Augmented Reality (AR) in Construction – Thematic Research

Powered by

All the vital news, analysis, and commentary curated by our industry experts.

The global augmented reality (AR) market was worth $8.6 billion in 2021. The market is expected to grow at a CAGR of more than 37% during the forecast period.  AR is a technology that allows the user to see the real world overlaid with a layer of digital content such as sensor-based data, location-based data, sound, video, or graphics. AR can be hugely beneficial to the construction industry, delivering tangible benefits to many stages in the construction value chain, from conceptual design through to operations and maintenance.

The adoption of AR in construction is still in its infancy. However, AR use cases are rapidly being realized, and increasing implementation of precursor technologies such as building information modeling (BIM) and cloud infrastructure is enabling adoption. AR can allow multiple stakeholders to be consulted using in-situ augmented walkthroughs and can increase the accuracy of projects.

Global AR market overview

Global AR market overview

For more insights on this report, download a free report sample

What is the impact of AR market on the construction industry?

Construction projects are becoming increasingly complicated, spanning large areas and employing a range of external contractors. AR can be employed to quickly bring contractors up to speed with the site and the state of the project. 3D site models can be used in AR to provide site tours and navigation. It can then direct operatives to equipment and tools and highlight necessary components.

AR has the potential to improve safety on construction sites. As it is not fully immersive, operatives will be able to view a construction site while using AR to identify potential hazards. AR devices should run through a health and safety checklist on device startup to ensure that the user is aware of both site risks and the limits of AR. Another use of AR to address the challenge of safety is in training. This includes how to operate dangerous machinery or how to carry out potentially hazardous tasks. Furthermore, safety manuals and instructions can be displayed in AR to ensure the safe use of equipment on site.

Adopting new technologies such as AR can also improve a company’s standing against its competitors. This will increase the likelihood of winning new contracts. However, companies must ensure that operatives have the money to adopt AR. Limited budgets and cash flow issues often prevent investment in new technology. R&D and technology exploration is a vital part of innovation and ensures companies remain competitive.

What are the different value chains of AR market?

The value chains of AR can be divided into five segments: semiconductors, components, devices, platforms, and apps & content.

Semiconductors

Semiconductors are one of the key battlegrounds in AR today. Chipmakers are now striving to improve their existing capabilities to suit the evolving requirements of AR, mostly around screen resolution, frame rates, processing speed, and connectivity.

Components

Much of the major action in AR components is around 3D sensors, cameras, audio, displays, and batteries. These components come together for positional tracking, motion tracking, gesture recognition, and machine vision.

Devices

AR-enabling hardware comes in various forms, including smartphones, eyewear (AR smart glasses), and AR headsets. For consumer AR applications, smartphones are the most used platform, while enterprises typically prefer AR headsets and AR smart glasses, which offer a broader range of functions.

Platforms

Building an AR ecosystem by incorporating both hardware and software is essential for the long-term success of any company in this market. The five prerequisites for a successful AR ecosystem are APIs & SDKs, AR engines – games, AR engines – enterprise, AI, and application delivery networks (ADNs) & content delivery networks (CDNs).

Apps & Content

Content is a major area of concern for AR companies. Snap, Meta, Tencent, and ByteDance have merged AR and eCommerce into their social media platforms, offering users the ability to try on products virtually. The ease of viewing products online, coupled with the ability to interact with those products, gives users a novel and immersive shopping experience.

Which are the key construction companies associated with the AR theme?

The key construction companies associated with the AR theme are AECOM, Bechtel, Doosan, Hyundai Engineering & Construction, Laing O’Rourke, Larsen & Toubro, Royal BAM, Saipem, and VINCI.

Who are the specialist AR market vendors in the construction industry?

The specialist AR market vendors in the construction industry are Argyle, Augview, Cyclops AR, Dalux, Darf Design, Fologram, Fusion VR, Hexagon, Kiber, Scope AR, Spectar, Syslor, Topcon, Trimble, and XYZ Reality.

