ARchitect
ARchitect
Passion Project
2023
An augmented reality building information modeling system that aims to reduce cost and improve efficiency of large scale construction projects.
ARchitect
Timeline:
Roles:
Tools:
8 weeks
User Research, UI/UX, AR Prototyping, User Testing
Adobe CC, Figma, Reality Composer, Keynote
The construction industry is known for its complex and often challenging projects and operations. With these challenging operations, projects are likely to run over budget and time. Traditionally, these large scale projects rely on paper to manage processes and deliverables. With the introduction of emerging technologies, these issues may be overcome.
Due to increasing project complexity and reluctance to go digital, the construction industry suffers from low productivity, high rework rates, as well as cost and schedule overruns.
Problem
Problem
Due to increasing project complexity and reluctance to go digital, the construction industry suffers from low productivity, high rework rates, as well as cost and schedule overruns.
Large scale projects in the construction industry are…
Over budget
80%
20%
Over time
12%
Reworked
“One reason for the industry’s poor productivity record is that it still relies mainly on paper to manage its processes and deliverables such as blueprints and design drawings.”
A lack of digitization leads to delayed information. Due to this issue, owners and contractors often work on different versions of reality.
McKinsey & Company - Imagining construction's digital future
What’s wrong with paper?
The use of paper makes it difficult to analyze important data such as performance analytics.
Poor paper management can spur disagreements regarding construction progress.
Paper trails take more time.
Designing for construction.
Rhumbix - Why User Interface Matters in Construction
In a “mixed reality” environment, users can pin holograms to physical objects and interact with important data using gesture and voice commands.
McKinsey & Company - Imagining construction’s digital future
Digital collaboration and mobility solution tools have attracted close to 60 percent of all venture funding in the construction technology sector.
Digital tools, such as interfaces, must be designed in an approachable manner so that a varying degree of backgrounds may use it efficiently. These tools and interfaces must be as fast, flexible, and accessible as paper.
Digital tools contribute to increased data quality and allow users to modify information.
What’s on the rise?
In order to better understand our potential users, I set out to conduct interviews with individuals who best represented the intended target audience. Through these interviews, I aimed to target and understand varying pain points.
Understanding users.
Charles
Job Title:
Construction Manager
Lack of real time collaboration tools, lack of internal system data visualization.
Pain Points:
“When I was dealing with HVAC, it would have been nice to have a program or application that would allow me to see other system components nearby.”
“Real time collaboration tools would be extremely helpful and would save projects so much time and money.”
Ben
BIM Manager
Job Title:
Technological illiteracy, lack of detailed project data.
Pain Points:
“There is a large gap in technological literacy on the job site. People apart of the “older” generation do not feel comfortable using technology on site.”
“Implementing ways for managers and stakeholders to visualize project budgets and deadlines would be nice to have.”
How might we…
Areas of focus.
Trackable Project Analytics
After speaking with numerous potential users, a common theme emerged. Almost every interviewee discussed the importance of being able to visualize project information. These areas of interest include budget, timelines, documents, and equipment information.
Mixed Reality Collaboration
Another common theme emerged from the interview stage. Both project and BIM managers agreed that real time collaboration could have a positive impact on a project’s success regarding budget and time.
Intuitive and Familiar UI
Designing an easy to use and familiar experience across the UI is essential for a positive user experience. As there are varying levels of technological literacy on a construction site, it is important to create an experience in which the user is not confused.
Initial prototypes.
After creating some mid fidelity mockups, I wanted to explore how a potential user might interact with these visual elements in space. The mid fidelity mockups were printed out and attached to straws in order to move them in and out of frame.
AR testing.
Before designing high-fidelity screens, I wanted to focus on all the pain points I had documented up until this point through secondary research and interviews in order to validate my final design decisions. By prioritizing user-centered design and focusing on solving pain points, I will ensure that the final design decisions are grounded in real world challenges which will improve the overall usability of the application.
