Mixed reality on the building site (TNO)

Constructing building is becoming an increasingly complex process involving more and more specialisations and greater time pressure. The chance is significant that building errors, misunderstandings and lack of clarity will arise. With this in mind TNO has developed a handy aid: a special tablet pc able to project digital drawings directly on to the building site.

The pc is equipped with a camera and locator that enables the computer to calculate which part of the digital drawings have to be projected over the live camera picture, thereby creating a ‘mixed reality’. Drawings of reinforced concrete, electrics, sewage systems, dimensions, etc. can be projected and the picture changes automatically to correspond with where you are on the building site. The locator can pinpoint your position to an accuracy of 0.2 millimetres. Plotting contours and instructions for casing and installations can be effected very precisely within a matter of seconds. This makes the system ideal for on-site inspections and consultation.