Market Report Scope

Market size (Year – 2021) $8.6 billion
CAGR >37%
Forecast period 2021-2030
Value chains Semiconductors, Components, Devices, Platforms, and Apps & Content.
Key construction companies AECOM, Bechtel, Doosan, Hyundai Engineering & Construction, Laing O’Rourke, Larsen & Toubro, Royal BAM, Saipem, and VINCI
Specialist AR market vendors Argyle, Augview, Cyclops AR, Dalux, Darf Design, Fologram, Fusion VR, Hexagon, Kiber, Scope AR, Spectar, Syslor, Topcon, Trimble, and XYZ Reality

Scope

  • This report provides an overview of the augmented reality theme. The detailed value chain comprises five segments: semiconductors, components, devices, platforms, and applications and content. Leading and challenging vendors are identified across all five segments.
  • It identifies construction challenges, such as ESG, sourcing, and safety, and an impact assessment of AR on the construction industry, addressing these challenges.
  • It includes three case studies, outlining market-leading use cases of AR in construction to solve specific challenges.
  • It contains comprehensive industry analysis, including forecasts for augmented reality revenues to 2030, and insight from GlobalData’s Job Analytics and Company Filings Analytics databases. It contains details of M&A deals driven by the augmented reality theme in construction, and a timeline highlighting milestones in the development of augmented reality.
  • The report has extensive coverage and analysis of relevant companies’ positions in the AR theme. This includes leading adopters, vendors, and specialist AR vendors in construction.
  • It includes GlobalData’s unique thematic scorecard that ranks construction companies according to their positioning in the ten themes most important to the industry, of which augmented reality is one.

Key Highlights

AR has the potential to be hugely beneficial to the construction industry, delivering tangible benefits to many stages in the construction value chain, from conceptual design through to operations and maintenance. AR allows multiple stakeholders to be consulted using in-situ augmented walkthroughs. It also supports collaborative design, progress monitoring, and improves user perception of models, ensuring any errors will surface early. Improved accuracy and earlier error detection limit rework, so fewer materials are required and costs are saved.

Unity’s VisualLive, XYZ Reality’s Atom headset, and Visometry’s Twyn have been used in the construction sector to solve challenges such as error detection and rework costs, collaboration difficulties due to travel disruption, and model visualization.

Leading AR adopters in construction include AECOM, Hyundai E&C, Koninklijke BAM, Laing O’Rourke, Larsen & Toubro, and VINCI. They have partnered with equipment manufacturers and specialist AR vendors, while also developing in-house expertise. Many have created apps to visualize models and help identify errors, or AR construction guides and wayfinding apps for external contractors. This helps to improve the utility and applications of digital twins and building information modeling (BIM).

Reasons to Buy

  • This report will help you to understand augmented reality and its potential impact on the construction sector.
  • Benchmark your company against your competitors, by comparing how prepared 46 companies in the construction sector are for AR disruption.
  • Identify and differentiate between the leading AR vendors and formulate an adoption plan for your company.
  • Position yourself for future success by investing in the right AR technologies. Cut through the noise with GlobalData’s invest-explore-ignore ratings for each AR technology for each segment of the industry (conceptual design, feasibility studies, planning and permitting, financing, design and engineering, construction, and operations and maintenance).
  • Develop relevant and credible sales and marketing messages for construction companies by understanding key industry challenges and where AR use cases are most useful.
  • Identify attractive investment targets by understanding which companies are most advanced in the themes that will determine future success in the construction industry.

