Mixed Reality can help local construction industry transforms digital content into actual physical objects.
Efforts are being made in the local architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry to drive technological adoption and modernise building methods.
One example is the use of Mixed Reality technology, in which real-world objects are mashed with digital content interactively and in real-time. Microsoft is promoting this technology via HoloLens which helps bring information models out of the screen (in 3D holographic form), so engineers can efficiently interpret physical and digital information, and the spatial relations between them.
HOLOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY
Microsoft HoloLens is a wireless, holographic computer system that enables high-definition holograms to integrate with the real world. This specially-designed device features a see-through, holographic display, and advanced sensors that map the physical environment. It allows users to place and interact with 3D holograms in the physical environment.
Trimble, a company that comes up with solutions that enable workforce productivity, collaborated with Microsoft to develop a holographic construction-related solution system. The resulting technology has shown great potential and has led to other applications and extensions to the current products to be developed, that will enable designers and construction teams to utilise Mixed Reality in their work.
Trimble was founded in 1978 by Charlie Trimble, a former Hewlett Packard engineer. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, California, Trimble took over Finnish company Tekla, a leading provider of Building Information Modelling (BIM) software in 2011.
The integration of Tekla’s BIM software solutions with Trimble’s building construction estimating, project management and BIM-to-field solutions enable a compelling set of productivity solutions for contractors around the world.
BIM refers to the use of three-dimensional, real-time, dynamic building modelling to increase productivity in building design and construction.
BETWEEN REALITY AND VIRTUALITY
In the last few years, there has been a transition from the use of 2D documents to BIM software technology, from the design to building stage. Utilising BIM for renovation works, building extensions to existing buildings and brownfield construction is becoming more and more commonplace.
As Barry Chapman, Trimble Structures Division’s director of engineering, explained: “BIM solutions such as Tekla Structures are being widely used today for detailed design and fabrication but still, the interaction with the volumetric data is being done on 2D screens. This is where Mixed Reality, in the form of HoloLens, comes in to provide the ability to integrate digital and physical content, and present data in the proper context to improve communication, giving decision-makers more confidence.”
Mixed Reality spans the purely virtual and the purely real environments. In the context of the construction industry, this is the part where digital and real content co-exist, where architectural design collides with reality and where construction teams transform digital content into physical forms.
AT CONSTRUCTION SITES
The construction industry is spatial and has the ability to see digital content as holograms in the context of the physical world bridges the gap between virtual and real.
How does it work? Imagine work being carried out at a construction site. Point clouds created with laser scanners and total stations, such as those from Trimble, bring in the information about the existing building to feed the building information models.
With the information collected, the user is able to see the model on a holographic device such as Microsoft HoloLens on site. This will allow the user to easily and reliably compare the existing built reality with the virtual reality — a detailed information-rich model, in real-time and in 3D. The user would know instantly if the two matched and what adjustments were needed.
THE FUTURE
Experience shows that interpretation errors have happened during design and construction stages, and these have resulted in poor quality construction, cost over-runs and schedule delays. Mixed Reality can help the construction industry overcome these challenges.
“It can address major inefficiencies during the design, construction and operation stages,” said Chapman.
“Mixed Reality helps to improve communication, tighten workflow integration and enables real-time collaboration with remote teams.”