7 Reasons Why We Haven't Seen Mass Adoption of AR on Construction Sites

Augmented Reality (AR) has huge potential to revolutionize the construction industry, offering unprecedented levels of precision, super-efficiency, and team-collaboration within the brand-spankin' new tech paradigm of AR and Machine Learning!

However.. despite its promise, the widespread adoption of AR on construction sites has been slow. Several factors contribute to this slow adoption, ranging from technical challenges to practical considerations. This post explores the reasons behind the limited adoption of AR in construction and how we, at FieldAR, aim to address these challenges to make AR a practical tool for every construction site. I’ve written this post as a somewhat shameless plug for FieldAR, but in all sincerity, there are real-world reasons why we haven’t seen mass adoption of AR tech on construction sites, and I feel it’s necessary to dissect them.

Technical Challenges and Practical Barriers

1. Ease of Use and Accessibility: AR technology is still relatively new and can be complex to use. Many existing AR platforms require users to have a certain level of technical expertise, which can be a significant barrier on construction sites where workers might not be tech-savvy.

2. Training Requirements: Effective use of AR often necessitates extensive training. Construction workers and site staff are typically focused on their primary tasks and may not have the time or inclination to undergo additional training to use new technology. Training is also expensive, time consuming, and requires overhead hours.

3. Alignment of AR Models to the Jobsite: Aligning the AR model with the real-world environment is a crucial step that can be cumbersome and inconsistent. Most AR apps require the operator to precisely define a location in the building, and navigate the BIM to the same corresponding location. The operator is obligated to have detailed knowledge of the building layout, as well as the technical skills to navigate the BIM/3D Model on their device. The manual process of alignment can be error-prone, leading to inaccuracies that diminish the value of using AR.

4. Large File Sizes of BIM Models: Building Information Modeling (BIM) files are typically large and complex. Most current AR-capable apps that enable BIM visualization require the user to pre-download the BIM files prior to starting the AR session. Handling these large files on-site, where internet connectivity might be poor and devices might not have the necessary processing power, can be a significant challenge. 

5. Poor Wi-Fi Connection at Jobsites: Construction sites often have unreliable or weak Wi-Fi connections, which can hinder the download and real-time use of AR applications that rely on cloud-based data.

6. Processing Speed of Devices: Many construction team members may not have access to high-end devices capable of handling the intensive processing requirements of AR applications. This limitation can result in laggy performance and reduced functionality, discouraging the use of AR. We’ve all had crappy phones before (let’s be real), and the thought of loading a super complex model in AR can seem like a waste of time.

7. Bad Hype: So much of what we see considering AR technology on construction sites leads to click-bait or flash-in-the-pan content featuring workers running around with AR/VR goggles on a construction site. While AR technology is novel and new, safety and practicality is crucial when handling any technology that can inhibit or distract someone on a construction site from OSHA-recognized safety hazards. Yikes, right?

How FieldAR Addresses These Problems

FieldAR is designed with the above challenges in mind, offering solutions that make AR accessible, practical, and valuable for construction sites. Here’s how FieldAR tackles the common barriers to AR adoption:

1. Simple Model Loading with QR Codes: FieldAR enables anyone on the jobsite to load the BIM model with a simple scan of a QR code. There is no need to download the file beforehand, streamlining the process and making it accessible to all site staff without requiring technical expertise.

2. Highly Compressed File Format: When a BIM model is uploaded to the FieldAR cloud service, it is converted to a highly compressed file format. This compression ensures quick loading even with poor internet connections and reduces the processing power required from lower-end devices.

3. Automatic Real-World Alignment: FieldAR uses an advanced machine learning model and cloud anchors to automatically align the BIM model with the real world. This alignment involves a simple one-time setup process at the jobsite by the BIM Manager or Project Manager, ensuring accuracy and eliminating the need for manual alignment by individual users.

4. No Training Required: The user-friendly design of FieldAR means that once the model is set up, it can be instantly loaded and aligned after scanning a QR code. This intuitive approach requires no training, making it easy for anyone on the jobsite, including construction management staff, architects, engineers, foremen, tradesmen, and facilities management staff, to use the technology in the most frictionless way possible.

5. Accessibility for All Team Members: FieldAR democratizes access to BIM in AR, allowing everyone on the jobsite to view the coordinated model. This broad accessibility enhances collaboration and ensures that the BIM becomes a single source of truth, contributing to quality assurance and quality control throughout the construction process.

6. Enhanced Facilities Management: The benefits of FieldAR extend beyond construction to facilities management. After the building is constructed, facilities management staff with access to BIM in AR can easily find building systems hidden in walls and perform maintenance more efficiently, leveraging the detailed and coordinated model.

7. TO HELL WITH HYPE, let’s make good tech: We’ve designed FieldAR as a mobile-first app, so that everyone, regardless of device capability or wifi connectivity, can simply view the most complex BIM / 3D model overlaid onto the jobsite instantly in AR. Since pretty much everyone has a smartphone in their pocket, we’re tackling this mass-adoption problem directly with EASE OF USE. There’s no complex authentication, no pre-loading a huge file, no manual alignment of the model to the real world, so no more excuses as to why coordinated architectural and building system components aren’t installed correctly!

Conclusion

The slow adoption of AR in construction is due to a combination of technical and practical barriers, including training requirements, manual model alignment, large file sizes, poor internet connectivity, insufficient processing power of devices, and ease of use. FieldAR addresses these challenges head-on by simplifying model loading, compressing huge files for quick access, automating alignment with advanced technology, and designing an intuitive interface that requires no training. By making AR accessible to everyone on the jobsite, FieldAR is positioned to transform construction workflows, enhance collaboration, and ensure that BIM becomes a single source of truth from planning and installation to long-term facilities management. As the construction industry continues to evolve, the adoption of user-friendly and practical AR solutions like FieldAR will be crucial in driving innovation and improving project outcomes.

Thanks for reading, and we hope you give FieldAR a try at your jobsite! To be perfectly honest, it's been a long time since we've seen any sort of technological innovation occur in our industry regarding AR tech that gigantic companies haven't acquired and destroyed (not naming any.. cough rhymes with schmaudo-depks) but anyway, glad you're here. and anytime you want to reach out and have a chat, let us know!