Publications / 2018 Proceedings of the 35th ISARC, Berlin, Germany

Facilitating the Communication of Rework Information to Craft Workers Using Augmented Reality

Caroline Kwiatek, Shang Kun Li, Mohammad-Mahdi Sharif, Nicolas Jeanclos, Carl Haas and Scott Walbridge
Pages 516-523 (2018 Proceedings of the 35th ISARC, Berlin, Germany, ISBN 978-3-00-060855-1, ISSN 2413-5844)
Abstract:

Pipe spool fabrication is still highly dependent on skilled craft labour and thus is subjected to the productivity issues, such as rework, that plague the construction industry. Rework is a major challenge and is estimated to account for up to 12% of the total cost of a major project. Identifying geometric non-conformance that requires rework is done by pipe fitters and inspectors and its impact is commensurate with the stage in the assembly process at which the non-conformance is detected. Thus, improving the frequency and effectiveness of this process can reduce rework and help mitigate its impact. It is proposed to replace the traditional process with an augmented reality process, where a 3D as-built point cloud can be superimposed on the 3D BIM model of the design, facilitating the communication of rework information. An experiment was conducted to compare the time required to convey rework information using an augmented reality feedback process compared to a traditional feedback system. Participants were given a PVC pipe spool to assemble with either the augmented reality process or with a two-sided isometric drawing. The time spent conveying the rework and the iterations of rework that were completed in each instance were evaluated to compare how the use of visualization technology affects the communication of rework.

Keywords: Rework, Pipe fitting, Augmented Reality, point cloud, 3D BIM, modular