construction companies expected to increasingly embrace new technology in 2020, says report

Virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality are all high-tech and highly-developed tools that are expected to enjoy increased use by contractors and builders next year, according to a new report.

The publication Interesting Engineering is positing that the use of such tools can only increase due to the simple fact that “buildings are becoming ever more complicated, and these technologies are helping architects and construction teams improve designs and detect design errors.”

Virtual reality uses 3D modeling and visualization techniques as a regular part of the design process. For architects, builders, and engineers, it means seeing a given project in 3D as a means of understanding how it works.

Augmented reality is a copied view of real world environments where the elements are segmented by a computer-generated sensory input. In essence, this technology takes the real world and adds to it with a 3-D model of an architect’s design.

Mixed reality blends real world with the virtual world with the goal of creating an environment where both the physical and digital segments can interact. The “mixed” part comes with blending the real and virtual worlds through immersive technology.

Not only does such advanced technology help designers and contractors to get inside a building, but it allows clients to explore designs more fully before construction and, perhaps most importantly, provide a permanent, multi-dimensional record of the building itself.

Adds Interesting Engineering: “To date, architects and design teams greatly improve building design through interactive design and gesture interfacing. 2020 is set to see this technology’s influence on the industry expand even further.”

By Garry Boulard

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