An analysis of the application areas of augmented reality technology in the construction industry

Purpose

The paper aims to analyze the application areas of augmented reality (AR) in the construction industry to enhance its usage level. The objectives are to assess the level of awareness of hardware and software devices of AR, examine the application areas of AR and reveal lagging areas in the construction industry.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey of construction professionals engaged in the built environment was sent a well-structured questionnaire in the study area. The professionals involved are project managers, architects, engineers, builders and quantity surveyors. The sampling technique used in selecting those professionals was convenience sampling. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used in analyzing the retrieved data.

Findings

The five most applied areas of Augmented Realities are Visualization and simulation of construction works; Project documentation; Project planning, monitoring and modification. The other two areas include on-site real-time information retrieval and health and safety measures. The findings also revealed the difference in the opinions of professionals among the variables. The results showed that there is significant difference in the opinions of the professionals regarding the application areas except one, that is automated measurement. Automated measurement has the same converging opinions of all professionals engaged in the study.

Originality/value

The study gives deep insight into possible areas where AR can be used in construction. The awareness level of hardware and software devices of AR was revealed by showing that those devices are upcoming in their usage. The areas of application of AR in construction are in their nascent stage. When there is proper implementation of this technology it will improve management in construction, minimize health and safety issues, and enhance the efficiency of workers through visualization and simulation.