Charles Woodward
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd
Dr. Charles Woodward is one of the internationally recognized pioneers in Augmented Reality research. He received his Ph.D. degree in Computer Science at Helsinki University of Technology in 1990. The years 1991-2000 Woodward headed his spin-off company in international software business. After joining VTT in 2001, Woodward was nominated Research Professor of Multimedia Technology in 2004, Research Professor in Augmented and Virtual Reality in 2010, and Principal Scientist since 2014. Over the years, Woodward and his team at VTT have produced world leading solutions for various Augmented Reality application fields, with special focus on AEC (Architecture, Engineering and Construction).
As of today, digitalisation has reached the office of the construction / renovation site. BIM models are used in the site office on regular basis, but not on site. Site managers might have tablets, and they can use BIM models... [ view full abstract ]
As of today, digitalisation has reached the office of the construction / renovation site. BIM models are used in the site office on regular basis, but not on site. Site managers might have tablets, and they can use BIM models on site and even access to project information via mobile connections. BIM is really an advancement if we compare the situation to the age of 2D drawings. However, it may also be a bottleneck for providing information to those who need it the most. Typically, you only need a tiny bit of information for installing a pipe or welded wire mesh, not the whole BIM model. If your expertise is plumbing, it is not expected that you can use highly sophisticated and complex BIM software as well. Therefore, we must provide easy access to 3D and BIM for those who really need the information for starting and completing their work. Not just for site engineer, not just for foremen, but to everyone working on site. Just the relevant information and only the relevant information, on real-time, on a one click and in easily understandable format. Our proposal to meet these requirements is to provide easy to use, role based access to BIM information, presented to the user by Augmented Reality (AR) visualization on every day mobile devices (phones/tablets).
In our pilot project funded by KIRA-digi, we chose a plumbing renovation site in Hernesaari at Helsinki, and a single bathroom to be worked with. Project execution was responsibility of Fira, BIM models and backend systems were provided by Sweco and the mobile AR system implementation was done by VTT. All new equipment and components to be installed were described in the BIM model of the bathroom, which for this pilot was offloaded to the mobile device offline. The AR system allows the different workers to choose their role, e.g. plumbing, electricity, drilling, and see the corresponding 3D renovation elements in the mobile AR view. The mobile system was implemented on Samsung S8 mobile phones. The AR implementation was based on using VTT’s ALVAR markers for aligning the 3D BIM with real world coordinates, then using Google’s ARCore for real time tracking. Accuracy reached was some 10 cm, which can be considered sufficient for visual checking although not for measuring work.
The workers were interviewed and asked of their experiences of the solution. The comments were mostly very positive and the workers provided many comments on how this kind of mobile Augmented Reality BIM application could help them with their work. As next steps we aim to develop the system for improved generality, for easier adoption at different renovation sites and throughout whole buildings. Requirements for this include real time access to BIMs, streamlined data pipeline from BIM to AR, localization of rooms, improved accuracy etc. Further user requirement and technology acceptance studies will also be required to identyfy future research and development tasks.
