In the Technology Futures Zone on the show floor of the Be Together event there are a number of different technology prototypes that harness different technologies in concert with Bentley software. Augmented reality is a big push of the Bentley Applied Research Group, and there are a number of interesting takes on the utility of rich 3D overlays on existing reality.
A field view example uses eyeglass-mounted screens to transport users to the job site. The capture of a 360-degree view of the job site can be seen in the eyeglasses and the video can be manipulated based on where the user is looking. The limitation on this is that you can’t walk or change your position inside the captured reality, but you can spin around the capture point in 360 degrees to see the surroundings clearly in context.
Another demonstration illustrated the ability to gain the full range of motion and to change views into models. The system integrated the augmented reality bar-code tags that have become familiar, and used the camera on a laptop to calculate the distance from the tag. Given this reference point, the prototype allowed for the manipulation of the model by tilting and moving the laptop away from the tag. With each spin or tilt of the laptop, the model also spun in 360 degree space. The aim is to advance this computer vision to the point where you can transpose a model view onto existing reality to walk through design changes in context.
The last prototype display showcased the visualization of a 3D point cloud on a Planar 3D screen. The idea with this display was the ability to visualize and manipulate a 3D reality. The visualization in 3D adds a much greater feeling of realism as there’s very little distinction between true reality, and the 3D model that is transposed upon it.
The nexus of all three technologies is seen as the optimal future use of augmented reality in the construction and infrastructure world. The resulting integration would allow users to wander around a captured job site in full 3D while sitting at their central office. The designers could use the realistic model to inform design decisions and to test out designs overlayed in context in a virtual way. The rich combined view of a model and reality into a virtual reality could then be shared with different construction trades for planning and scheduling purposes prior to construction. This serious take on augmented reality would save a great deal of time and energy, and could help make the construction site safer and more efficient.
