7 Tips for Choosing Architectural AR Apps｜Checklist to Know Before Comparing

Table of Contents

• Checklist Item 1: Adaptability to On-site Environments and Robustness

• Checklist Item 2: Compatibility with 3D Data and Ease of Conversion

• Checklist Item 3: Positioning Accuracy and Types of Positioning Systems

• Checklist Item 4: Ease of Use of the User Interface

• Checklist Item 5: Data Sharing and Synchronization Features Among Multiple Users

• Checklist Item 6: Support Structure and Availability of Training

• Checklist Item 7: Clarification of Implementation Costs and Operating Expenses

• Decision-making Process for Selecting AR Applications

• High-precision Positioning Enables AR Applications to Perform at Their Fullest

A company that has decided to introduce AR technology on construction sites now faces the question of "which AR application to choose." The market currently offers many AR-related tools and apps from various vendors, each with different functions and features. Selecting the application that best fits the company’s own sites and requirements from among them is an important first step toward successful implementation.

In this article, we explain in detail seven items to check when choosing an architectural AR app. By systematically considering these items, you will be able to choose a more appropriate application and increase satisfaction after implementation.

Check Item 1: Adaptability to on-site environments and robustness

Construction sites, unlike typical offices, are dusty, subject to large temperature fluctuations, and exposed to rain and humidity. AR applications used in such harsh environments require a high degree of robustness.

The first thing to check is whether the device in question has an IP rating. The IP rating is an international standard that indicates dust and water protection, and the higher the numbers the more robust the device. If you plan to use it on construction sites, you should select apps that are compatible with devices rated at least IP54.

Next, it is important to verify the application's operating environment. Check whether it has a track record of operating under various weather conditions, such as high temperatures outdoors, low temperatures in cold regions, and stable operation in high-humidity environments. You should evaluate not only the robustness of the application itself but also the environmental resistance of the devices on which it runs.

Check Item 2: 3D Data Compatibility and Ease of Conversion

On construction sites, design drawings are created with a variety of CAD software. There are several options for commonly used software, each using different file formats. Whether an AR application supports the file format of the CAD software used by a company significantly affects the ease of implementation.

Items to check include a list of the file formats the application supports, whether any data loss occurs during data conversion, and the extent to which the conversion process is automated. Even if a file format is not supported, it may be handled by converting it to an intermediate format. However, it is necessary to confirm that no part of the data is lost and that accuracy is not degraded during the conversion process.

Additionally, how frequently you can update 3D data is also important. Design drawings are often revised as construction progresses, and the data displayed in the AR application must always be kept up to date. It is important to consider whether the process of reflecting revised drawings in the application is simple.

Checklist Item 3: Positioning Accuracy and Types of Positioning Systems

Whether AR-displayed blueprints accurately align with the actual on-site positions is one of the most important factors determining the usefulness of AR. If positional accuracy is low, no matter how feature-rich an AR application is, its value will be greatly diminished.

Items to check include the type of positioning system the application uses, the expected error range, and differences in accuracy between indoors and outdoors. When using only standard GPS signals, errors on the order of several meters (several ft) can occur in urban areas. If higher accuracy is required, you should select an application that supports high-precision positioning methods combining multiple satellite systems.

In addition, indoor use is also expected on construction sites. Because GPS signals become weak indoors, applications that support alternative positioning technologies combining Wi-Fi, beacons, and inertial measurement units are more versatile.

Checklist Item 4: Usability of the User Interface

No matter how feature-rich an AR application is, if it has a difficult-to-use user interface it will not be accepted by field workers. On construction sites, workers’ IT skill levels often vary widely, so an interface that is as simple and intuitive to operate as possible is required.

Before making a selection, it is important to actually try the application and check how it feels to operate. You should evaluate it from perspectives such as the following. First, whether the number of steps to access the main functions is small and whether the navigation structure is easy to understand. Next, whether basic operations such as zooming in and out and rotating blueprints can be executed easily.

It is also necessary to verify whether the operation flow when combining multiple functions is efficient, whether error messages when errors occur are easy to understand, and whether the methods for responding are clear. The more an application excels across these elements, the more smoothly its on-site deployment tends to proceed.

Checklist Item 5: Data Sharing and Synchronization Functionality Among Multiple Users

On construction sites, designers, contractors, safety managers, and other professionals from multiple trades need access to the same project information. Whether an AR application includes data-sharing and information-synchronization features among multiple users is an important checklist item.

Items to check include whether data is managed in the cloud, whether real-time data synchronization across multiple devices is possible, and the flexibility of access permission settings. For example, if a site manager adds annotations to a blueprint, whether that information is reflected on the contractors' devices in real time will greatly affect the efficiency of on-site information sharing.

Also, when managing multiple projects simultaneously, it is necessary to verify that project-level data segregation and access control function properly. It is desirable for the system to strike a balance between security and usability.

Checklist Item 6: Support System and Training Provision

AR technology is a relatively new field, so it is not uncommon for problems to occur during deployment or operation. In such cases, whether the vendor provides robust technical support greatly affects satisfaction after deployment.

Items to check include technical support hours (whether only during business hours or 24/7), support languages, response-time SLAs (service level agreements), and so on. Construction sites may have work on Saturdays, so support outside business hours may be required.

Additionally, it is necessary to verify the content and delivery structure of the training programs provided by the vendor. Important points include whether users can receive adequate training before implementation and whether ongoing learning opportunities are provided after deployment. The more comprehensive the training, the more it promotes proper on-site operation and the effective use of new features.

Checklist Item 7: Clarification of implementation costs and operational expenses

The final key point in selecting an AR application is transparency of deployment costs and operational expenses. To ensure that no hidden costs emerge later, it is important to clearly identify all cost elements in advance.

Items to check include initial implementation costs (software licenses, customization, configuration, etc.), hardware purchase costs, monthly and annual licensing fees based on the number of users, upgrade costs, support costs, and so on. It is important to have the vendor present all of these cost elements clearly in writing.

It is also recommended to calculate the total cost of ownership (TCO) assuming multiple years of operation and compare it with other applications. An application that appears inexpensive at first can become more expensive in the long run if its operating costs are high. Evaluating costs from a mid-term perspective of about three to five years after deployment will lead to a more rational choice.

Decision-Making Process for Selecting AR Apps

By systematically evaluating these seven checklist items, a more rational selection of AR applications becomes possible. However, the task of comparing multiple applications across several items is complex.

The recommended approach is to first narrow the on-site requirements using the initial checklist item (environmental adaptability), then select candidates based on compatibility with the CAD software used on-site, and finally perform detailed comparisons on items such as positioning accuracy, user interface, and support arrangements. By progressively narrowing candidates through this stepwise evaluation, decision-making efficiency is improved.

High-precision positioning enables AR apps to reach their full potential

We have explained seven check items so far, but regardless of which AR application you choose, positional accuracy plays an important role in realizing its true value. In particular, the "positional accuracy" mentioned in check item 3 can be greatly improved not only by the application's own technology but also by combining it with external devices.

By introducing an iPhone-mounted GNSS high-precision positioning device, it becomes possible to provide any AR application with high-precision positioning information at the centimeter level (half-inch level). This greatly improves the accuracy of overlaying design drawings onto the actual site regardless of which AR application is selected, allowing the true benefits of AR deployment to be fully realized.

Therefore, when selecting an AR application, evaluating it on the premise that it will operate in combination with high-precision positioning devices will enable a more practical and satisfactory implementation.