Applications of augmented reality for construction productivity improvement: a systematic review

Abstract

PurposeDespite the significance of the construction industry to the nation's economic growth, there is empirical evidence that the sector is lagging behind other industries in terms of productivity growth. The need for improvements inspired the industry's stakeholders to consider using emerging technologies that support the enhancement. This research aims to report augmented reality applications essential for contractors' productivity improvement.Design/methodology/approachThis study systematically reviewed academic journals. The selection of journal articles entailed searching Scopus and Web of Science databases. Relevant articles for reviews were identified and screened. Content analysis was used to classify key applications into six categories. The research results were limited to journal articles published between 2010 and 2021.FindingsAugmented reality can improve construction productivity through its applications in assembly, training and education, monitoring and controlling, interdisciplinary function, health and safety and design information.Originality/valueThe research provides a direction for contractors on key augmented reality applications they can leverage to improve their organisations' productivity.

Building Information Modeling Uses and Complementary Technologies in Road Projects: A Systematic Review

“…In the third group, sensors (T 5 ) play a crucial role in the Internet of Things (IoT) (T 8 ), virtual reality (VR) (T 14 ), and augmented reality (AR) (T 16 ). They collect operational data, which are fed into the IoT systems, while VR and AR provide platforms to visualize and interact with BIM models [128][129][130]. These tools improve project understanding and decision-making processes.…”

Engineering and Design for Sustainable Construction: A Bibliometric Analysis of Current Status and Future Trends

“…Database selection to collect high-quality data was the first step of this bibliometric analysis. This study used several previous bibliometric and systematic studies as references [9,[37][38][39][40][41]; however, the area of analysis was different, and it used Scopus for data collection. Scopus covers more than 7000 publishers and contains more than 87 million doc-uments, starting in 1788.…”

Editorial: Innovation and lean practices for sustainable construction project management; emerging technologies, strategies and challenges

“…contributing to a broader understanding of how innovative practices are integrated within architecture, engineering and construction (AEC), thereby reshaping the industry. Adebowale and Agumba (2024) argue that despite the construction industry's significant role in economic growth, it lags in productivity growth compared to other sectors. This situation has prompted stakeholders to explore emerging technologies for enhancements.…”

“…Blockchain technology introduces transparency and security in transactions and documentation (Singh et al ., 2023). VR and AR provide immersive experiences for visualizing projects before they are built, enhancing decision-making and training (Adebowale and Agumba, 2024). Robotics and AI bring automation and smart analytics, respectively, optimizing construction processes, reducing errors and improving safety (Abioye et al ., 2021; Oke et al ., 2024).…”

“…Adebowale and Agumba (2024) argue that despite the construction industry’s significant role in economic growth, it lags in productivity growth compared to other sectors. This situation has prompted stakeholders to explore emerging technologies for enhancements.…”