A Review on Using Opportunities of Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality in Construction Project Management

AR has enhanced the scheduling aspect of the construction project significantly; it is able to show an as-planned vs. an as-built form to allow visualization of progress. From the study of Zaher et al. (2018), Figure 2 shows the scheduling and progress tracking of the construction project by AR application. The white color portion of the model is completed, and green portion is behind the schedule of a residential construction project. Hence, the green portion actually represents the delay of project. Wang et al. (2014a) showed in their study that AR could be used as a scheduling tool better than other existing tools to understand and to make someone understand without any ambiguities. Chantawit et al. (2005) also used AR technologies effectively for the scheduling of project with visualization feature in early twenty-first century. Zaher et al. (2018) used the mobile AR technologies integrated with Microsoft Project and Primavera for construction project scheduling and schedule monitoring. Hui et al. (2017) showed in their research that AR could be effectively used for the safety task scheduling in a construction project. These highlighted researches along with other researches have changed the definition of scheduling in the construction sector in recent years.

Fig. 2

Meža et al. (2015) stated in their study that for monitoring and tracking the construction project, AR on tablet PC or mobile is the best option than other 3D models or Gantt chart. They also pointed out that AR has been able to represent that it is possible to visualize and estimate the work this is performed on site in accordance with the proposed schedule of the process. Wang et al. (Park et al. 2013) noted the use of AR for construction project progress tracking as a way to compare the project progress to the schedule. A visual comparison between the planned facilities versus as-built facilities is easily displayed by the AR technologies. Wang et al. (Park et al. 2013) also monitored a step in addition and connected AR to material tracking to make sure that the necessary materials are on site. Golparvar et al. (2009), Omar and Nehdi (2016), Zhou et al. (2008) and Turkan et al. (2012) also showed that in construction progress tracking and scheduling, AR is going to be one of the most used functions in advanced construction project management.

An important prerequisite to make successful construction project is underlying within the effective communication and information retrieval from the construction site. Pejoska et al. (2016) noted in their study that access to project information on-work site and effective communication are significantly enhancing with the introduction of different AR programs as compared to more traditional information sources. Figure 3 shows how the AR technologies are used for the field data collection and distribution to the user in the construction industry. It also represents the communication ways between project participants and project information.

Fig. 3

AR systems allow fast and easy access to information and helps project managers to decide on corrective actions to minimize cost and delays due to performance incompatibilities (Bae et al. 2013). Yeh et al. (2012) stated that to reduce the difficulties and complexity for on-site data retrieval, many organizations are undertaking effort to develop light-weight mobile devices. The study also noted that organizations are working to develop devices that could exchange detail drawings and related information based on the location of the user. The added visualization benefits of AR technologies allow for better communication between parties when commenting and making suggestions for a particular project. The introduced visualization features and benefits of AR technologies allow for better communication between different parties involved in the construction project when commenting and making suggestions and decisions for a specific project (Behzadi 2016). Various researchers (Klopfer et al. 2002, Golparvar-Fard et al. 2009, Omar and Nehdi 2016, Reddy et al. 2010, Van Krevelen and Poelman 2010, Woodward et al. 2010) indicated in their study that AR is one of the most effective ways of collecting information from the construction site and could be a way of effective communication between different stakeholders of the project.

Quality management and defect control are important parts of construction management. There are many completed projects accepted by the client that are defected or failed to meet the desired quality and after arise disputes. To bring the automation in the quality and defect management system, AR plays a significant role in global construction. Various researches show the usability of AR in QA/QC in significant ways. As in Figure 4, Kwon et al. (Kwon et al. 2014) showed the process of marker-based AR technology for defects and quality management. Their study developed an effective tool for defect identification and correction. The whole construction period and maintenance period both could be facilitated by the AR technologies in the QA/QC sector.

Fig. 4

AR technologies facilitate construction management to deal with defects that are probably unnoticed in the inspection process and save time to do so. Park et al (2013) noted that if managers realize the core control time points and measures for works to be checked proactively through the defect element ontology, then the worker’s performance can be automatically checked at the appropriate time with BIM- and AR-applied inspection equipment without visiting the workplace. A marker-based AR technology is used for the quality improvement and defects management of construction project, and the output is very satisfactory (Kwon et al. 2014). The study (Kwon et al. 2014) concluded as the AR technologies enhance the current manual-based defect management to reduce site managers’ workloads and prevent construction work defects proactively by utilizing BIM and AR technologies. AR was regarded as a way to carry exceptional additional value and experience of concreteness, particularly in close-to-target locations in which the shapes and volume of the planned buildings could be visualized (Olsson et al. 2012). An effective defectless facilities management system is developed for the construction project in a modern automated way that facilitates users at a more satisfactory level than any time before (Koch et al. 2014). AR is also mentioned as a fruitful quality and defects management technology for on-site construction project (Kim et al. 2013). To eliminate any defects in piping assembly in the construction project, an AR technology-based management system is developed and the system concluded with expected outcomes and showed hope for the future (Hou et al. 2013). Some others’ studies (Bulearca and Tamarjan 2010; Lee et al. 2012; Rankohi and Waugh 2013; Williams et al. 2014) also show how the AR technologies are used in construction quality and defects management system.

