Augmented Reality (AR) in Construction Industry: Uses and Applications

Last Updated on April 4, 2022 by Admin

Augmented Reality (AR) is a technology that alters reality by adding or overlaying virtual information. AR technology can provide instructions for construction workers on-site and give a visual representation of the finished product. This article discusses the uses, applications, and limitations of Augmented reality in the construction industry.

For many years, construction industry observers have discussed the advantages of Augmented Reality (AR). The benefits of training, marketing, and planning are evident, but they can also increase productivity and worker safety by offering insights that traditional technology cannot.

Augmented reality and virtual reality(VR) are at a fork in the road in the construction industry. Computer-generated visuals and information are superimposed on real-world imagery in augmented reality. While AR superimposes a computer-generated image on a user’s view of the world, VR uses a virtual environment to replace the real one.

However, AR is swiftly overtaking VR as an emerging trend in the construction industry due to its benefits and applications. Consider the impact of viewing the real world through the lens of a camera.

While the user can look at components or see display warnings when hazards close, AR systems can display essential information about equipment. In contrast, the user can look at components or see display warnings when risks are nearby.

What is Augmented reality in construction?

These days, Augmented Reality (AR) is frequently addressed in discussions regarding technology adoption in the construction industry. In essence, augmented reality (AR) merges the actual and virtual worlds. AR does not provide an immersive, out-of-body experience, unlike its virtual reality counterpart.

Instead, it usually entails using goggles, masks, or glasses to layer computer interfaces on top of the physical world. It’s a new, adaptable technology that’s quickly gaining favor in the business since its applications range from cooperation to design to safety.

AR is being utilized in the industry to increase productivity, improve safety, expedite cooperation, manage costs, and boost overall project confidence because of its capacity to deliver real-time information. Here are a few examples of how construction teams use augmented reality to speed up the construction process.

AR combines the real and virtual worlds into a single immersive experience. AR projects 3D visuals onto a person’s actual environment as they walk around space using a smartphone or an AR headset.

The AR technology can offer users geographical information via GPS and cameras, providing relevant information as the user walks around the worksite. Schedules, operational data, and drawings are all readily available, allowing users to make choices on the fly while on the job.

AR can affect how stakeholders see specific activities, but it also can change how professionals perform their professions, possibly saving a lot of time, energy, and money.

How is augmented reality used in construction?

Civil engineers and the construction industry can benefit significantly from augmented reality. Recent uses of Augmented Reality in engineering have aided in increasing performance in several aspects of the construction and engineering domains, ranging from comparing the ‘as-planned’ with the ‘as-built’ condition of projects to enhancing cooperation prospects.

As a result, if you’re interested in learning more about how augmented reality alters the engineering industry, we’ve compiled a list of resources. Although there are several advantages to augmented reality, let us examine how engineers use it to improve civil engineering projects.

The following are some of the primary advantages of employing AR in an engineering environment:

Architectural Drawings Translated Effortlessly

It is undoubtedly not an easy undertaking to convert a drawing into a fully functional structure. It entails several processes, beginning with identifying various structural parts and ending with flawless construction.

During construction, errors may quietly seep in because most projects are planned in stages. AR can easily avoid such errors because it provides a virtual view of the construction framework.

Superior Development and Design

AR can be used to optimize designs to make greater use of the available space and save waste. AR may be used to construct spatial models, which aid designers spotting and correcting errors when designing.

Furthermore, because the civil engineer will be able to see the structure better and make several useful alterations, this technology aids in the development of creative designs.

Error Reduction in the Construction Process

One of the most significant advantages of this technology for civil engineers is the reduction of errors that arise during the implementation of the finalized design during construction.

AR creates a virtual model of the entire construction site, making it easier to control various operations and assisting engineers in producing better results.

Construction Projects Should Be Better Marketed

Most civil engineers and architects struggle to explain construction projects to persons without a technical background. Even unique architecture drawings, usually on a smaller scale or 2D designs, may not serve the goal if the target audience cannot interpret them.

Clients can be presented with a virtual tour using different colors and presenting different viewpoints of the project by utilizing the AR idea. This is a superb marketing approach that realtors and other construction-related firms can use.

Time is money, and saving valuable man-hours is a good thing.

The use of AR will reduce the number of errors that occur when implementing a civil engineering plan that has been approved. Various circumstances can generate mistakes, including misreading drawings, math errors, etc.

Such mistakes can be readily avoided by employing AR, which allows continuous monitoring and assessment of the building process to verify that it follows the approved plan to the letter. This saves the time and effort required to correct potential errors, saving a significant amount of time and valuable man-hours.

Reviewing Project Designs is Simple

Using augmented reality, project managers and other authorities can readily study building blueprints on a real scale. This allows them to swiftly spot small faults or flaws that slipped past the civil engineer’s notice and into the building phase.

Cost-cutting in general

Because error rectification reduces the entire cost of a building project by preventing possible errors during construction, the labor and materials required expenses are also reduced.

