Will AR Actually Build The Future Of Construction In India?

So, in the Hollywood TV series "Billions", a billionaire named Michael Prince has an ambition to bring the Olympics to New York after about 5 years. Of course, it sounds like a pipe dream, but Michael wants to show people how it would look in 2028. Can pictures suffice? A 2D model model? A PowerPoint presentation? Maybe, some of that has become saturated and boring without much flair. Maybe, they're not convincing enough. So, what does Michael do? He presents a headset that the people he needs to convince wear to help them see what it could look like. And they get to look beyond what they see.

Along the same vein, could technology be used to take construction to the next level? How about something like AR (Augmented Reality)? Granted, Michael Prince may have been using VR (Virtual Reality), but maybe, it's sibling technology.

But, if you're in the construction business, you might be acquainted with some of the challenges it takes to manage projects.

According to Rohit Singh, Product Owner - Trezi,?"Before AR, construction faced major communication and accuracy issues. Relying on 2D blueprints and physical models often led to misunderstandings and mistakes during the transition from design to build. The lack of real-time visualization tools meant problems were discovered too late, causing?expensive delays and rework. Co-ordinating large teams across different locations was, also, challenging, leading to inefficiencies and miscommunication".

Fragmented communication's always an issue, wherever you go. With construction, there might be a sense that architects, engineers and contractors might be working in silos and when that happens, designs might get misinterpreted. Plus, a paper blueprint might be hard to interpret. So, with the help of AR, maybe 3D designs could be overlayed onto a site and people understand what it'd look like and how stuff would fit within fixed surroundings. Even if the engineer is in Mumbai, the architect is in Delhi and the contractor is in Bengaluru, maybe, in real time, there's a shared view of the design.?

Singh remarks, "Today, AR helps overlay digital models on real job sites, allowing for instant?visualization, which is a game-changer and a much-needed development. This not only minimizes mistakes and rework, but, also, boosts efficiency, precision and teamwork. In the future, AR will merge more with BIM (Building Information Modelling) and IoT (Internet of Things), providing real-time updates to project models based on live site data. Workers will be able to see changes and instructions instantly through AR devices, speeding up devices and reducing delays".

Plus, skill might be a bit of an issue. It's said that there could be varying levels of skills amongst construction workers, who might initially start out unskilled or semi-skilled. Maybe, the training methods of the old days might be time-consuming, but with AR, there could be step-by-step visual instructions for different tasks. Learning by doing is always cool. They might even like the new wave of technology. There might even be a way to monitor progress with AR. Maybe, AR could superimpose a project plan over a site to outline the current status, so people might understand what needs corrective actions or what's behind schedule. It might even reduce the need for physical site visits. And could AR look at an area and determine how much concrete is needed for a slab? If it's possible to determine exact material requirements and reduce waste, that could change the game. And if scenarios could be played out using AR, like simulating hazards and responding to those issues, it could help in a major way when it's time for the real world.

Of course, though, with most burgeoning technologies, awareness might be an issue.

"To increase awareness of AR, education and demonstration are key. For consumers, this means showing the clear benefits through case studies, demos and interactive experiences. Success stories, where AR saved?time, cut costs and improved safety, are persuasive. For investors, we need to show market potential and ROI. Market research, forecasts and strategic partnerships could demonstrate the long-term value of AR in construction. Hosting webinars, attending industry events and publishing whitepapers can, also, help position our company as a leader in the AR field", declares Singh.

Even beyond awareness, there might be some broader worries.

Singh opines, "Beyond awareness, legacy systems integration is an issue. Many construction firms use older tech, so integrating AR with these can be difficult and costly. AR systems gather a lot of data, so ensuring privacy and security is crucial, which includes protecting project information and complying with regulations. Furthermore, workers need proper training to use AR tools effectively. Overcoming resistance to new tech and ensuring comfort with AR devices is necessary for successful use. Addressing these challenges is very important to unlock AR's full potential in construction and to ensure it becomes a sustainable part of daily operations".

Additionally, while AR might sound cool and promising, cost might be something to consider. Take some of the AR products by the top dogs. Apple's Vision Pro is said to cost about $3500 (close to??300,000), while it's said that Meta's Orion could cost about $10,000 (about??840,000) to make, so imagine the MRP. So, the hardware and software could impact the wallet. Could India's MSMEs in the construction space be able to eat the cost? Or will the advancement of AR tech mean a bit more affordability and thus, more adoption? Until that happens, maybe AR through mobile could be a transition. And of course, with any technology, there could be software bugs or mistakes in calibration, but those might be creases that could be ironed. Maybe, traditional checks could complement the use of AR. These are constructive criticisms.

To some extent, could smart glasses be affected by dust or heat or rain in India? Are there AR devices being developed that are a bit more resistant to dust, water or high temperatures? Or is it going to be like mobile phones, where there's limited resistance? Maybe, to deal with costs, there could be AR rentals. Bundle that with AR training and you might find a business model there in India.?

So, could you see AR laying the foundation for construction in India? Brick by brick??