Elly Yates-Roberts |
At this year’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Bentley Systems introduced Synchro XR for Microsoft HoloLens 2. The app enables users to interact collaboratively with digital construction models to plan, visualise and experience construction sequencing.
HoloLens 2 visualises digital twin data through Bentley’s connected data environment which is powered by Microsoft Azure. Architects, engineers and construction (AEC) workers can use the mixed reality solution to gain insights through immersive visualisation into planned work, construction progress, potential site risks, and safety requirements. Users can also interact with the model to experience 4D objects in space and time, as opposed to interaction with a 2D screen showing 3D objects.
“Our Synchro XR app for HoloLens 2 provides a totally new way to interact with digital twins for infrastructure projects,” said Noah Eckhouse, senior vice president of Project Delivery at Bentley Systems. “Users benefit from a new perspective on the design and a deeper, more immediate understanding of the work and project schedule.
Instead of using a 2D screen with a mouse and keyboard, the user can now walk around the model with their body and reach out and grab digital objects that appear to co-occupy physical reality. This is a powerful way to review work that is completed and to prepare for upcoming work at the jobsite.”
Organisations such as Dutch construction company Royal BAM Group are already using the app to help with the building of a large museum in Rotterdam.
“The newly announced Microsoft HoloLens 2 is a self-contained holographic computer that enables hands-free, heads-up interaction with digital models,” said Alex Kipman, technical fellow of artificial intelligence and mixed reality at Microsoft. “It builds on the breakthrough innovation of HoloLens and is even more immersive, more comfortable and delivers industry-leading value right out of the box with partners like Bentley.
We’re excited to work with Bentley, a mixed reality partner, to provide the opportunity for customers to take advantage of the HoloLens 2 and Synchro XR technology to experience a new dimension of creativity and teamwork for their AEC projects.”