Extending VR and AR to On‐Site Applications: 443 Queen Street Transfer Slab Case Study

ABSTRACT Key findings in the literature show that poor collaboration contributes to 5%–20% of the contract value for construction rework. Moreover, communication can quickly deteriorate between the design team and the construction workers on‐site, which significantly impacts project performance. Although advancements in building information modeling (BIM) have improved communication between consultants on the design team, its use as a tool for collaboration with contractors and subcontractors on‐site is still ineffective, leading back to paper‐based methods. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the enabling features of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) in communicating detailed information contained within BIM models between design teams and construction teams. Focusing on a use case scenario of a high‐rise construction in Brisbane, Australia, this paper discusses a case study application of VR and AR in the coordination of steel reinforcing for the construction of the transfer slab for 443 Queen Street, Brisbane. The case study demonstrates the opportunities for VR and AR to enhance communication in the construction of a complex high‐rise building and address the known barriers for collaboration through BIM in the AEC industries.