rerouting.

Make real-time changes

Editing in AR is one of the best ways to understand the scope of the technology. With AR, it’s not back to the drawing board with every edit.

Changes to a building a project can be made in real-time with AR. Currently, editing 3D objects in real-time require powerful hardware, but the gains are worth the investment. That said, we can expect technology to get cheaper and the adoption rates to increase in SMEs.

When you revise a measure of the building in AR, the changes will be reflected in its original plan. Even those changes that you make are on a miniature 3D modern, the degree of change will be converted to real-world values to be incorporated into the original design.

Reduced time till completion

Using AR, the construction industry isn’t just making every step easier, it is reducing the time taken for each process to reach completion. And these time savings add up to a considerable advantage to both the client and the businesses involved.

Projects will be completed faster, and during the whole process, everyone will be on the same page. In the construction industry, time savings mean cost savings, and AR delivers on that front.

Collaboration is the future

One of the prominent disadvantages of the construction industry was that it required everyone involved to present in the same office when briefings are done. This meant that there was no or very less room for remote collaboration.

So, everyone had to schedule a meeting and review the plans, which again led to time and cost expenditures. With AR, remote collaboration is possible because the parties involved aren’t looking at drawings or 3D models in a 2D plane.

They have actual 3D rendering to reference and most modern AR headsets come with microphones and cameras to enable the parties to communicate. The changes made in the rendering will be shared instantly across all members, making communication and data sharing simple and effective.

Training in AR: the safest and best way to learn

Training is a very time-intensive process that happens within an industry, and when it comes to the construction industry, safety is of paramount importance as there are many things that can go wrong. However, providing training through AR helps the users grasp the concept without safety concerns.

HoloLens is being used by many companies to provide training to their staffs without any risk factors involved. It shows us how AR paves the way for a productive and safer industry.

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Conclusion

AR in the construction industry is certainly in its early stages in terms of both developments as well as adoption. But the results of those who implemented the technology shows how effective it is in solving many of the age-old problems that plagued the industry.

With developers and software companies showing an active interest in developing AR experiences for the industry, we can be assured of its continued progress and reach throughout the construction industry.