The article is authored by By Aatika Manzar, Founder and Director at Aatika Manzar Designs.
There are a lot of new technologies out there creating a revolution in the architectural world but there are three such technological innovations happening in the industry that with time are evolving and turning out to be so effective that their end results in the future may eliminate the need of the traditional 2d drawings altogether, this technology with help the AEC industry to detect issues during construction, improve safety, help in the reduction of cost and waste by understanding the project in detail.
The technologies that are being talked about are BIM (Building Information Modelling), Mixed Reality (MR) as an added element to BIM, and Virtual Reality (VR) also as an added technological element to BIM. These put together will create a revolution in the architectural world.
BIM (Building Information Method)
BIM has introduced over a decade ago mainly to distinguish architectural 3D modeling from traditional 2D drawing. It has been acclaimed as a lifesaver for complicated projects because of its ability to correct errors early in the design stage and accurately schedule construction. With time this technology has upgraded itself and gained popularity in recent years. According to Patrick Schuermann, PE, a National Building Information Model Standard (NBIMS) testing team leader, “BIM is the virtual representation of the physical and functional characteristics of a facility from inception onward. As such, it serves as a shared information repository for collaboration throughout a facility’s life cycle.”
BIM consists mainly of 3D modeling concepts in addition to information database technology and interoperable software in a desktop computer environment that architects, engineers, and contractors can use to design a facility and simulate construction. This technology allows members of the project team to generate a virtual model of the structure and all of its systems in 3D and to be able to share that information with each other.
Mixed Reality and Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality
Augmented Reality is an environment where virtual elements are embedded in a live picture of real surroundings. It combines the real world and computer-generated data together in such a way that additional data generated by a computer is fed into the user’s view of a real scene. The general explanation of Mixed Reality technology is that it is derived from the combinations of elements from both the virtual (computer-generated) and real environments.
Augmented reality can be used for the real-time visualization and monitoring of activities and tasks-
The combination of BIM with AR can provide a platform for a site management team and sub-contractors to interact and utilize data contained within a BIM model. BIM could be used to model and store digitally much of the documentation associated with a project. Augmented Reality can consolidate information from individual tools such as BIM, and also from context-award sensors. AR can visualize as-planned BIM facility information in the context of the real workplace to enable project managers, subcontractors, and other shareholders to review the as-built progress against as-planned.