What is a characteristic of augmented reality?

The characteristics of Augmented Reality that make it more implementable in the construction business are as follows:

It enables the merging of the physical and virtual worlds.

We can interact with components of the virtual world in the actual world thanks to augmented reality. Indeed, augmented reality (AR) overlays virtual objects on real-world objects to improve your present reality experience.

It all depends on the situation.

As a result, the information displayed electronically (pictures, sounds, films, graphics, and GPS data) is closely tied to the information we view with our physical eyes.

It’s real-time interactive.

A user’s alteration, activity, or response immediately impacts the reconstructed augmented reality scene. In other words, everything you do in the actual world directly affects what happens in the virtual world.

Make use of all three dimensions.

The data is always shown in perspective, providing the impression that it is absorbing the physical capabilities of its surroundings. So, even if the knowledge is imaginary, it’s integrated into your life as if it’s always been there.

You can also engage directly with the physical capabilities of the surroundings, owing to the advancement of this technology.

 Different types of Augmented Reality

The main differentiation of Augmented Reality will be between:

AR based on markers.

Target pictures (markers) are used in marker-based AR applications to position objects in a particular location. The application uses these markers to decide where the 3D digital content will appear in the user’s field of view. Markers were used in early AR technology.

In other words, these applications are linked to a specific physical picture pattern marker in a real-world environment so that the 3D virtual item can be superimposed over it.

As a result, the cameras must continuously scan the input and establish a marker for picture pattern recognition to generate its geometry. The virtual object will not be visible if the camera is not correctly focused.

As a result, a marker-based image identification system necessitates several components, including a camera, image capture, image processing, and marker tracking, to name a few. This is a low-cost and straightforward approach to filters using a bespoke program to recognize specific patterns via a camera.

AR without markers:

By analyzing the properties in the data in real-time, markerless AR allows virtual 3D objects to be positioned in the real image environment. This form of assistance is based on the hardware of any smartphone, such as the camera, GPS, or accelerometer, among other things, with augmented reality software filling in the gaps.

Due to current technological developments in cameras, sensors, and AI algorithms. As a result, it works with the digital data collected by these sensors, which can record a physical location in real-time.

Markerless analysis scans the surroundings and creates relevant maps to insert virtual objects using simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM).

SLAM marker-less image tracking scans the environment and develops maps of where to place virtual objects in 3D, even if they are not in the user’s field of view, do not move when the user moves, and does not require the user to scan fresh images.

Location-based AR.

Less of a location-based marker, the goal of augmented reality is to combine 3D virtual items in the physical space where the user is located. This technology uses an intelligent device’s location and sensors to place a virtual object in the intended location or point of interest.

Furthermore, this typology enables interactive and helpful digital information to geographies of interest, which is particularly useful for travelers inside a specific area by assisting in understanding the environment through 3D virtual items or movies.

Projection-based AR.

Project-based AR focuses on rendering virtual 3D objects into the user’s physical space and is utilized to distribute digital data in a fixed context.

As a result, AR allows the user to freely walk around a specific area where a fixed projector and a tracking camera are installed.

The major application of this technique is to project artificial light onto real flat surfaces to create illusions regarding an object’s depth, position, and orientation.

Overlay AR.

Typically, AR replaces the human eye’s original view of an object with an updated virtual image of that object. Overlay AR allows you to see numerous views of a target object while displaying additional pertinent information.

Contour-based AR.

Using sophisticated cameras, this technology allows human eyes to define specific objects with lines to aid in certain scenarios. It can be utilized in automotive navigation systems, for example, to allow safe driving in low-visibility situations.

Benefits of Augmented Reality in construction

In the construction industry, the advantages of Augmented Reality are numerous. Although the expenses of this cutting-edge technology are still significant, they are steadily decreasing.

As a result, small and medium-sized businesses will likely be able to invest in this working mode shortly. These businesses will reap the most significant benefits of Augmented Reality in construction during the process.

Rework, and downtime losses are kept to a minimum.

Completing projects on time is extremely critical in the construction business to ensure that budgets are met. While BMI models have proven useful in the building industry, Augmented Reality makes this task considerably easier.

Construction plans can be changed, and the following weeks’ logistics can be arranged with the help of both technologies. It’s also easy for employees to discover any overlaps. This reduces the need for rework while promoting employee safety in the construction industry.

Project management and teamwork have improved.

In building, augmented reality allows for the presentation of outcomes even before the task is completed. Misunderstandings are more easily discovered.

AR Overlays help discover difficulties faster, eliminating paper schedules and communication delays. This also makes inspections more convenient as they occur.

To optimize collaboration between the different parties, apps like Assist AR or the utilization of xMake can be used. Of course, the same can be said about frontline communications: they all help teams collaborate more effectively and precisely.

Limitations of Augmented Reality in construction

AR can accompany construction projects throughout their whole existence. As a result, accuracy improves, and rework reduced, ultimately lowering construction costs. These benefits of Augmented Reality in construction are compelling arguments for its implementation. However, there are limitations to the options available.

