In August, we wrote about hot topics in construction with a focus on information management and communications. Today we’re going a step further and discussing an exciting – and very Jetsons-like – development in project visualization equipment: virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). The construction industry has typically been somewhat reticent to adopt cutting-edge technology, but the application of VR and AR has incredible potential and is something to consider for future investment.
SO, WHAT ARE THEY?
Virtual reality and augmented reality are both methods used to envision a concept or design (or even a world). Most people are familiar with the technology as it relates to video gaming, but there are industries – like construction management – that can realize significant benefits from its use.
VIRTUAL REALITY
Virtual reality involves the use of computer-generated images and sounds to create an artificial, 3D-simulated environment. VR creates a total immersion into a designed world and requires wearing a headset. Devices on the market include PlayStation VR, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and the budget-friendly Google Cardboard.
These virtual reality headsets allow you to step inside a full-scale 3D virtual model and interact with the design just like you would in the real world. You can walk through a virtual building, entering rooms, ambling down hallways, and opening doors and windows; you can even look up and see ceilings and look down at the floors. The applications are significant. Change orders, for example, can be costly and negatively affect schedules – but if you had the opportunity to immerse yourself in a 3D model of the change order, errors and inconsistencies could be discovered and mitigated before doing too much damage to the budget and project deadline.
AUGMENTED REALITY
Augmented reality is a technology that layers computer-generated images on top of the viewer’s physical surroundings, allowing you to interact with it. (Pokémon Go is an example of wildly successful augmented reality.) While virtual reality enables full submersion into a build, AR is a more useful tool for helping clients imagine fittings and materials in place.
An interesting use of AR is found in noting and managing defects; for example, a user can create and assign real-time data while walking around a construction site by adding tags that are viewable by other users.
While these technologies are still in their infancy in the construction management world, learning about virtual reality and augmented reality now will pay big dividends in the future. Staying up-to-date on the latest technology is critical, and these trends can help any organization speed up and streamline their operations without sacrificing accuracy.