Time and cost are undoubtedly the major issues of construction process. All the management of construction project is to reduce the time of completion and save the expenses of the construction. Time and cost management of construction exists in the construction process from the beginning of construction history but is not significantly effective at any time. To increase the effectiveness of construction management, technological changing take place in different form with the changing in time. For the continuation of this changing, AR-based applications in construction management for monitoring and controlling the time and cost issues are appeared significantly.

Wong et al. (2014) stated that both time- and cost-saving opportunities are available to the project managers by using AR technologies, which precise projects at the same time as lowering labor work/time and cost efficiencies because of defects and construction rework. About 9–13% time and 14–19% money are wasted because plans or drawings are misinterpreted or the information is transferred imprecisely from the plan to the real object (Kumaran et al. 2007). The AR technologies unravel issues including lack of manpower inside the management and cost-efficiencies in the construction project (Behzadi 2016). Park et al. (2013) and Kwon et al. (2014) showed in their study that for the defects and quality management, there is no more physical labor necessary to conducting defects management process. Physical inspection and reporting are very time consuming in the construction sector (Fan et al. 2015). So the manpower is reduced along with their associated cost and time of conducting these management processes. For the construction site’s data acquisition, AR technologies are used effectively with saving time, reducing labor hours and decreasing data acquisition cost in most significant ways (Golparvar-Fard et al. 2009). The AR technologies reduce the defects and rework of the construction project; this means, they save time and cost of the construction project by using AR mobile computing technologies (Kim et al. 2013). There are some other studies (Azhar et al. 2015; Tang et al. 2003; Van Krevelen and Poelman 2010; Wang et al. 2014b) that have explored the opportunity of saving cost and reducing time of the construction industry by using AR technologies.

Safety management system is a very concerning issue in modern days in the construction industry. Thousands of people die every year in the world in construction accidents. The training of employees is another most important thing for every construction project. These issues are not easy at all to perform at the desired or standard level. However, AR technologies assist both issues to give the employees an effective training and implement the safety management system as the specification. Figures 5 and 6 show the AR-based safety management tools. Figure 5 is from HSE International (2017) who invented a wearable augmented glass for construction safety. In Figure 6, “Pro-Vis AR”, a safety management AR-based learning mobile app, is used to train about crane safety.

Fig. 5

Fig. 6

Chi et al. (2013) showed in their study that AR technologies could be effectively used for the training of operators of heavy equipment in the construction projects. Wang and Dunston (2007) also revealed that AR technologies are significantly used for training construction workers to operate heavy and medium construction crane, excavator and assembling equipment. AR technologies assist the workers and stakeholders to understand various complex designs and arrangements in an easy and effective way and educate the project-involved persons about various project issues (Lee 2012). Izkara et al. (2007) developed a conceptual diagram of AR system for the safety at work site in the construction industry. For safety concerns, construction workers need to have and maintain a completely clear understanding of the real objects and safety hazards around them and the AR technologies assist the workers effectively to clear understanding (Stricker et al. 2001). Wang et al. (2013) developed a conceptual framework for integrating building information modeling with AR for the safety management system in the construction industry. So AR technologies are the new approach for the modern construction management, particularly in the training and safety management system.

Before starting any project, there is no other concern in construction projects as important as workers’ training is. The construction quality and safety of workers mostly depend on the proper training of the workers (Demirkesen and Arditi 2015; Rumane 2016). A construction project can gain more profit with excellent success if the workers of this project are highly trained in an effective manner (Kerzner and Kerzner 2017). The traditional construction training program is not significantly effective because workers do not understand the work and procedures and also do not know about the associated risks and hazards. Figure 7 (Knutt 2017) shows that a worker gets training for operating heavy construction excavator by VR technologies. This app is developed by a software company 3D Repo. This VR safety training system has been adopted by Cape, a contractor and supplier to the offshore and energy industries.

Fig. 7

VR technologies are used for the worker training for the safety issue in the construction project (Le et al. 2015b; Park et al. 2015). For operating the crane, excavator and other construction equipment, VR-based training program is an effective and proven technology (Fang et al. 2014; Hilfert et al. 2016) in recent years. Peters et al. (2016) revealed that by providing VR-based training, it is possible to enhance the working ability of workers in particular construction work. Le et al. (2015a) developed a platform for training the workers who are assigned to steel erection activities in construction, and its outcome is significantly good. Zhao and Lucas (2015) proposed a framework for a VR training tool for design and installation of electrical systems in the construction project. Alcinia et al. (Sampaio and Martins 2014) developed some models that are used in an e-learning platform and assist professional training for construction field personnel and involved parties. Many researchers believe that VR technologies are undoubtedly effective training tools for the global construction industry in the modern age.

