VR -AR -Beyond product showcase.

Virtual reality (VR) and Augmented reality(AR) are pretty stable technologies with large application in show casing the project, flats and other marketable features to the client.

Before diving into other interesting application of VR and AR,let me first revise on what exactly VR and AR means.

Virtual reality is clearly science of creating the reality in the virtual space that is on the screen or oculus like special visual output devices.These VR renders are made using highly advanced software and rendering techniques that give us the feeling that we are actually in the flat or in the real location without moving an inch.

Augmented Reality is also straight forward. The word augment means adding something upon the existing.The augmentation that is done is either on the VR render,video or on the real time objects which have hidden triggers.When we move our phone camera over a part in the physical space or object there are certain triggers that are hidden on the object or space that makes the augmentation visible and you can see a layer or a content nugget over that object or space. This is highly effective tool to show certain qualities and properties of that object or space.

So how can this technology be used by real estate developers apart from a marketing and sales perspective.

1. Skilling and training 

    Before starting any construction site,new operations or initiating new batch of workers if we are able to use AR and VR  as apart of training and visual explanation of the skills and methods to be used it will save large amount of wastage due to lack of clarity.This removes the language barrier and learning ability barrier associated with textual learning. 

2.Avoiding rework 

    There is large amount of rework that occurs as there is no clarity with in the contractors,site super visors and engineers. AR with few simple solution can avoid this loss due to miscommunication or misinterpretation as the AR provides single reference point to all, at all time and any error inspite of this will become the liability of the performer and not the company.When in finishing stages where there are multiple agencies working simultaneously and at different point of time this will be a life saver.

How many times  have we seen the AC guy messing  with  electrical wiring as there was no one to tell him!

3. Process monitoring

    AR and VR are very good tools to mark exact process to be followed and what steps to be implemented and where through out the site. Once laid out it will be impossible for the workers or contractors to surpass those.In works like plumbing,water proofing this could be saving us from some obvious blunders.

4. Quality check

    Using the same solution we will be able to compare the ideal  and actual work and record it, is a huge plus point in maintaining our standards of construction.RCC and brick work can benefit by such solutions

5.Material management

By using simple augmented reality techniques we can easy avoid confusion between the types of material or mixtures used for a particular operation or process.Fittings, fixtures mismatch ,wrong chemical bag , etc are some confusions we could easily avoid.

All these solutions may not be too expensive but will incur a cost but the the value and saving in terms of material wastage,rework and wastage of labour time is much more than what we spend on resurrection,leading to some respite when it comes to site management.

Advit Dixit

Co- founder, Tribe Appsoft Pvt Ltd.

MD, CME Hitec Construction Ltd

Director,CREDAI Kolhapur

Member NASSCOM,ITAK.