AR for Construction, VR for Construction - Using Extended Reality

In the construction industry in particular, Extended Reality (XR) technology holds significant promise, helping teams increase accuracy and confidence during planning and construction, as well as improve communication and collaboration—both on the work site and in the office.

Benefits

Enhancing your experience through Extended Reality (XR) technologies

Better Stakeholder Engagement

XR can be used to clearly communicate design intent to external stakeholders, creating greater support for the project. By providing a visual representation of the project before construction, challenges can be identified and communicated more easily, ensuring expectations are effectively managed.

Greater Productivity

By providing a visual representation of the project in context, XR helps project teams estimate, plan, and schedule the work with more confidence and greater precision. Project teams are using XR applications for clash detection, allowing them to uncover potential issues before the build begins.

Improved Safety

Construction is one of the most dangerous industries, accounting for one in five workplace fatalities. Yet accidents and near misses can be minimized with thorough planning and a clear understanding of the potential risks and threats. Extended reality (XR) helps bring the threats to light.

Use Cases

We enhance your experience through augmented, virtual, and mixed reality

Augmented Reality

Via a smartphone or tablet, AR can projects a “digital window” that superimposes a detailed BIM model onto the user’s physical surroundings to help them visualize the placement of entire structures, as well as specific design features, objects, or systems.

Construction crews can use Augmented reality to identify and mark utilities or underground services.
MEP teams can “see” through floors and walls to understand how and where MEP systems and equipment are installed, comparing the reality of the completed work to the documented design, and identifying potential clashes.
Contractors can use AR to do inspections to ensure work has been properly built, installed, or completed.

Virtual Reality

Because VR provides a fully immersive experience, it is an effective tool for design teams, contractors, and owners to review and approve plans. The VR application controls the entire environment, creating a uniquely detailed and dynamic individual experience.

Owners can fully immerse themselves in the proposed design of a building that does not exist yet and see the concept take shape.
A team member who is not located at the jobsite but wants to understand actual site conditions can virtually experience a scanned 3D model of the site and then be able to communicate more effectively with employees in the field.
Construction contractors can use VR to train workers on specific tasks in a safe environment.

Mixed Reality

MR allows the user to merge a BIM model with their surroundings without having to hold a device. The user can continue to conduct tasks as normal while being guided by the MR headset, viewing, and interacting with the model with accurate, 1:1, surface-to-surface alignment.

BIM designers can collaborate on creating a 3D model by “touring” a building or structure before it is completed.
Similar to AR, project teams can use Mixed reality to identify clashes with installed systems, like electrical or plumbing, and bring them to the attention of a virtual design and construction (VDC) manager to help resolve the issue.
Contractors can use MR to install components on a site according to manufacturer guidelines.