3D Systems
6D.ai
8th Wall
AAC Technologies
ABB
Acciona
Accuvein
ACS
Adlens
Adobe
AECOM
Aeriel AI
Affectiva
AGC
AI.Reverie
Akamai
AKULAR
Algorithmia
Alibaba
Alphabet
Alpha Vision
Alteryx
Amazon
Ambarella
AMD
Analog Devices
Apollo Mechanical
Apple
Applied Materials
AR.js
ARGear
Argyle
Arm
Arreverie
ARShow
Artefacto
ARToolkit
Arup
Arvizio
Aryzon
Assemblr
Asus
AT&T
Atheer
Audax Visuals
Augment
Augmented Pixels
Augview
Autodesk
Avegant
AVEVA
Ayasadi
BAE Systems
Baidu
Balfour Beatty
Bandai Namco
BBK Electronics
Bechtel
Bentley Systems
BigML
Blu Wireless
Blue Frog Robotics
Boeing
Bosch
Boston Dynamics
Bouygues
Brain Power
Broadcom
BYD
Byju
C.E. Info Systems
Cadence
Camerai
CareAR
Carl Zeiss
Caspar.ai
Catchoom
Caterpillar
CBAK Energy Technology
China Communications Construction
China Minmetals
China National Chemical Engineering
China National Machinery Industry
China Railway
China Railway Construction
China State Construction Engineering
Chukong Technologies
Cirrus Logic
Cisco
Clarifai
Clark Construction
Cloudwalk
Cobalt Robotics
Cognex
CognitiveScale
Comcast
Cundall
Cyclops AR
Dalux
Daqri
Darf Design
Dassault Systèms
Data Robot
De Beers
DeepAR
Dev Clever Holdings
DHL
DigiLens
Diligent Robotics
Dispelix
Dolby Labs
Doosan
dotData
Dynapack
Ecovacs
Elbit Systems
ElliQ
EON Reality
Epic Games
EssilorLuxottica
Eyelights
F5 Networks
Facewatch
Faro Technologies
Fastly
Ferrovial
Festo
Fit Analytics
Fluor
Flybits
Fologram
Fusion VR
GAMMA AR
Geodesial
Goertek
Gravity Jack
Gray
Groove Jones
Groq
Groupe FIVA
GSMArena
H20.ai
Hexagon
Himax
Hitech BIM Services
Holo Surgical
HoloLamp
Huawei
Hugging Face
Hyperconnect
Hyundai Engineering & Construction
IBM
IC Helmet
iFlytek
Ikea
ImagineOptix
INDE
Inditex
Infineon
Inspire Brands
Intel
Intellectsoft
Iristick
iRobot
Jam City
Jarvish
Jasoren
JBKnowledge
JD.com
John Lewis
Jorjin
jsDelivr
Kadego
Kapanu
Kasisto
Kiber
Kiewit
Kinicho
Kioxia
KNIME
KnuEdge
Komatsu
Laing O'Rourke
Larsen & Toubro
Leica
Lemnis
Lendlease
Lenovo
LetinAR
LG Chem
LG Innotek
LivePerson
LLVision
Lockheed Martin
Lumus
M.A. Mortensen
Magic Leap
MaireTecnimont
Mantis Vision
Match Group
MathWorks
Matterport
Maxst
McDermott
MeasureKit
MediaTek
Mega1
Megvii
Meta
Micron
Microsoft
Microvision
Mimi
Miso Robotics
Mojo Vision
Morpholio
Mosinzhproekt
Multiplex
Nanya Tech
Neato Robotics
Nemetschek
Neosentec
NetEase
Neurala
Nexon
Next Games
NexTech AR
Niantic
Nikkei Asia
Noordwest Hospital Group
North
Northrop Grumman
Nox Innovations
nReal
NSF International
NuEyes
Nvidia
NXP Semiconductors
Occipital
OliveX
Olympus
Omnivision
Oncor Reality
OnSemi
Oppo
Oracle
Orca Health
Osram
Panasonic
PCL Construction
peAR Technologies
Percepti Labs
Petrofac
PlayCanvas
PMD
Poplar Studio
POSCO
Power Construction of China
Procore
PTC
Qorvo
Qualcomm
RapidMinder
RealWear
RE'FLEKT
Renesas
Resolution Games
Robotiq
Rockwell Automation
Royal BAM
Saagara
Saipem
Samsung C&T
Samsung Electronics
Samsung SDI
SAS
Schlumbgerer
Scope AR
ScopeAR
Seiko Epson
Semusi
Sennheiser
Sensata
SenseTime
SentiAR
Sephora
Shapoorji Pallonji
Sherp.ai
Shikun & Binui
Shimizu
Shopify
Siemens
Sighthound
Sixense
SK Hynix
Skanska
Skyworks
Snaappy
Snap
SNC-Lavalin
Sodexo
Softbank
Soluis
Sony
SoundHound
Spaces
SparkCognition
Spectar
Square Enix
StackPath
STMicroelectronics
STRABAG
Stroytransgaz
Surgalign Holdings
Synopsys
Syslor
TDK
TeamViewer
TechnipFMC
Tecnicas Reunidas
Tencent
Teradyne
Texas Instruments
The Glimpse Group
The Gores Group
The Home Depot
The Village Co
ThirdEye
Threedy.ai
Topcon
Toshiba
Touch Surgery
Transition Technologies Capital Group
Trimble
Tsinghua Unigroup
TSMC
Ubimax
Ubiquity6
UltraLeap
Unity
Universal Display
Upskill
USound
Varjo
Veative Labs
Vertebrae
ViacomCBS
ViewAR
VINCI
Vipaar
Viscopic
Visionstar
Visometry
Visual Live 3D
VividQ
Vivo
Vuzix
Wave Computing
WaveOptics
WayRay
Webuild
Whodat
Wikitude
Xerox
Xiaomi
Xloong
Xrhealth
XYZ Reality
Xzimg
Yangtze Memory
Yapi Merkezi
Zapworks
Zonda
Zoom

