Augmented Reality tools in use at 1 Broadgate and Kingsway Hospital

At 1 Broadgate in London and Kingsway Hospital in Derby, teams from Sir Robert McAlpine are trialling digital construction tools including Augmented Reality (AR) to redefine traditional approaches.

Digital construction tools such as Dalux BIM viewer are already used as part of the firm’s design team meetings and make it easy for everyone to visualise and query complex interface details, to explain construction sequencing and to check the viability of design solutions virtually.

The teams also use a digital firestopping tracker that has improved the speed and efficiency of the process.

At its most basic, the use of AR headset technology allows you to superimpose an interactive BIM model onto an a built or under construction structure. This makes visualising installation and the impact of any required changes easier. As well as allowing you to install with confidence, AR also enables you to capture deviations, conduct inspections remotely and update the BIM model with as-built information.

In June, the team began a Knowledge Transfer Partnership with University College London (UCL), Innovate UK, the UK’s national innovation agency, and XYZ reality, a construction AR platform. The partnership seeks to quantify the benefits of AR using XYZ’s ATOM headset on a construction site.

Over the summer, the team worked with UCL and XYZ to trial the technology across two of our projects, One Broadgate and Kingsway Hospital in Derby, each site completing three weeks of fieldwork followed by two weeks of analysis and conclusion.

From the information gathered and anecdotal conversations across the team, it’s clear that the AR headsets were useful during the planning stages.

In the coming months, the team will receive a report from UCL which will include analysis of the data they provided while using the headsets. The report will also look at the next steps of AR, how it can be improved for the construction industry and the advantages of implementing digital tools in construction.

“We’re always looking for ways to improve and are happy to be involved in anything that could benefit our industry now or in the future,” said Sassi Stark Digital Construction Manager at Kingsway Hospital. “In terms of the AR headsets, we enjoyed being part of the trial and there’s certainly a role for them, but I think more research is needed to understand what they can offer.

“The use of AR within construction is still a relatively new concept. Taking part in research like this is important as it means we can influence how the technology progresses and inform its development. I think slowly we’ll start to see it being used more widely and that’s exciting. It has potential to be a great tool.”

In Derby, the team are also keen to support emerging technologies and any advances in the digital space that could benefit the industry. They’re currently using digital models to engage with the local community including their NHS clients.

Staff at the Derby Kingsway Hospital have shown a keen interest in the project: they’ve enjoyed seeing digital images and occasionally pop in for a walk through of the BIM model.

And the team is no stranger to new technologies. Last year they welcomed the HP Site Print robot. Developed by Hewlett Packard (HP), the HP Site Print increases accuracy and gets layout jobs on concrete decks done 10 times more quickly than traditional surveying methods. The robot sets out and prints drawings onto the floor slabs, making the process much quicker and more efficient.

The visit was the first time the final product was used on a construction site globally.