Following implementation by Crossrail’s contractor Laing O’Rourke, which saw Soluis’ In-Site AR asset management tool demonstrate its benefits and feasibility onsite, Soluis is now developing the Augmented Worker System (AWE) which is designed to drive greater certainty, safety, efficiency and sustainability through five key areas – co-design, digital job guidance, progress monitoring, safety guidance and asset management.
The wearable AR technology reduces the need for paper or mobile based handheld devices, giving workers a hands free, heads-up solution for a greater level of safety whilst providing real-time visualisation on-site. The company says AWE will also realise significant value from Building Information Modelling (BIM) and will target a 25% reduction in cost, 25% reduction in waste, and increased productivity of 30% for projects.
The Augmented Worker project, which will debut at industry event Digital Construction Week in October, is being developed in conjunction with a consortium of other businesses including: Pinnacle Business Solutions, an information systems consultancy; Carbon Dynamic, an innovative world leading modular timber building construction company; and two High Value Manufacturing Catapult centres – the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) and the Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC). Key industry organisations including AECOM, Doosan Babcock, Laing O’Rourke, Autodesk and Microsoft will form a steering group to support the consortium.
Martin McDonnell, Chairman of Soluis Group said: “The proof of concept project with Crossrail showed how this technology could be applied and add incredible value to the industry. Our vision was to develop this concept much further and create a set of tools that would form the augmented worker of the future.”
Following the official launch of the project on September 1st, the Augmented Worker will be presented at industry innovation event Digital Construction Week in October, where Soluis is the show’s Technology Partner. Visitors to the free to attend exhibition (taking place at London’s ExCeL on 18 and 19 October) will be able to see the AWE demonstrated live by AMRC and Sublime.
David Philp, BIM Director at AECOM said: “Construction technology is reshaping how we deliver and maintain our built assets, it is increasingly helping us place digital information into the real world in the right context supporting and augmenting the decision-making process. Real time access to individualised data, analytics and instructions during the construction and operational stages will greatly improve productivity, quality and also help worker well-being. Creating a framework and guidance around the augmented worker is critically important if we are to successfully unlock this value proposition.”
Philp, along with Mark Bew and the rest of the team behind the Government’s Digital Built Britain programme, will be speaking at Digital Construction Week in October, where they will be updating industry on the Government’s strategy for Level 3 BIM as part of the event’s Thought Leadership Conference on Digital Transformation. Register for your free ticket to Digital Construction Week today at: www.digitalconstructionweek.com/Register
