ARCHI-E: A glimpse into the Future – Holographic AI Revolutionizing Design and Collaboration in the AEC Industry
While technology is progressing at an unprecedented pace, and we are in the midst of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), researchers have already started to envision the Fifth Industrial Revolution (5IR), which talks about establishing a harmonious relationship between machines and humans (Grewal, et al., 2022). Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) have entrenched their positions in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry. In contrast, Mixed Reality (MR) or Holographic Design have yet to explore their worth in the same. Simultaneously, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the biggest technological advancement which will impact all industries to a large extent. This research report aims to speculate into a future where Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become an integral part of our society, especially in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry.
Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) have already established their grounds in the field of Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) due to their fundamental connection to built space and spatial design. On the contrary, holographic design or construction, despite many technical advancements, has not yet achieved a significant breakthrough within the AEC sector. (Hui & Müller, 2001) defines ‘holography’ as the process of creating, recording, and storing three-dimensional information; it comes from the Greek word ‘holo’ means complete and ‘gram’ means message. A holographic picture is achieved by using the concepts of ‘Parallax’ and ‘depth of field´ so that the image displayed can be viewed from multiple angles. Furthermore, (Hui & Müller, 2001) explains how holograms can give an illusion of depth, and how they can be used as a visual medium for producing high-quality spatial displays for complex 3-D information, for visual design, visualisation and advertising. Whereas, another study states that “Mixed Reality (MR) technology merges the real and virtual contexts into a co-existent and interacting environment, where users can experience the elements and properties of the physical world” (Mutis & Desai, n.d.).
Whilst we are in the middle of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) which emphasizes achieving efficiencies using technology (Grewal, et al., 2022), researchers have already started to envision the Fifth Industrial Revolution (5IR) which “focuses on synergistic collaboration rather than competition” (Grewal, et al., 2022). We need to understand the importance of human-centred artificial intelligence to deliver smart solutions while also maintaining the relevance of a designer, to support that another article says, “While human-centred AI tools are fundamentally required to provide the highest level of human control in every domain of science and engineering, such tools have not been considered well in the AEC industry” (Rafsanjani & Nabizadeh, 2023). This research paper aims to conduct a speculative study into a future where Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become an integral part of our society and especially the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry. During this research, I will introduce a hypothetical AI bot which would be an essential tool for Architects, Engineers and Designers across various domains and how it would affect the industry.
Current situation of Various artificial Technologies
A meticulous investigation is conducted to understand the current state of Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR) and Holographic Design within the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) Industry. This review aims to provide a brief overview of these technologies, explaining their multifaceted uses in the AEC industry. (Delgado, et al., 2020)
Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)
AR is a technology that overlays information and computer-generated imagery on the real environment to enhance or augment the contextual perception of the user’s surroundings (Delgado, et al., 2020). Augmentations are visualized using a mobile device, tablet or a head-mounted display (HMD) (Delgado, et al., 2020). For example, Boeing, an aerospace company reported up to 40% productivity improvements in the electrical wiring installation tasks when using AR HMDs. (Boeing, n.d.) . (Delgado, et al., 2020) defines VR as a technology that creates virtual environments entirely generated by a computer, replacing the user’s perception of the surrounding environment with a virtual environment using HMDs, glasses and multi-display setups. For example, UPS, a parcel delivery company, is using VR for driver safety training (Delgado, et al., 2020).
(Delgado, et al., 2020) apply use cases in the AEC sector concerning AR and VR technologies like- stakeholder management, design support, design review, construction support, operations and management and training. Stakeholder Management: there are potential benefits of AR and VR technologies in the AEC industry, as they can provide more immersive and realistic presentations to aid the visualisation skills of the stakeholders. However, these technologies still lack a user-friendly interface and the experience of the user cannot be shared with other people. Design Support: These technologies help designers to better visualise their design process with the help of 3D modelling in VR, however, there is a gap in translating the changes done in VR modelling into the Building Information Modelling (BIM) software. Design Review: These immersive technologies help in getting project sign-offs from the stakeholders by easing their visualizing capacity. Construction Support: AR and VR have crucial roles in the construction phase across four major processes – construction planning, operations and maintenance and disaster scenario simulations. They aid in design changes during the planning phase; AR assists in repair and inspections while VR promotes multi-user collaboration. More importantly, these technologies help in disaster scenario simulation, which helps civil engineers conduct real-time structural analysis. Training: Both AR and VR offer immersive and profitable training to gain practical skills by reducing training expenses with the use of simulation gear and ensuring enhanced safety for the participants. (Delgado, et al., 2020)
Holography
(Alshereif, 2022) explains how holography inserts the user into an imaginary world so that it appears as a real-world result of interactions between the virtual environment and the user’s senses and responses. Fundamentally, this process is carried out using laser beams, which are the purest light known to man after meeting and generating a complex interference network, recorded on a photographic plate (Alshereif, 2022). Whereas, (Mutis & Desai, n.d.) elaborate on how holograms are digital representations blended into the physical space that enables the interaction of the users with the physical environment. Furthermore, (Mutis & Desai, n.d.) explain how Mixed Reality (MR) technology merges real and virtual contexts into a co-existent and interacting environment, where users can experience the elements and properties of the physical world. (Tayeh, et al., 2019) reveals how a developed hologram allows the user to interact with it using voice commands and/or haptics. (Hamzeh, et al., 2019) investigates various technologies and their uses in the AEC industry, Computer-generated Holograms (CGHs) and Volumetric 3D displays are the two candidates. CGH provides a medium for visualizing 2D drawings into 3D holograms, but, it lacks the ability to make it interactive. Whereas, Volumetric 3D allows the users to navigate through the projection using haptics making it a preferred baseline for future development of Holograms in the AEC industry. Tekle Holographics, a Netherlands-based company is one of the forefront developers of holography and its application in the AEC industry with its Holo-Table, a device that provides a bird’s eye view of realistic three-dimension data and can have multiple applications for large-scale projects and urban planning (Tekle Holographics, n.d.).
