Construction is a complex, dynamic industry. From site to finish and back again, building sites change frequently and often, both in scale and scope. Construction requires fast-paced and fluid communications between various stakeholders who must work collaboratively on a project. Augmented reality (AR) offers a solution to this communication challenge in construction by allowing project teams to view 3D digital models of the site at any time, from anywhere – all with the click of an app or the tap of an AR-capable phone or tablet. By overlaying high-resolution digital information about a site onto a live camera feed of the real environment, AR allows users to view schematics and CAD drawings without needing to get out of their vehicle or suit up with headlamps and goggles. This article explores how AR can help construction ( https://nsflow.com/industries/augmented-reality-in-construction-industry) firms streamline communication between team members and reduce costs by eliminating unnecessary field visits. Keep reading for more information about how AR can streamline communication in construction, cost savings potentials, implementation considerations and more…

What is AR in construction?

Construction AR is the process of overlaying digital information about the site onto the real environment. This allows stakeholders to view the site, including CAD drawings and 3D models, without needing to get out of their vehicle or suit up with headlamps and goggles. AR also allows them to easily annotate the scene, and to receive information about the site’s functional attributes, as well as its environment. As a result, construction firms are able to streamline communication between team members and reduce costs by eliminating unnecessary field visits.

AR in the field

Construction AR is a great way to bring information from your office to the field. By overlaying your CAD drawings and 3D models onto a live camera feed of the site, you can view plans at any time, from anywhere. This means less time spent in the car, and less wear and tear on equipment with less need for repairs. You can also annotate plans, add markings or annotations, and receive information about the site’s functional attributes, as well as its environment. Having this information available on-site has several significant advantages. First, it allows construction workers to identify potential risks and complications while they’re still onsite, and take preventive action before they occur. Second, it allows team leaders and supervisors to see a precise and precise visualization of the site’s functional attributes and make decisions based on accurate information. This translates into reduced costs, since less field visits will be required.

AR at the site

The real-time visualization of plans and site information offered by construction AR also opens up a new way of communicating with team members and supervisors from the safety of a vehicle. You can easily broadcast your AR feed from your phone or tablet, and let team members see your plans, annotate them, and annotate the environment with notes or markings. This not only saves time, it also avoids potential injuries. By eliminating the need to get out of a vehicle, risk of falls and other injuries is greatly reduced. You can also use AR at the site to highlight the location of equipment and utilities. This can be especially helpful for those who work on high-rise construction sites, since it allows them to easily identify the location of utility lines and other critical elements. Not only does this help workers avoid potentially dangerous situations, it also saves time and money, since fewer field visits will be required.

AR offsite

Construction AR can also be used to gather information about the site from offsite sources. This allows you to showcase photos, videos and other information about the site taken by drone or other remote sensing platforms. By overlaying these visuals onto your live feed, you can see the context of the imagery, as well as its resolution and other technical attributes. This can be especially helpful for managers and supervisors, who can use it to review and approve site conditions, evaluate project progress, and make decisions regarding resource allocation and budget optimization. You can also use offsite photos and videos to gather information about the site’s functional attributes, and its environment. This can be especially helpful in areas such as geotechnical investigations, which require detailed ground-truthing assessments of the project’s impact on soil strenth and behavior.

AR for communication between team members

Construction AR can also be used for remote collaboration and team-building exercises. This is especially helpful for projects that span multiple states or countries, or that require coordination between teams in different locations. Managers and supervisors can use this functionality to view team members’ annotations and annotations about the site, and to communicate with them in real time. This also helps reduce communication costs, since it reduces the number of emails and phone calls that need to be sent. Construction teams can also use AR to create digital slideshows of their site visits. This not only creates a visual record of the visit, but it also allows team members to annotate their annotations, and to annotate each other. This creates a dynamic, collaborative workspace where team members can easily share information and collaborate on projects and tasks.

Remote collaboration & training

Construction AR can also be used to conduct remote collaboration and training exercises, both in person and virtually. This can be especially helpful for multiple-site projects, where team members need to be trained in an unfamiliar environment, or where they need to be trained in a hazardous environment. Remote collaboration and training using AR can be especially helpful with groups that include people with disabilities, since they can view training and collaboration content that is accessible and appropriate for them. By eliminating the need for team members to travel to training sessions, remote collaboration and training using AR can reduce both travel costs and the risk of accidents.

Conclusion

Construction AR is a powerful technology that allows stakeholders to view high-resolution plans and 3D models of the site without needing to get out of their vehicle or suit up with headlamps and goggles. This can eliminate unnecessary field visits, reduce wear and tear on equipment, and ensure safer and faster project completion. It can also be used for remote collaboration and team-building exercises, as well as for remote communication between team members.