Improving safety on construction sites is every company’s goal. However, this goal still appears far from realization, especially with the worrying data coming from the construction industry. At a global level, this sector has high rates of accidents and injuries including fatalities.
In Italy, from January to November 30, 2021, INAIL (National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work) received 1,116 fatal accidents reports. Fifteen percent of the total number of deaths occurred in the construction industry; most of these deaths were falls from high altitudes.
Thus, taking action is necessary. In the age of digital transformation, Augmented Reality can help companies meet the challenge to increase safety standards.
AR technology is strategic for:
- Training and education
- More efficient on-field performances
- Optimization of time and resources
- Error Margins Reduction
- Increased safety
So let us look at how Augmented Reality can improve safety in the construction industry.
Raising Safety Standards with AR and VR
Technological innovation has entered construction activities. New materials complement digital equipment and wearable devices, such as smart glasses. Such tools and solutions enhance the productivity of the field expert, preventing risks and accidents at work.
To achieve these goals, innovative companies invest in AR and Virtual Reality from workers’ training to on-site interventions. Take the operators’ training. Before climbing on scaffolding or driving cranes and excavators, workers should go through training.
Valuable support in their training comes from the simulator, in which the trainee familiarizes themselves with the space, the equipment, and the simulated safety scenarios. It is the “learning by doing” that allows him to:
- Evaluate the risks and timing of the intervention
- Learn from their mistakes without getting hurt
- Experience feelings and fears in a controlled environment
Immersive technologies also allow engineers and builders to plan a project down to the smallest detail providing the field team with all the information they need to work safely.
How AR Is Used in Construction: 3 Practical Applications
The interactive AR experience in construction finds useful applications in:
Design: Augmented Reality allows you to create 3D models directly on a 2D plane. By combining AR and Building Information Modelling (BIM), companies design accurate and interactive building models. Then, the latter can be presented to the client from the beginning. Thus, he can get a realistic view of what the result will appear. If necessary, make changes before the construction phase begins.
Revising the project in progress: Augmented Reality allows the designer to monitor the different phases of the construction site. During an inspection, the professional equipped with smart glasses can view the project. If necessary, he can make revisions, providing precise directions to the team. The benefits? The workers’ workflow improves while reducing the waste of material, time, and money.
Team collaboration: unforeseen events and problems can arise at construction sites, requiring the often joint intervention of several professionals. However, having them all physically on-site is not easy. With Augmented Reality and collaborative platforms like Eye4Task, you can have remote support from the professional and collaborate in real-time. Therefore, it is easier to resolve snags and make changes without having to wait for the contractor or manager to arrive on site.
These are just a few practical AR applications able to optimize productivity and turnaround time.
Eye4Task Improves Worksite Management and Safety
Construction sites are changing. Due to two years of COVID-19 pandemic, construction companies are adopting digital processes and tools to reorganize workplace safety and manage their teams.
Through Augmented Reality, a project’s virtual architectural structures combine with the physical work site. This combination brings concrete benefits to all construction phases, effectively improving team collaboration even remotely.
Eye4Task is the collaborative Augmented Reality platform integrated with smart glasses. Thanks to checklists and a series of tools, the platform allow operators to simplify and improve the phases of interventions, especially on high-altitude piers.
This innovative software is used for the safety of construction sites, making the collaboration between experts optimal. In effect, with simple voice commands, the operator in the field can connect “hand-free” with the Support Room. He will receive, therefore, from a remote professional additional support and documents.
The required data is immediately visible on the display of your eyewear.
For more information on the HeadApp software, contact us for a free consultation or visit our Solutions page.