Table of Contents

Contents

Executive Summary

Augmented Reality Value Chain

  • Semiconductors
  • Components
  • Devices
  • Platforms
  • Apps and content

Construction Challenges

The Impact of Augmented Reality on Construction

Case Studies

Data Analysis

  • Market size and growth forecasts
  • Mergers and acquisitions
  • Company filings trends
  • Hiring trends
  • Augmented reality timeline

Companies

  • Leading augmented reality adopters in construction
  • Leading augmented reality vendors
  • Specialist augmented reality vendors in construction

Sector Scorecard

  • Construction sector scorecard

Glossary

Further Reading

Our Thematic Research Methodology

About GlobalData

Contact Us

Frequently asked questions

Augmented Reality (AR) in Construction – Thematic Research thematic reports
Currency USD
$995

Can be used by individual purchaser only

$1,995

Can be shared globally by unlimited users within the purchasing corporation e.g. all employees of a single company


Undecided about purchasing this report?

Enquire Before Buying Request a Free Sample

Get in touch to find out about multi-purchase discounts

reportstore@globaldata.com
Tel +44 20 7947 2745

Every customer’s requirement is unique. With over 220,000 construction projects tracked, we can create a tailored dataset for you based on the types of projects you are looking for. Please get in touch with your specific requirements and we can send you a quote.

Sample Report

Augmented Reality (AR) in Construction – Thematic Research was curated by the best experts in the industry and we are confident about its unique quality. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer free sample pages to help you:

  • Assess the relevance of the report
  • Evaluate the quality of the report
  • Justify the cost

Download your copy of the sample report and make an informed decision about whether the full report will provide you with the insights and information you need.

Below is a sample report to understand what you are buying

See what our customers are saying

“The GlobalData platform is our go-to tool for intelligence services. GlobalData provides an easy way to access comprehensive intelligence data around multiple sectors, which essentially makes it a one-for-all intelligence platform, for tendering and approaching customers.

GlobalData is very customer orientated, with a high degree of personalised services, which benefits everyday use. The highly detailed project intelligence and forecast reports can be utilised across multiple departments and workflow scopes, from operational to strategic level, and often support strategic decisions. GlobalData Analytics and visualisation solutions has contributed positively when preparing management presentations and strategic papers.”

