Gilbane Building Company, like most construction companies, uses paper blueprints or digital models for a project, but has recently explored augmented-reality. Senior manager, John Myers, put on Microsoft’s augmented-reality computer, HoloLens, to view Gilbane’s project in 3D.
This 3D experience allowed Myers to see holographic images of Gilbane’s project. This visual revealed to Myer’s that the steel frames ordered to support the walls were too long. Catching this mistake this early on in the project saved Gilbane Building Company $5,000 in labor costs. Instead, Myers contacted the supplier to cut the frames shorter.
HoloLens is said to be useful, and its features are easy to navigate. A virtual control panel allows the user to see several different views of the project and the details of the project, and you have the ability to virtually rearrange the project’s plans.
There are several new ideas for HoloLens to become even more useful, and companies like Gilbane are eager to see this device continue to improve.
