Unlocking the Future of Construction: BIM in Augmented Reality

By bridging the gap between digital data and the physical world, AR revolutionizes how we interact with information and communicate in real-time. And as students and fresh faces enter the construction field, they are digital natives driven by the ability to research and answer their own questions. Augmented Reality (AR) stands out as a transformative tool, especially in the construction industry. 

Why Augmented Reality is Essential for Construction

Seeing your model overlaid in AR makes training your crew and preparing for layout quick and easy. As a 1:1 projection of the model onto real space, AR means less time deciphering 2D blueprints and more time spent doing the building part of building. This leads to:

• Faster Time to Layout: Making decisions in the field becomes more intuitive and informed when you can see data overlaid on real-world scenarios. When physical presence isn't possible, hologram-enhanced video provides essential insights right from your office.
• Reduced Errors: With AR, crucial details that provide context are more easily accessible, minimizing costly mistakes caused by miscommunication or misinterpretation.
• Better Trade Cooperation: If a picture is worth a 1000 words, seeing a holographic overlay of the complex build is…. is worth a lengthy paragraph. Here’s how Dustin a coordinator for healthcare projects used it on site:

“The tradesmen installing the ductwork wanted to know the areas that they could install their work prior to our installation.  I was able to identify the critical areas of our conduit installation that needed to be left open for our installation while also giving the ductwork installers several areas where we had no conflict.  This task in the past would involve either looking through several pages of drawings across multiple trades, or at the very least a detailed dive through the 3D model if one existed.   With Argyle I was able to identify the areas mentioned previously in around 5 minutes and pass that information along to our trade partner.  Argyle has been an asset that has ensured that we not only have a clean, accurate, and well coordinated installation, but also it ensures that as a contractor Miller remains an industry leader in implementing the best construction practices moving forward.” - Dustin Crutcher Healthcare Projects

AR Hardware - Where to Find It?

AR hardware is capable of projecting holograms of digital content onto the real world. Most people today carry AR-capable devices in their pockets. Apps on your smartphone can augment reality by displaying digital contentN into the physical world. If virtual reality immerses you in a completely different environment, AR enhances your current surroundings with contextual data. 

Have you ever used a silly face filter on TikTok or Instagram? Or played PokemonGo with your kids? If so, you've already experienced a kind of AR. The developers of the filters map data to what the phone’s camera perceives. Somewhat like a face filter, BIM to AR apps map BIM data to what the user can see. 

If you haven't yet explored BIM to AR applications, now's the time to search your app store. Apps like Argyle offer a window into this augmented world, making it easier to visualize complex data directly on-site.

Leading AR Applications in Construction

As AR technology continues to advance, several applications are transforming the construction industry:

• AR Measuring Tapes: These digital tools allow for quick and precise measurements in real-time, eliminating manual errors and saving time.
• Argyle Build: Argyle seamlessly integrates building information modeling into an augmented format. There are a few AR apps out there, and Argyle is known for its ease of use and tight alignment on site. 
• PolyCam: This application captures and visualizes real-world spaces in augmented reality, providing a comprehensive view of construction projects.

Augmented Reality and AI, Best Friends Forever

At the core of AR technology lies a robust suite of computer vision technologies. These tools enable devices to understand and interact with their surroundings. Computer vision is a baseline necessary technology to AR, but with the AI revolution, modern computer vision is becoming more and more AI-based.  This means faster and better interpretation of visual data and entirely new tasks that weren’t possible before the transformer revolution.. 

For example, SLAM technology has been around forever (citation needed), but what was once clunky is super fast now. Magic Leap open sourced an AI-based feature point they named superpoint and it’s no coincidence Magic Leap has the best tracking in the business. Moving beyond quality of interpretation leads to object recognition and detection. This lets Augmented Reality interact with the world in ways that require both knowing its position in space and what it’s looking at. 

In the construction context, it opens up a world where your AR app can accurately call out maintenance issues, potential safety hazards, and recommended QA tasks. 

‍

Tying AR to Real Space: Anchors, Beacons, and QRs

When AR is used by builders it needs tight association with its real world location. This section discusses how to link the data to its physical location:

• Beacons: Early AR systems often relied on external beacons for location tracking. While useful, they can be cumbersome to set up and transport and rigid to change.
• Anchors: Digital spatial anchors create memories of precise locations in space, offering a more flexible solution than traditional beacons. Microsoft’s Azure Spatial Anchors was a pioneer in this technology, although it has since been discontinued (as of this week in November 2024)
• QR Codes: Great choice for initially establishing location, it’s accessible and physical and relatively convenient. While not the most precise over long distances, QR codes can help establish orientation and context when placed correct.
• Scans: Relying on scan positioning in space that undergoes construction is rigid and limiting.
• RISA: Alignment that links these inputs seamlessly without the user’s awareness is how Argyle built its positioning technologies. Stands for Resilient, Interdependent, Spatial Alignment.

Embracing the Future of Construction AR: More than Just a Viewer

In construction, AR applications should not just serve as viewers but as active participants in the decision-making process. Real-time data association ensures that the information you see is not only accurate but also immediately actionable.

AR is more than just a novelty—it's a powerful tool that can redefine how we approach construction projects. By enhancing our understanding of the physical world with real-time data, AR makes the construction process faster, safer, and more efficient.

So, have you tried AR yet? If not, now is the perfect time to explore this incredible technology and unlock its full potential in your construction projects. 

If your project has BIM, it should have Argyle. Check out our demo projects on your iPad. Search the appstore for Argyle Build.

‍