A Study on the Effect of the Use of Augmented Reality on Students' Quantity Take-off Performance

This study examined whether the augmented reality (AR) technology affects the quantity take-off performance of construction management (CM) undergraduate students. The sample for the study consisted of 22 sophomore CM students taking an estimating course at Western Carolina University in the U.S.A. To determine whether AR images help students' quantity take-off performance, the students were asked to take off the concrete volume of a structure twice. At the first attempt, the students were provided only with a 2D drawing that includes a plan and section of the structure. At the second attempt, they had an opportunity to explore a 3D model overlaid on the 2D drawing on their smartphone. Five students calculated correct quantities at their first and second attempts. Ten students did not take off quantities accurately at the first attempt, but with the 3D model in AR, they could reach the correct quantities at the second attempt. Seven students failed to calculate the quantities at both attempts. Forty-five percent of the students showed better quantity take-off performance at their second attempt. There was also a difference in the average scores between the two attempts. The results suggest that CM students can take off quantities more accurately with the help of 3D model images created by the AR technology.