Overview
Mixed Reality is a promising and digital technology which combines augmented and virtual reality to create a mixed reality environment where physical space and digital elements can interact side by side. It encompasses both realities with immersive technology which lets the user see the existing space entitled with hologram data taken from BIM Services Model.
Mixed Reality comes into the picture when companies take and interact with information. It enables both hardware and software to collaborate with both on-site and off-site conditions in order to track the tasks performed with constant feedback and changes. It allows Architects, Owners, Construction Workers and Others to view partially completed project and model that overlays with the physical environment using handsets.
Microsoft HoloLens is a mixed reality gadget which includes unique components and custom holographic technology processing unit which allows people to go beyond the screen and part them into both the realities. Mixed Reality often works where safety requirement is mandated.
Mixed Reality is another form of Augmented Reality which showcases digital images on virtual view of the real world. Mixed Reality works when images are anchored to the real-world objects that ensure the model is accurate and user positioned about the project move.
Mixed Reality in construction would mean that digital and real content co-exist where the design get impacted with reality and makes the construction team transform digital content into physical objects. It helps to interpret the relationship between physical and digital information.
How mixed reality enhances construction projects?
Mixed Reality supports complex design and modeling processes that improves chances for BIM Coordination Services across projects. Construction companies have transformed from mixed reality in terms of communication flow through immersive technology experience. Mixed Reality is the combination of real and virtual reality that has worked well for construction companies to manipulate models and coordinate throughout the building’s lifecycle with updated worksite.
Devices or software of Mixed Reality has been able to provide value to the construction projects where these devices can easily map out the physical environment with holographic data presented by on-site conditions.
Advanced Mixed Reality can give access to the user to virtually have a tour of the project to scale out the route changes and RFIs frequently and also enhances the pre-construction process. Identifying the issues in the early design stage can reduce rework and at the end provide you with a coordinated model.
It provides useful benefits to the construction companies in terms of shorten the project schedule, reduce costs, eliminate rework, on-site assembly, scheduling the task and supervising it with asset management. It helps deliver accountability to the workers to know which tasks needs to be accumulated by them and initiate feedback to resolve BIM Clash Detection Services, model analyzing and as-built environment. When the model is overlaid with the physical environment, precise collaboration and coordination is possible between the projects.
Mixed Reality in the construction industry helps to coordinate with project, identifies clashes and assures quality control at the early design phase of the project by 3D BIM Model. Contractors here can review and approve complex design projects by verifying interaction with critical system and constructable concepts before fabrication and installation process of elements begins.
Who can use mixed reality in the construction industry today?
Mixed Reality seems to be the promising technology in the construction industry but is not yet ready to be used by the projects managers. There are very few companies who might start implementing the Mixed Reality gadgets. GA Smart Building have used Mixed Reality in their construction projects to improve quality assurance, reduce delay & costs and helps to improve the productivity both on-site and off-site construction areas. It helped them to increase communication between stakeholders and project teams.
Using Mixed Reality with BIM can impose design quality assurance and control for making proper decision later. It can make their projects get constant updates and changes easily through feedback by the team using Mixed Reality softwares or gadgets.
Impact of mixed reality on construction projects
The application to Mixed Reality in the construction industry seems endless such as virtual proposed piping and ductwork installations, quality assurance on completed parts of the installations, planning accurate on-site storage space, etc. There are many other on-site and off-site application during the construction process with mixed reality can be beneficial in the initial stage of the project as below:-
- Point Cloud data and 3D Rendering Services Model data covered with actual space can easily help in identifying any minor alteration or scanning errors.
- Communication flow with the stakeholders which can be either face-to-face or virtual environment while interaction with 3D hologram data.
- Collaboration with other Architects, Designers and Modelers in real time in a virtual environment can aid in making the design précised and change any part of design quickly.
Conclusion
Mixed Reality for many of the construction companies has been proved to be interactive tool for marketing and business development purposes but it might not be so crucial for any projects. It provides many benefits such as real-time information sharing, clash detection at early design stage and improves user experience by virtual tour of the constructed projects.
This technology will be sooner addressing many challenges faced by the project team in the early design phase and construction phase. It helps to enhance quality construction, software layout and with integrated BIM Modeling it can aid in better communication flow, tightens workflow integration and enable real-time collaboration with remote teams as well as project teams.