Unity Reflect: A giant step for AR and BIM
Augmented reality is currently changing the world of work. There is huge potential in the construction industry in particular. On the one hand, this is because the construction process as such is heavily dependent on plans and 3D models and improvements in this area therefore have a major impact. On the other hand, this 3D data is already available. This makes getting started with AR much easier and less costly than in other areas.
However, there are still some hurdles in the construction industry that make it difficult to use AR applications smoothly in day-to-day work. One of these challenges is the transfer from the 2D plan to the 3D model and on to the augmented reality application on the device.
Still too cumbersome: displaying 3D models on the construction site
With Unity Reflect to Just-In-Time BIM
And it is precisely at this critical point that things are happening. Unity recently released “Unity Reflect“. This is a plugin for the CAD software Autodesk Revit, which is widely used by architects and construction planners.
The plugin achieves what previously only worked in a roundabout way: users can transfer their BIM data directly to an app via the plugin and display it in augmented reality on the construction site. The AR display of 3D construction data has been possible for some time. However, until now, it was at best a pipe dream to be as elegant and efficient as with “Unity Reflect”.
The whole thing even has an interesting additional benefit: With Unity Reflect, there is a live connection between the original model in Autodesk Revit and the AR Viewer. This makes it easy to show and hide different layers in AR or compare different variants with each other. This greatly simplifies the planning and control process.
Unity Reflect as the basis for customized AR software
As Unity Reflect is an open development environment, it is also possible to develop individualized AR solutions on the existing basis. And this is where the true potential lies dormant. Imagine, for example, that WordPress has just been released – a stable basis for websites that only reveals its true potential through the simple and endless customization options. For AR enthusiasts like us, this is of course a big deal.
And this is what it looks like in use on the construction site.
But Unity Reflect is not just a big step for us. It gives an entire industry a tool with which it can take a big step forward technologically. For this reason, we at Bitforge are wasting no time and are already in the process of developing the first prototypes with Unity Reflect together with partners from the construction industry. We will reveal more about this shortly.
Become a Bitforge AR Partner
Also interested in the new AR BIM solution? We would be happy to develop a prototype for your individual use case in an exclusive partnership with you. Take a look at the Bitforge AR Partner Program and get in touch with us.
