Abstract
Abstract. A growing number of research works, experiments and applications is investigating the potential at the intersection of augmented reality (AR) and the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. Project management, project communication, collaborative design, maintenance and construction progress documentation, construction site safety, and training are some of the cases that can benefit from blending real and virtual views through mobile devices. In recent years, research also highlighted how mixed reality and building information modeling (BIM) could cooperate to provide effective communication between multiple agents and closer interaction between digital information and the building site. Nevertheless, consolidated applications in these fields are still limited, especially when compared to other areas of AR adoption. This paper presents the development of an AR-based mobile app for exploring telecommunications tower sites and interacting with a related BIM database. The project aims to provide easy-to-use tools to maintain both the physical assets and an up-to-date model. We discuss critical issues in developing a scalable and interoperable application, supporting the feasibility study of similar solutions in the AEC sector.
Highlights
The architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) sector increasingly consider augmented reality (AR) a design support tool (Garbett et al, 2021) and a growing number of experiments is investigating the potential at this intersection (Noghabaei et al, 2020)
We present an ongoing project dealing with the integration of AR – or, more generally, of computer vision technologies to interact with the built space – with building information modeling (BIM)
The current hype for AR enhances some technical possibilities of mobile computing and presents this technology as a naturally engaging and easy-to-use medium
Summary
The architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) sector increasingly consider augmented reality (AR) a design support tool (Garbett et al, 2021) and a growing number of experiments is investigating the potential at this intersection (Noghabaei et al, 2020). AR tools ensure more intuitive exploration and understanding of 3D models. This increased usability of digital representation can boost applications in managing complex design projects and support maintenance, documentation, and professional training. By fostering bidirectional and frequent communication between the artifact and its representation, AR can contribute to the study and specialization of the digital twin paradigm – a wellestablished concept in the production engineering sector (Grieves and Vickers, 2017) – for architectural contexts (Khajavi et al, 2019). The application field is the management of an extensive network of sites for mobile communications towers and is based on the development of an app for mobile devices
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
