Augmented reality technologies for construction site progress

Abstract

Current methods to capture construction site progress are awkward. To compare the as-planned and as-built statuses on a project, one must be on site with the plans in hand, or have separate files/documents, looking from one to another to find discrepancies. However, with the use of augmented reality (AR), the as-planned and as-built statuses are in one place and discrepancies can be easily detected. The goal of this research project was to enhance methods for interacting with visual records of project progress. The use cases used for the exploration of the interface was a typical construction change order process. In cooperation with the New Brunswick Department of Supply and Services, a building was selected as a case study and a new interface created. Virtual reality panoramas were augmented with an interface that simultaneously overlaid renderings generated from 3D CAD models. This paper reports on the development process involved in creating a basic augmented reality interface as an enhancement to an existing interface for interacting with virtual reality panoramas that document construction project status. We conclude by reporting on work in progress to address the remaining development challenges identified. These challenges include: incorporating multiple capture dates within the interface, being able to pan through both the panorama and 3D CAD renderings, and incorporating a building information model into the interface as an enhancement over 3D CAD.