Augmented Reality Urban Design

Augmented reality can help build the cities of tomorrow. In combination with Geo-Information Systems (GIS), AR glasses could virtually project models onto a shared workspace, allow for the placement of assets in 3D and intuitive collaboration.

Benefits

AR can shine with its visualization abilities. For one, it enables designers, clients and other stakeholders to experience plans in a more visual way. Secondly, different layers of the design process such as wiring and sewage lines, tunnels, and so on can be shown individually. That allows for effortless work between designers, contractors, architects, etc.

Collaboration and team work can gain from AR in general since everyone can understand the designers vision. Multiple people with AR goggles could view a model at the same time and interact with it in real-time.

Challenges

An augmented reality workflow can only be utilized at full potential when everyone has quick and intuitive access to it. And that is, as of right now, quite costly. 

On top of that, there is always going to be at least some training involved, which also means investing time and money.

Take away

While the approach might be somewhat expensive right now, staying up to date is really important for a company, especially when it comes to technology. And it’s better to get into AR now than in a few years when it’s already everywhere. Especially for big prestigious projects this could give a designer an edge and win contracts.

Examples

Do you know of any such apps or even casestudies?

Let us know!