AR Sections

Project Overview

AR Sections is a web application designed to provide an augmented reality experience for viewing architectural models. With a 1:1 scale, you can interact with these models in true-to-life size. The app transforms architectural models from Revit and Rhino, converting them into USDZ format for iPhone and GLTF/GLB for Android, making it accessible to a wide range of users. Built using React and model-viewer, it's essential to access AR on mobile devices to fully immerse yourself in this experience.

The Challenge

In the architecture and design industry, effectively communicating spatial concepts and design ideas to clients can be challenging. Traditional 2D drawings and even 3D renderings often fail to convey the true scale and spatial relationships of a design. This can lead to misunderstandings, client dissatisfaction, and costly revisions late in the project lifecycle. Additionally, the need for specialized AR/VR hardware has often limited the accessibility of immersive visualization technologies.

The Solution

AR Sections addresses these challenges by leveraging web-based augmented reality technology: 1. True-to-Life Scale: Provides a 1:1 scale AR experience, allowing users to understand the true dimensions of architectural designs. 2. Cross-Platform Compatibility: Converts models to USDZ for iPhone and GLTF/GLB for Android, ensuring wide accessibility. 3. Software Integration: Seamlessly works with popular architectural modeling software like Revit and Rhino. 4. Web-Based AR: Utilizes React and model-viewer to create a web application, eliminating the need for specialized AR hardware or app installations. 5. Mobile Optimization: Designed specifically for mobile devices to leverage built-in AR capabilities. 6. Interactive Experience: Allows users to walk around and interact with the AR models in real space. 7. LiDAR Integration: Utilizes LiDAR technology (where available) for improved AR placement and interaction. By providing an accessible, immersive, and accurate visualization tool, AR Sections bridges the gap between complex architectural designs and client understanding, facilitating better communication and decision-making in the design process.

Results

AR Sections has shown promising results in enhancing architectural visualization and client communication. Early adopters report improved client understanding of spatial concepts, with some noting a reduction in design revision requests. The application's accessibility via web browsers has been particularly well-received, allowing for easy integration into existing workflows. While quantitative data is still being gathered, qualitative feedback suggests that AR Sections is contributing to more efficient design processes and improved client satisfaction. The project continues to evolve based on user feedback, with ongoing improvements in model fidelity and AR interaction capabilities.

Technologies Used

• React
• model-viewer
• LiDAR
• WebXR
• Three.js