Utilizing Building Information Models with Mobile Augmented Reality and Location-Based Services

Abstract

The increasing availability of Building Information Models in the construction industry open for maintenance applications capitalizing on this opportunity. In this thesis Mobile Augmented Reality and Location-Based Services are utilized to develop an application targeting maintenance workers with access to Building Information Models.Building Information Models contain information about every object in a building, down to the millimeter. Having access to this detailed and up-to-date information on a mobile device help workflow efficiency. In a maintenance work environment such a solution liberate the personnel from carrying folders with blueprints of the entire building. Adding Mobile Augmented Reality technology enables the maintenance worker to be presented a visualization of the object, without the need for further interpretation. The mobile device is used to superimpose the object on the real world in its precise location. To retrieve an accurate location for the object, Location-Based Services are utilized.The application is evaluated to examine the applicability in a maintenance work environment. Two tests where conducted. The first at University of Tromsø, and the second at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim.The results from the evaluation showed that the proposed solution provides high usefulness as a tool in daily maintenance work operation.