Applying augmented reality for data interaction and collaboration in BIM

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is expected to enable efficient collaboration, improved data integrity, distributed and flexible data sharing, intelligent documentation, and high-quality outcome, through enhanced performance analysis, and expedited multi-disciplinary planning and coordination. Despite these apparent benefits, the collaboration across the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) disciplines is largely based on the exchange of 2D drawings. This paper reports the findings from a research project that aims at developing measures to enhance BIM-based collaboration in the AEC industry. Based on focus group interviews with industry participants and case studies of BIM applications, visualisation was identified as an interactive platform across the design and non-design disciplines. It is argued that visualisation can enhance the motivation for BIM-based collaboration through integration of advanced visualisation techniques such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). An AR interface for BIM server is also presented and discussed in the paper. AR can open up potential opportunities for exploring alternatives to data representation, organisation and interaction, supporting seamless collaboration in BIM.