Construction industry is considered as one of the most hazardous industries for it unique nature of risk and uncertainty. Safety needs to be the top priority to each person associated with our field of work in the construction project. Every year thousands of people die due to construction accidents (Rozenfeld et al. 2010). For the reduction in the accident rate in the construction site, VR technologies open wide windows for training, monitoring and controlling safety management of construction companies. The construction industry is a complex environment where excessive accident rates make widespread contributions to cost overruns and schedule delays. VR technologies could be playing an important role to provide safety training, education, warning, information and a learning platform for safety management in the construction industry. Figure 8 represents the opportunity of worker training on health safety issues through the VR technology. This app is created by 3M Science (Science 2017) for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) training of worker.

Fig. 8

Safety education is essential in promoting a safe and healthy working environment in construction. For this, Le at al. (2015b) developed a VR-based construction safety education system for experiential learning. Zhao and Lucas (2015) described a framework for construction safety management and worker training for safety performance by the help of VR tools. Bhoir and Esmaeili (2015) used the VR technologies in the construction safety management program, and they significantly reduced the rate of accident in a result. Sacks et al. (2015) showed that VR technologies are highly beneficial for designers to appreciate the implications of designs on the safety program. These applications of VR could run numerous drills or unique scenarios that will provide the user with a real-life feeling of a potential threat. Numerous authors also have a notion that tracking progress is not systematically monitored properly, making work sites at risk of potential dangers (Golparvar-Fard et al. 2015). A distinctive method for the use of augmented and virtual realities is how they could improve safety by acquiring better training and education. A research illustrates, as an instance, how the use of AR proves the excellent training within the shortest time while also preserving the longest knowledge and skill acquired through the simulator (Sekizuka et al. 2017). There are some other researches (Chittaro et al. 2018 ; Guo et al. 2017; Hilfert and König 2016; Li 2018; Li et al. 2018; Sidani et al. 2018) who showed that various VR models, platforms and applications could be used effectively on construction safety issues.

Before the VR technologies in construction, the defect management system was a costly and time-consuming issue. Sometimes, the defect is overlooked and report is missed or damaged. However, with the help of VR technologies, defect management becomes very easy and effective. Here, there are no chances of overlooking and reporting damages. No physical labor needs to proceed with this operation. So labor, cost and time are saved by this method of the defect and quality management. Shen et al. (2010) showed how the VR technologies are used in the construction defect management in an effective manner than before. Dong et al. (2006) developed an application for construction defect reporting using VR-based mobile and digital workbench technologies from work site to head office without any time and workforce loss. Gordon et al. (2003) illustrated an automatic quality and defect management model using VR and used it in construction project positively. Wong et al. (2014) used VR technologies to develop a framework for proactive construction defect management with BIM technologies.

Some decades ago, developing a construction project model virtually before staring the actual project was a nightmare. But today, by using VR technologies, a virtual project model is possible to build that give the feeling of real-world affection before the project started physically. Visualization of project model contains various parametric information that is not possible before or 2D CAD model. It works as a one-stop information booth and solution for all departments of the whole construction team. VR technologies allow a person to visit the whole project at its entire inside and outside peripheries with the new dimension of real-world feeling. VR is used in the planning phase for making effective decision with the demand of time. It also assists the consultant and contractor to design a project with available constructability. After the construction period, VR technologies reduce the effort and cost associated with maintenance and facilities management. Figure 9 shows a construction project model before the work is started. The image is collected from a developed VR-based visualization model of a study (Hilfert and König 2016).

Fig. 9

A huge number of studies have been conducted on construction visualization using VR technologies over mostly the last three decades. Park and Kim (2013) used an application of VR-based technologies to visualize the hazards and risk of construction process. With the recent rapid advancement of visualization technologies, recognized research work for improving construction safety management practices has been conducted for identifying safety risks and worker on-site training by VR (Park and Kim 2013). Field construction can be planned, monitored and controlled more effectively by the detailed visualization using VR technologies (Kamat et al. 2010). Bouchlaghem et al. (2005) showed the advantages of construction project visualization using VR. Applications of VR provided an interactive, spatial, real-time medium for visualization of the project model that promotes safety, quality and defectless construction project (Whyte 2003b). There are some other studies (Cheng and Teizer 2013; Huang et al. 2007; Jayaram et al. 1997; Kopp et al. 2003; Shen et al. 2010; Woodward et al. 2010) that described the benefits of VR technologies for visualization of construction project at the planning, design, construction and maintenance period.