Pain point synthetization.
Lack of data visualization
Provide the user with detailed information regarding project data such as timeline, budget, action items, etc…
Lack of live collaboration tools
Provide the user with a real-time collaboration tool that allows them to view and edit models with other managers or stakeholders
Safety violations contributing to financial losses
Provide the user with information relevant to each site zone such as required equipment before entry, and a list of potential hazards within the area.
Equipment issues lead to financial losses
Provide the user with detailed equipment information such as usage history and storage instructions
ARchitect
An augmented reality building information modeling system that aids in minimizing construction project cost, while improving efficiency on site.
From the home screen, the user may access various tools. Users can customize which project data is visible on the left hand side by pressing down with two fingers anywhere on the screen. A user may change which systems are visible, and can hide the UI.
Home.
After holding two fingers on the screen, users are brought to the search and filter screen. From here, users may view all of the available project data and can choose which information is shown on the home screen.
Search / Filter.
When the user taps on the collaboration tool, they are asked to invite any collaborators and select a model to view. Utilizing collaborative augmented reality technology, users are able to collaborate in both real space and time. Users are notified both when and where on the model when another collaborator makes a change.
Collaboration.
When a user enters a particularly hazardous area on the site, they are notified of which equipment they must be wearing at all times as well as any site hazards.
Site safety.
When a user is scanning an area, they are notified of any potential clash detection and are shown which components are at risk. Users are notified of the location as well as clash type. ARchitect offers the user with a suggested fix. Clash parameters such as minimum distance are set by the operator.
Clash detection.
In the early stages of the construction process, users may view various material options for components. The user is shown material type, cost effectiveness compared to original materials, and overall cost. Users may also select Optimize Material Usage or Boost Material Sequencing.
Material selection.
When entering selected areas, users may be required to complete facial identification in order to access sensitive project data including documents and other information.
Face ID.
Equipment tracking.
Utilizing augmented reality headwear, workers may access detailed equipment information such as battery life, usage history and storage availability.
Design rationale.
While the initial and final design of the home screen is similar, there were a few areas I needed to change. In the final iteration, I removed the progress bar at the top because I found that potential users found this feature confusing as the bar was not labeled. In the final design, I added customizable information tabs that better visualized project data.
Similarly to the home screen, I removed the progress bars from my final iteration of the expanded view as they were confusing and did not contribute value to the application. For the final design of the expanded screen, I moved information to the left side so that the screen did not feel cramped and cluttered. The final iteration includes a search function so that users may find detailed project data that is not explicitly visible. Finally, users will now be able to choose what project data is shown on the home screen.
My initial equipment tracking feature was too cluttered with information and did not make sense to potential users. Although the potential users I spoke to liked the idea of an equipment tracking feature, I needed to explore a different avenue for implementation. For my final iteration, I designed the UI for a mixed reality headset. By transitioning from tablet to AR for this specific feature, I was able to provide users with a more intuitive experience. Expecting users to scan or understand equipment information while holding or looking at a tablet was not a practical solution.
Design system.
Working on ARchitect was both extremely rewarding and exciting. Designing an application for mixed reality is a challenge in itself as there are many conditions and parameters to consider. One of the more challenging phases of this project was creating the functional prototype using unfamiliar software. Interestingly enough, this phase was also where I had the most enjoyment. It was incredibly rewarding to familiarize myself with new software in which I was able to create a functioning prototype in mixed reality.
Reflection and takeaways.
Given extended time to work on this project, there are a few areas I would like to address.
Future developments.
Usability testing.
Given more time, I would have conducted a round of usability testing with potential users. Gathering feedback and understanding how a potential user might interact with this application would be extremely beneficial as this information would allow for any potential design improvements or changes.
Accessibility.
Given more time, I would like to address the potential visibility issues of the Project Title card. In some cases, the text contained within this area could be difficult to read.
