Yesterday, at the regional ACEC Design Technology Forum, I had the opportunity to share our work at LHB in the AEC space (Architecture, Engineering and Construction) with Augmented Reality (AR) using the Microsoft HoloLens. Thanks to BARR for hosting this month's meeting.
This post will share the highlights from the meeting, including my slides and video links.
Keep reading to learn more...
As you can see in the photo above, I brought two devices so people could try it out. Several had already experience the HoloLens, but for a few it was their first time.
Here are the slides from my presentation...
Before getting into AR, I wanted to quickly share a few interesting projects we have worked on recently using real-time rendering and VR technology. Our LA group is working on a park restoration project for the City of Duluth. We used Enscape to create a beautiful real-time rendered environment. Click here to see this video (21 seconds). Click here for an extended video (3:31 seconds).
I also shared a cool image of our virtual model of our Superior Street project, also for the City of Duluth, and a photo of the completed project. What is most impressive, is we can navigate this model at this quality using Enscape.
Now on to the "AR in AEC" part of the presentation...
Kalloc Studio's Fuzor software is the easiest way to get Revit/FBX content into the Hololens, Period. This can include AutoCAD/Microstation content via FBX export or linked into Revit. Plus, they have QR Code support for positioning the model in the real-world and the ability to group elements and control their visibility with voice commands! Click here to see this video (9:57 seconds).
Our "flagship" Microsoft HoloLens case study was with Minnesota-based Vertical Endeavors. We walked around this empty warehouse, reviewing the proposed design, for hours and until the batteries died. Click here to see this video (1:42 seconds). This project used the SketchUp for HoloLens software, which works well for SketchUp-based models.
I also discussed our AR use on industrial projects, but mentioned I could not show anything as all those projects are super confidential... but, for marketing purposes we created an entire fake project, shown below!
Here is a civil example (Superior Street; urban street and utilities renewal project) viewed at a reduced scale in a conference room. Click here to see this video (3:14 seconds).
And, the same project viewed on-site, at full scale, from a pedestrian bridge during construction; notice how the utilities are closely aligned. Keep in mind the hologram was loosely aligned and does not use GPS and is also not generally intended to be used outside due to poor lighting contrast. FYI: normally you would remove all aspects of the existing model when viewing on-site, but this was just a test. Click here to see this video (1:49 seconds).
Finally, multi-user AR is a reality as seen here. Two or more HoloLens devices are able to sync with each other so everyone is looking at, and point at, the same hologram! This is super cool!
The HoloLens 2 is coming soon, and has a wider field of view and more features! Here is the HL2 integrated into a Trimble hardhat! My photos above are of the original HL1 with a separately purchase Trimble hardhat... which allows the device to be taken on to job sites and makes wearing the device much more comfortable!
Finally, and unrelated, here is a nice LHB bridge project featured on the ACEC-MN website:) https://www.acecmn.org/
Thanks to all who attended! It was a lot of fun.
For BIM Chapters updates, follow @DanStine_MN on Twitter or connect on LinkedIn
I also write blog posts for Enscape - a new paradigm in rendering, animation and VR for AEC.
This post will share the highlights from the meeting, including my slides and video links.
Keep reading to learn more...
As you can see in the photo above, I brought two devices so people could try it out. Several had already experience the HoloLens, but for a few it was their first time.
Here are the slides from my presentation...
Before getting into AR, I wanted to quickly share a few interesting projects we have worked on recently using real-time rendering and VR technology. Our LA group is working on a park restoration project for the City of Duluth. We used Enscape to create a beautiful real-time rendered environment. Click here to see this video (21 seconds). Click here for an extended video (3:31 seconds).
- ACEC-MN Design Technology Forum - VR Presentation Recap
- Restoring Duluth’s Lincoln Park – Designing Site Features with Enscape
I also shared a cool image of our virtual model of our Superior Street project, also for the City of Duluth, and a photo of the completed project. What is most impressive, is we can navigate this model at this quality using Enscape.
- Microsoft HoloLens on LHB Urban Street and Utilities Reconstruction Project
- LHB's NVIDIA Customer Success Story
Now on to the "AR in AEC" part of the presentation...
Kalloc Studio's Fuzor software is the easiest way to get Revit/FBX content into the Hololens, Period. This can include AutoCAD/Microstation content via FBX export or linked into Revit. Plus, they have QR Code support for positioning the model in the real-world and the ability to group elements and control their visibility with voice commands! Click here to see this video (9:57 seconds).
Our "flagship" Microsoft HoloLens case study was with Minnesota-based Vertical Endeavors. We walked around this empty warehouse, reviewing the proposed design, for hours and until the batteries died. Click here to see this video (1:42 seconds). This project used the SketchUp for HoloLens software, which works well for SketchUp-based models.
I also discussed our AR use on industrial projects, but mentioned I could not show anything as all those projects are super confidential... but, for marketing purposes we created an entire fake project, shown below!
Here is a civil example (Superior Street; urban street and utilities renewal project) viewed at a reduced scale in a conference room. Click here to see this video (3:14 seconds).
And, the same project viewed on-site, at full scale, from a pedestrian bridge during construction; notice how the utilities are closely aligned. Keep in mind the hologram was loosely aligned and does not use GPS and is also not generally intended to be used outside due to poor lighting contrast. FYI: normally you would remove all aspects of the existing model when viewing on-site, but this was just a test. Click here to see this video (1:49 seconds).
Finally, multi-user AR is a reality as seen here. Two or more HoloLens devices are able to sync with each other so everyone is looking at, and point at, the same hologram! This is super cool!
The HoloLens 2 is coming soon, and has a wider field of view and more features! Here is the HL2 integrated into a Trimble hardhat! My photos above are of the original HL1 with a separately purchase Trimble hardhat... which allows the device to be taken on to job sites and makes wearing the device much more comfortable!
Finally, and unrelated, here is a nice LHB bridge project featured on the ACEC-MN website:) https://www.acecmn.org/
Thanks to all who attended! It was a lot of fun.
For BIM Chapters updates, follow @DanStine_MN on Twitter or connect on LinkedIn
I also write blog posts for Enscape - a new paradigm in rendering, animation and VR for AEC.