The use of Augmented Reality in buildings is still controversial. This is since augmented reality is still considered a developing technology with minimal testing.

Complex 3D information models are currently underserved. It’s debatable whether the high level of efficiency, accuracy, and consistency is justified. On the other hand, these points are critical in building and engineering applications.

Another impediment is the technology’s novelty. Simultaneously, the financial ramifications remain unclear, so many businesses are hesitant to engage in this technology.

To use augmented reality in building, you must first master a learning curve.

A robust WLAN and Internet connection must be ensured during an Augmented Reality building development. There is no guarantee that the gadgets will perform reliably in an unstable environment.

Even though all of these factors influence the adoption of Augmented Reality in the construction business, there is one more stumbling block: the cost. It is currently an enormous financial expenditure that smaller construction firms, in particular, cannot afford.

Application of Augmented Reality in construction

Because of its capacity to give real-time information, augmented reality is being used in the construction sector to improve efficiency, improve safety on building sites, optimize teamwork & collaboration, and manage time, money, and resources.

Here are a few examples of AR’s use in the construction industry:

Planning and presenting a project

AR’s role in the building begins with the planning stage. AR allows multiple details and elements to be placed onto a building design to provide stakeholders with a complete picture of the project. By merging augmented reality and BIM, architects and construction organizations may show functioning models to their clients.

Through 2D models and virtual tours, clients may get a good sense of what a building will look like. As a result, clients can make decisions based on the current plan and give designers and engineers time to make changes before construction starts.

AR Sketchwalk, an AR feature included in the Morpholio design software, can help architects bridge the gap between their design and reality. Designers can use the technology to provide clients and themselves a more accurate feel of the design and how it fits into the environment of a specific area using augmented reality.

Project Data in Real-Time

Combining all digital information and documentation of a project with its physical location is one of the significant benefits of using AR technology in construction.

This technology can aid in the access and visualization of information such as the position, style, and kind of modifications to the building shell, ranging from architectural components such as windows and doors to MEP elements such as ducts and pipes.

Engineers on the job can use this information retrieval technology to visualize facts in real-time utilizing an AR headset or tablet. This allows them to keep track of the project’s progress on-site about the building plan and guarantee that everything is in working order.

A building’s physical characteristics, such as height, width, and volume, can also be measured using augmented reality technology. For example, Microsoft’s Hololens AR headgear can measure a space’s actual proportions, such as depth, height, and width.

These data can then be included in 3D models, allowing for more precise viewing and construction measures. Accurate construction measurements will also assure project timeliness and personnel and material requirements.

Collaboration in a Group

Construction is a highly collaborative industry, and strong coordination among all disciplines is essential to ensure that a project is completed on time and within budget.

However, not every member of a project team will be present. Fixing problems must wait until all parties concerned have collected, examined, and made any required changes to the plans.

Remote workers can inspect the job site as if they were there in person using Augmented Reality. AR enables real-time problem solving and error correction without requiring a team member to be physically present at the building.

Workers can also utilize augmented reality to take notes, photographs, or videos of problems that remote teams can view and comment on. AR streamlines cooperation between on-site and remote team members, allowing them to consult in virtual environments, decreasing the time and money it takes for teams to resolve issues on-site.

Developing Projects

One of the significant innovations brought about by the application of AR in construction is the ability to make adjustments to building models immediately on-site and view the building and its pieces on a site.

Engineers can make virtual changes to a project using an AR headset or an AR-enabled mobile device with a digital overlay of the project, such as changing the arrangement of walls or other crucial components.

This will allow them to see how those changes will be integrated into the building and how they might affect the rest of the structure while making no changes to the actual physical structure and causing the project to be delayed. In addition, the technology might uncover incompatibilities or instances in which a solution will cause a future problem.

Changes that have been approved are updated in real-time, decreasing the possibility of personnel following no longer valid plans. Using AR can help you avoid costly mistakes and minimize the need for considerable rework once the project is up and running.

Safety Guidelines

In the construction industry, safety is paramount. Before engaging in activities on-site, including heavy operating machinery, mounting multi-story scaffolds, or handling hazardous materials, all workers must undertake comprehensive training for their safety and the protection of other workers and pedestrians.

In the construction industry, safety is of the utmost importance. However, safety training is costly, time-consuming, and even dangerous if an unskilled person is in charge.

Workers can be given virtual drills, training, and safety situations via AR technology such as AR headsets to address this issue. Workers can be trained in a safe atmosphere where no one gets wounded in this way.

The future of AR in the construction industry

Construction augmented reality is a cutting-edge technology poised to propel the industry forward. Processes can be streamlined and made more efficient thanks to the multiple benefits of introducing Augmented Reality.

As a result, future building projects will be completed faster and more securely. In truth, Augmented Reality engineering applications could significantly impact the building industry: after all, this technology provides a plethora of ways to maximize one’s potential and is constantly improving.