Construction pros in the Quad State region are starting to learn about breakthrough technology that is already impacting their industry and can impact, positively, the bottom lines of all players in the field.
The technology, augmented reality, in case you are not familiar with it you have already observed if you watch football on TV, is here to stay. You are looking at augmented reality (AR) each time you see the line of scrimmage or the first-down marker ‘augmented’ for the viewing audience.
And it is going to get even better in the months and years just ahead as AR impacts a whole covey of industries.
In brief, AR is enhancing real-world environments by overlaying virtual data, images and so forth onto a physical space. Maybe you can call it the flip side or extended version of having a realtor take you on a virtual tour of a house for sale.
To a degree, each time you see a QR (Quick Response) code, you are looking at a member of the AR family. It is applied to architectural drawings and construction images coming from/to the cameras smartphones and tablets.
Those in the AR field see the technology eventually eliminating the need for markers in GPS technology in areas such as radio frequency identification devices (RFID)
AR technology is just now getting started with the first reporting on expanded and practical uses in the construction trade press in 2011. But now with AR impacting more fields (such as education for example) the construction trade press came alive in 2013.
Door Jamb Technologies Coming Alive?
As with its ‘Star Trek’ cousin technology of 3-D printing coming onto the scene, construction firms are using QR codes as markers on door jambs so as to allow on-site users up-to-the-minute 3D Building Information Modeling to easily keep up with such things as those pesky change orders.
In fact, the watershed construction project for AR was The Institute for Systems Biology headquarters in 2011 where construction professionals, through Building Information Modeling (BIM) were able to ‘look’ at the completed building and change or modify building components before they were built or even installed.
In fact one can now look at the AR markers on a door jamb and see how a new piece of equipment or other change order would impact the final look. And then the project manager could ten video record the AR walk-through and get it back to the construction design team as issues come up.
The Entire AR Technology is Just Getting Started, But Give Us Five Benefits of the Technology Right Now
The full scope of AR capabilities and applications are still ahead. The entire construction industry is changing before our eyes. Those firms who jump on and learn what the technology can do for them will be miles ahead of their competitors.
First, Projects Can Be Real-Time Visualized
Think of an architect, contractor or building owner being able to walk onto a project site with their smartphone or tablet. Now with the device’s camera pointed at the location of the proposed building, they can see a full-scale model of the building before the first wheelbarrow comes on site!
This represents a quantum leap from 2D drawings and even the current technology of BIM.
Next, Vastly Improved Communication and Alliances
Virtually every one of the Quad State’s construction professionals can give you their own construction war stories of the movie line, “What we have here is a failure to communicate!”
Collaboration and communication are the two peas in a pod that go into any successful construction project. Take the same scenario as in #1 above and have a project manager overlay a BIM model ON TOP OF as-built construction and compare the two views—all the time accessing change orders as they come through.
Third, Safety is Augmented
One’s imagination can be brought into reality right now. Think of a safety manager being able to walk into a specific area of current construction with their safety checklist—just made in the morning’s safety meeting. Everyone can see how the morning’s checklist meets reality almost instantly.
Fourth, Building Information Modeling Takes a Giant Leap Forward
Granted, with over 70% of the firms using BIM in some way right now, AR has the very real potential to up BIM deployment to 100% of the firms throughout the construction industry. The back and forth capabilities of current model overlaid on the actual built environment without ever having to look away, brings a new game into town.
As one wonk mentioned, “Augmented reality will do for BIM what BIM did for CAD and 2D architectural drawing.”
Lastly, the Phrase ‘On Time and Within Budget’ Really Can Mean Something Now
Integration of AR with BIM is already augmenting the under budget aspects of what BIM did in its current form to CAD and 2D. Now for the kicking BIM up a few notches for the customer.
With the customer, you can walk through a full-scale BIM model and show the customer the most efficient construction schedule possible. Then develop a logistics plan for the site complete with materials and delivery staging areas.
What if you could quickly calculate remaining building materials with how much will be needed to complete the rest of a project? That’s the kind of real-time savings with the enhanced BIM gives you. If a sudden need for materials arises, not only could you even quickly calculate the amount needed, you can see where the closest distributors are for even same-day delivery if needed.
If You Haven’t Yet Experienced AR There Are Several Beta Examples
You can Google for examples of course, but there is an app by J.B Knowledge Technologies, Inc., that you may play around on—at no fee. The app is available on iOS and Androud mobile devices and is free to download once you register. The link is at the end below.
Another option that is as cheap as dinner for two is to chat with one of the Quad State professionals at The Business Solutions Network site. We’ve also included below. Basically, as it is a new technology, you would have to call the BSN office and chat with staff to determine whom to chat with.
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First published: www.QuadStateBusinessJournal.com
Free Download of an AR App for Construction:
Talk to a local Quad State Expert: www.TheBusinessSolutionNetwork.com
(Call the BSN office to be safe. Number on the site.)
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