From Gimmick to Game-Changer: How AR Can Earn Its Place on the Construction Site

Augmented Reality has a reputation problem.

For many in the industry, it still feels like a gimmick, something tech-savvy consultants bring out to impress clients during presentations. But behind the novelty, real potential is starting to emerge. We’re beginning to see how AR can genuinely help us build better, in more ways than one.

VR in the Office, AR on Site

Let’s start by clarifying terms. VR and AR are often lumped together, and for good reason. They serve similar functions, but in different environments.

Virtual Reality places you inside the digital world. That makes it especially powerful in the early design stages, when there’s not much built on site yet. VR gives teams the chance to walk through complex spaces before they exist, and catch problems early, the kind of problems that never show up on drawings.

That rebar you detailed, the one that looked the size of a toothpick on your screen? In reality, it’s four meters long and impossible for two people to lift safely. That bolt you need to tighten? You can’t actually reach it. VR lets designers step into the shoes of the people who will eventually build and install these elements. It’s about finding issues before they become problems.

Augmented Reality, on the other hand, really starts to shine during construction. By overlaying the design model onto the real world, it can help teams visualise what needs to be built or verify what has already been done. Think of it like holding a model up to the real space and checking for alignment. You can spot discrepancies early, and decide quickly whether they need fixing or can be accepted.

The trick is not just what you see, but when you see it.

The Culture Challenge

One of the biggest hurdles to wider adoption isn’t technical, it’s cultural.

Let’s face it. On most sites, wearing a pair of AR goggles is going to get you laughed at. The technology works, but the industry hasn’t quite caught up with the mindset. Banter still beats progress in some places. But as the tools become more compact, more cost-effective, and more commonplace, that will change. Eventually, the benefits will speak louder than the novelty.

It Only Works If It Solves a Real Problem

The key to getting value from AR is knowing why you’re using it in the first place. Don’t just bring it in to look cutting edge. Ask yourself: what’s the problem you’re trying to solve?

If you’re only using AR to impress a client, you’re missing the point.

Used properly, AR helps people on site make better, faster decisions. It reveals context they wouldn’t otherwise see.

The real breakthrough? We’re now getting closer to a point where we can use existing BIM content directly, without needing special exports made just for AR. That changes the game.

Final Thought

We are not waiting to figure out how AR can help. The use cases are already here. From spotting design issues in virtual reviews to overlaying models on site, the benefits are practical, not theoretical.

What matters is using it with intent. If you are solving a real problem, people will quickly see the value. If you’re just chasing the next shiny thing, they won’t.

And if that means getting a few raised eyebrows when you put on the goggles, so be it. At least they’ll already be laughing when you find the issue they were about to build wrong.