Current 2D plan and map functionality extended to BIM, AR and photo-realism for effective on-site imaging. 

 

In a previous post I described how we undertook a joint research project with the University of Bristol (UoB) to assess how various technologies, including Google Tango™, can help the education sector manage and maintain assets, buildings and estates. This has now led to a nine month R&D project with the UoB, co-funded by the UK Government Innovation Agency (InnovateUK).

This post is the first in a series of bi-monthly updates on our progress.

R&D into better facilities and asset management

Currently the vast majority of education and smaller organisations managing buildings and assets do not use Building Information Modelling (BIM) in their day-to-day operations.  There are various reasons for this such as:

  • The need for specialised and expensive hardware/software, skills, expertise and software.
  • BIM data simply isn’t available because of the age of the buildings being maintained.
  • The complexity involved is off-putting to many.
  • Current BIM processes tend to be focused on design whereas our users’ interests are in the maintenance of assets and buildings.

This is why our strategy of ‘Bringing Simplicity from Complexity’ and applying this to asset and maintenance management is key to wider adoption. We achieve this simplicity by using a highly visual approach. For example, AltoSites, our asset and maintenance software, uses maps and floor and site plans.

Benefits of on-site imaging

This R&D will bring a disruptive step change to mobile data collection and will also encourage wider adoption of BIM. Harnessing various technologies, combined with new software tools which are easy to use and affordable, will encourage widespread use within an organisation – the democratisation effect referred to in our project’s title. For example, this will help a building’s site maintenance staff and other stakeholders such as teaching staff in a school or university record and access information.

Our ambition is to leap frog existing state-of-the art mobile apps by providing suitably accurate onsite data capture and information access through the creation of interactive user environments that combine visually-realistic onsite imaging and BIM, asset and maintenance information. Innovations in augmented reality and mobile device innovations, such as the capture and display of 3D environments, allow us to explore how users can easily access and interact with combined digital and physical information.

How to improve building inspections and management

If you’re inspecting assets and buildings and need to record data and access information across the estate it’ll make your work easier. Augmented reality provides enhanced visualisation combined with locational context meaning you get to focus on the data that’s relevant to your position and you can also access other information e.g. from BIM, plans or internal reports.

This new software solution will lead to a step change in productivity. There will be improvements in operational efficiency such as staff utilization and productivity. No manual data collection nor re-keying of data will be required reducing inaccuracies, data redundancy and saving time. Better maintenance planning and works will lead to more productive and safer, fit-for-purpose workplace.

This R&D will also ensure that the solution is uniquely capable of being adopted by non-specialists. This means building users as well as site maintenance staff can use it. For example, school administration and teaching staff could report maintenance issues or make service requests. Putting this capability in the hands of front line staff improves overall quality and responsiveness and is consistent with the “uberisation” trend seen in many industries.

Want to participate or find out more?

We’re very interested in hearing from schools, colleges, universities and private sector organisations who’d like to participate in a short beta programme in October/November, 2017.  No technical experience necessary – simply an open mind and a willingness to provide feedback. To find out more contact us.

If you’d like to receive notification of further project updates please register via the ‘Subscribe for email updates’ window, or provide your contact  details or simply check back in a couple of months’ time!

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