AR : THE MISSING LINK
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 Changes were forthcoming . Jasoren noted the use of AR wearables devices for building workflow “ drastically increased ” and , combined with open AR development kits , construction companies doubled the use of AR in 2017 as tools such as Dalux ’ s free smartphone BIM viewer , GAMMA AR ’ s monitoring app and 3D-friendly Augment came to the fore .
 But even up to 2019 , digital investment wasn ’ t widespread as cost-conscious managers continued to drag their heels . More than half the industry ( 54 percent ) had been slow to adopt new technologies , while 56 percent said low margins restricted their ability to invest in new technology , according to a Causeway report – though it identified positive trends with the use of biometrics and e-invoicing .
 As this most extraordinary of years draws to a close , it ’ s hard to believe this was the pre-COVID reality ; now you ’ ll be hard pushed to find anyone not embracing digital transformation , with BIM ( Building Information
 Modelling ) and GIS ( Geographic Information Systems ) essential to project delivery , and everyone scouring every available tech tool to raise productivity and cut costs . No digital stone can be left unturned .
 AR : THE MISSING LINK
 While BIM is best suited to managing data related to the buildings themselves , GIS is more applicable for everything outside and around the buildings .
 AUTUMN / WINTER 2020