Business Intelligence & Marketing Manager, SAL Heavy Lift

“COVID-19 has caused significant interference to our business and the COVID-19 intelligence from GlobalData has helped us reach better decisions around strategy. These two highlights have helped enormously to understand the projections into the future concerning our business units, we also utilise the project database to source new projects for Liebherr-Werk to use as an additional source to pitch for new business.”

Market Analyst & Management, Liebherr-Werk

Your daily news has saved me a lot of time and keeps me up-to-date with what is happening in the market, I like that you almost always have a link to the source origin. We also use your market data in our Strategic Business Process to support our business decisions. By having everything in one place on the Intelligence Center it has saved me a lot of time versus looking on different sources, the alert function also helps with this.

Head of Key Accounts, Saab AB

Having used several other market research companies, I find that GlobalData manages to provide that ‘difficult-to-get’ market data that others can’t, as well as very diverse and complete consumer surveys.

Marketing Intelligence Manager, Portugal Foods

Our experience with GlobalData has been very good, from the platform itself to the people. I find that the analysts and the account team have a high level of customer focus and responsiveness and therefore I can always rely on. The platform is more holistic than other providers. It is convenient and almost like a one stop shop. The pricing suite is highly competitive and value for our organisation.

I like reports that inform new segments such as the analysis on generation Z, millennials, the impact of COVID 19 to our banking customers and their new channel habits. Secondly the specialist insight on affluent sector significantly increases our understanding about this group of customers. The combination of those give us depth and breadth of the evolving market.

I’m in the business of answering and helping people make decisions so with the intelligence center I can do that, effectively and efficiently. I can share quickly key insights that answer and satisfy our country stakeholders by giving them many quality studies and primary research about competitive landscape beyond the outlook of our bank. It helps me be seen as an advisory partner and that makes a big difference. A big benefit of our subscription is that no one holds the whole data and because it allows so many people, so many different parts of our organisation have access, it enables all teams to have the same level of knowledge and decision support.

Head of Customer Insight and Research, Standard Chartered

“I know that I can always rely on Globaldata’s work when I’m searching for the right consumer and market insights. I use Globaldata insights to understand the changing market & consumer landscape and help create better taste & wellbeing solutions for our customers in food, beverage and healthcare industries.

Globaldata has the right data and the reports are of very high quality compared to your competitors. Globaldata not only has overall market sizes & consumer insights on food & beverages but also provides insights at the ingredient & flavour level. That is key for B2B companies like Givaudan. This way we understand our customers’ business and also gain insight to our unique industry”

Head of Consumer Sensory Insights, Givaudan

GlobalData provides a great range of information and reports on various sectors that is highly relevant, timely, easy to access and utilise.  The reports and data dashboards help engagement with clients; they provide valuable industry and market insights that can enrich client conversations and can help in the shaping of value propositions. Moreover, using GlobalData products has helped increase my knowledge of the finance sector, the players within it, and the general threats and opportunities.

I find the consumer surveys that are carried out to be extremely beneficial and not something I have seen anywhere else. They provided an insightful view of why and which consumers take (or don’t) particular financial products. This can help shape conversations with clients to ensure they make the right strategic decisions for their business.

One of the challenges I have found is that data in the payments space is often piecemeal. With GD all of the data I need is in one place, but it also comes with additional market reports that provide useful extra context and information. Having the ability to set-up alerts on relevant movements in the industry, be it competitors or customers, and have them emailed directly to me, ensures I get early sight of industry activity and don’t have to search for news.

Senior Account Manager, TSYS
Go even deeper with GlobalData Intelligence Center

Every Company Report we produce is powered by the GlobalData Intelligence Center.

Subscribing to our intelligence platform means you can monitor developments at Augmented Reality (AR) in Construction – Thematic Research in real time.

  • Access a live Augmented Reality (AR) in Construction – Thematic Research dashboard for 12 months, with up-to-the-minute insights.
  • Fuel your decision making with real-time deal coverage and media activity.
  • Turn insights on financials, deals, products and pipelines into powerful agents of commercial advantage.