Site engineering is a constantly evolving industry, and with the continuous introduction of new technologies, it only continues to grow. In this post, we’ll explore how AR (augmented reality) is revolutionising the field of site engineering.
Augmented reality is defined as a technology that overlays a computer-generated image onto a user’s real-world view. This creates a composite view for the user in real-time.
Augmented reality and virtual reality are only differentiated by one thing: VR is completely virtual, while AR uses a real-world setting. Beyond this, the technology is the same, and both are used in site engineering and construction.
VIRTUAL AND AUGMENTED REALITY IN CONSTRUCTION
AR and VR are having a profound impact on the site engineering and construction industries. This advanced technology is evolving the way builders, architects and engineers create structures, from the design stages to the build. While it has been in use in the industry for a while, its capabilities only continue to grow.
Today, engineering-grade AR can provide millimetre accuracy on-site. This allows construction teams to build straight from 3D BIM models, greatly improving efficiency. But how is AR used within construction, and how does it benefit site engineers?
DESIGN AND VISUALISATION
With the use of AR, engineers, clients, and architects can visualise construction projects in the real world via digital overlays. These overlays detail the plans and finished results overtop reality, allowing people to understand better design proposals, construction phasing, and spatial relationships.
This is incredibly useful for stakeholders and anyone not involved in the construction and design process to understand what the future results will look like. VR can also be used for this purpose, especially when the site is unreachable due to distance. It’s also excellent for those within the construction team and the site engineers, who can study these overlays and build straight from them.
This kind of visualisation improves communication and helps to inform decision-making in both the design and planning stages. It also lends a detailed viewpoint into what problems could potentially go wrong. This allows for efficient fixes before mistakes are made.
ON-SITE ASSISTANCE IN CONSTRUCTION
The guide that AR can provide to on-site construction workers is invaluable. With augmented reality technology, workers can access real-time critical information overlaid onto their surroundings, such as important safety guidelines. When built into hard hats or smart glasses, this technology has the speed to inform workers much faster than word of mouth.
Detailed overlays can show construction plans down to the last millimetre around the worker. By utilising this information, work can be carried out far more efficiently, with a much lower chance of having to correct work.
Overlays on physical surroundings can show far more than plans; the inner workings of a structure, such as building systems and underground utilities, can also be shown. HaviAccess to this detail level prevent costly errors and improve on-site awareness.
INSPECTION AND QUALITY CONTROL
Site engineers and site managers can use AR through wearable devices to perform quality control inspections in real time. With AR, defects and design deviations can be identified immediately, allowing a quick and efficient response. This is revolutionary, and reduces the time needed by site engineers to perform a quality inspection, giving them extra time to focus on other areas.
Digital checklists, 3D models and general annotations can be overlayed onto physical structures. This allows for efficient progress assessment and provides a useful way to document issues relevant to very specific areas. Informing everyone involved in the project of findings is made simple through detailed overlays in AR.
Doing this type of quality control assists in catching mistakes before they can happen in construction. For site engineers, it’s an excellent tool for keeping projects on schedule, as time wasted on errors is minimised.
DEVELOPING TRAINING AND SKILLS
Off-site, AR can be utilised to create training simulations and provide construction workers and site engineers with incredible learning experiences. VR (virtual reality) is also greatly useful in this instance, allowing for a safe, virtual environment for training. AR and VR training modules can replicate various construction scenarios.
Safety procedures, complex tasks and equipment operation can all be learnt and studied through augmented and virtual reality. These courses can be customised to suit the specific requirements of construction teams, leading to improved readiness and an overall enhancement of job performance.
AR and VR training is cost-effective as there is no risk of on-site injury, there is a reduction in materials needed, it’s scalable to suit different-sized workforces, and courses can be done remotely. Courses can be done multiple times at no extra cost, resulting in more confident workers. This can save projects and construction companies money to be spent elsewhere.
REMOTE INVOLVEMENT
Virtual participation for remote stakeholders such as clients, architects, project managers and engineers is possible through AR. Site inspections and construction meetings can be attended from anywhere in the world, supporting inclusion and keeping everyone informed.
With communication tools and virtual collaboration platforms, everyone involved can make decisions and share feedback in real time, lending the project efficiency and speed lacking with old technology. For a setting-out engineer, keeping all stakeholders informed of changes, delays, and any other circumstances, is made simple through augmented and virtual reality used as and when things occur.
FUTURE TECHNOLOGY AT EAST ANGLIA SITE ENGINEERING
At E.A.S.E, we utilise the latest technology to make our operations as efficient as possible. Your project can be run to the highest standards with our experienced workers, experts in their industry, and ready to guide your project and construction teams.
If you require a dedicated site engineer to oversee your project, then get in touch today. Call us on 01603 211808 or use our online form to leave us a message.
