Exploring Use and Perception of Augmented- and Virtual Reality in the Swedish AEC Industry

Sammanfattning: Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality is on a trend of development. These technologies could have an impact on the way construction is carried out in the future. Right now these technologies are not widely used in the construction industry. What this report aims to understand is how the Swedish construction industry adheres to the current trend of digitalization, with an emphasis on Augmented- and Virtual Reality. By interviewing 13 managers within 8 different AEC organizations, in the form of semi-structured interviews, it was found that these technologies are indeed viewed as something that could change the way these organizations work. The current literature provides examples of how Augmented- and Virtual Reality can be used. However, these technologies are not mature enough to make an impact right now, as most managers see the technology as too expensive and they also had little to no knowledge of its contributions. The case was also the same with BIM, where a lack of knowledge seems to be the norm for all sorts of positions within the construction industry, from worker to manager. This is in accordance with previous studies and the interview findings. A lack of demand from clients and outdated work routines also affect adoption of BIM, Augmented- and Virtual Reality.