An AR-QR Code Approach to Improve Access of Crews to Design and Construction Information on Construction Sites

Despite advancements in technologies and tools used to design and display building elements in the construction industry, design communication on construction sites still relies on two-dimensional documents and verbal instructions. Paper-based 2D drawings are used widely on construction sites. The main drawings (i.e., plan views), to be able to deliver design intent and related construction requirements to construction site workers, need to be supplemented by other drawings, written specifications, and informal verbal instructions given by foremen/superintendents. However, access to this information often requires multi-step processes that could be time-consuming, inefficient, and prone to error.

This study investigates how the procedures for traditionally accessing design and construction information through paper-based drawings can be improved and impact crew performance when combined with a digital environment. In other words, this research introduces a hybrid approach (i.e., an AR-QR Code approach) to the information lookup process on construction sites that aims to reduce the negative impacts of the traditional approach regarding access to design and construction information.

To achieve this aim, four objectives were defined: (1) identify traditional procedures (i.e., multi-step procedures) that crews use to access design and related construction information in order to interpret plan views on construction sites, then suggest adaptation strategies to modify and eliminate unnecessary steps; (2) define how information in the suggested strategies can be prepared regarding content, media, and channels; (3) in order to reduce the number of steps required to access design and construction information, apply the suggested strategies to a set of drawings; and (4) evaluate how modified procedures for accessing design and construction information regarding paper-based 2D drawings on construction sites can improve the original process.

To achieve these objectives, three phases were defined: (1) process map, (2) prototype development, and (3) evaluation and analysis.

The process map phase was defined to achieve the first objective. The prototype development phase was defined to achieve the second and third objectives. The evaluation and analysis phase was defined to achieve the fourth objective.

The result of this research study shows that this hybrid approach (i.e., an AR-QR Code approach) can potentially improve access to design and construction information for workers/installers/craftsmen on construction sites.