AUGMENTED REALITY (AR) IN CONSTRUCTION: 3D VISUALIZATION COMES TO THE JOBSITE

While virtual reality is making the headlines, gutter forming machine  augmented reality (AR)is building a base of users in the construction industry who find it an excellent adjunct to designing, planning, and viewing a project before digging any dirt.

Unlike virtual reality, with its replacement of the real world with a simulated one, augmented reality lets the real world stay as it is and overlays a simulation over it. Augmented reality is a "live copied view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are augmented (or supplemented) by computer-generated sensory output."

An example would be a 3D model of an architectural design laid over an existing piece of undeveloped property using the geographic coordinates.

If the AR is sophisticated enough, with computer vision and object recognition, you can interact with the model and digitally manipulate parts of it. Now, pricing and availability have made it possible for a small firm or a sole proprietor to lease equipment for AR on a per-project basis. It isn’t just for the big construction companies anymore.

USING AR IN CONSTRUCTION AND ARCHITECTURE

As you have likely experienced, people are really bad at visualizing complete projects from a set of plans or a 2D drawing. Even if they are shown a 3D model on a computer screen, they still don’t know what it will look like once it is built on the selected site. Interior rooms are also difficult to visualize.

Augmented reality places a three-dimensional model of a proposed design onto the site using a mobile device. Used in place of virtual reality, it can cut out the step of translating the plans from 3D to 2D drawings and back to a 3D structure. AR puts the model and elements directly onto the site, and you can see changes in real time.

It's a great tool for reducing building errors tile roll forming machine and the hated change orders and rework.

Your clients will also have the advantage of seeing a proposed design exactly as it will look on their property. You can use a tablet or other mobile device to show them how the end product will appear.

You can do a virtual walk-through of the model and collaborate directly and in real time with the architect, spotting problems and constructability issues before they come up during construction.

AR also can assist with the prefabrication of building components.

Augmented reality is not a replacement for CAD, BIM, or paper plans but a complementary tool to make visualization easier.

The biggest issue with AR right now is that many are unaware of the application or think it will be hard to use. Vendors are trying to educate the industry to show this application is for now, not next century.

AUGMENTED REALITY SOFTWARE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

Popularity has boosted the number of software developers and vendors jumping into the market. Here are a few examples that are currently available.