Future of Artificial Intelligence in AEC industry
(Rafsanjani & Nabizadeh, 2023) explain that AI has been utilised as a useful tool to address essential challenges in the AEC industry. Whereas, another article states, “While this industry is currently considered as a least digitized industry, AI has been helping to enhance operations, processes, safety, and productivity within the AEC industry in recent years; the AI valuation in the construction market was US$429.20 Million in 2018” (Alshereif, 2022). The challenges resulting from the spread of COVID-19 in the AEC industry (such as shortages of skilled labourers and supply chain) have also highlighted the role of AI and induced the industry to use AI to manage work (Rafsanjani & Nabizadeh, 2023). However, the industry and its professionals still prefer the heuristic processes where the assumptions are made based on their experiences. Therefore, there is a need for human-centred artificial intelligence which can understand human behaviour and abilities (Rafsanjani & Nabizadeh, 2023). Human-centred AI aims to collaborate rather than replace industry professionals by empowering them with tools and insights to make improvised decisions (Rafsanjani & Nabizadeh, 2023). AI has multiple contributions to the AEC industry like – design assistance, virtual assistance and visualisation, structural analysis, quality control, risk management, construction safety etc. These applications along with advanced holographic techniques would enable the AEC industry professionals to optimize their design and construction processes. One example of it is an Architecture studio Wallgren Arkitekter and Swedish construction company BOX Bygg have collaborated to create a parametric design tool called ‘Finch’ which works on the concept of generative design (Bahardursingh, n.d.). This innovation is one of many that are being developed to integrate artificial intelligence into the AEC industry.
CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT
We are in the year 2050, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) has spread across all industries, including the AEC industry. The intelligent interactive AI bot that we will be talking about is ARCHI-E or Architecture Experience.
In the not-so-distant future of 2050, Artificial Intelligence has integrated itself into every aspect of society, revolutionizing every aspect of our daily lives. Various industries like healthcare, transportation, medicine and even education have incorporated Artificial Intelligence to enhance their efficiency and creativity. One of these remarkable technologies is ARCHI-E, a revolutionizing AI designed especially for architects, designers and engineers.
ARCHI-E or Architecture Experience has become a radical force in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry. Developed on the grounds of the renowned J.A.R.V.I.S (or Just a Rather Very Intelligent System) (Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, n.d.) from the Iron Man series, ARCHI-E became a tool to push the boundaries of creativity.
Original Artwork created by Rushil Gupta
Soon, after its inception, ARCHI-E became a virtual companion of almost all industry professionals from the AEC industry, where it could understand audio and visual commands with extreme precision. For example, ARCHI-E could be summoned like your personal assistant through an audio command, “Hello ARCHIE!” and your studio space is filled with numerous interactive three-dimensional holograms, which would be a dynamic representation of your workspace. One thing that set ARCHI-E apart from other AI is its ease of maneuverability, it easily interprets haptics and reacts with precision. Industry professionals now no longer need to be tied to keyboards, PC’s and Laptops, instead they could mold and sculpt their designs mid-air. Architects can now shape the form of their buildings with a swish of their wrist, designers can effortlessly work on intricate details using a pinch of their fingers and engineering could run multiples stress-strain algorithms to understand the strengths and weaknesses of various structural projects. All this can be achieved by deploying Nano-bots which can effuse this holographic laser beams which would eventually give us the illusion of the visuals floating mid-air.
ARCHI-E’s success story lies within its effortless integration of various software’s including two-dimensional drafting, three-dimensional modelling and rendering which made it globally accepted. Professionals from the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry easily accepted and adapted to ARCHI-E because of its easy-to-learn interface and also it integrated all the countless software’s like- AutoCAD for 2D drafting, SketchUp for 3D modelling, Lumion, Vray, for 3D rendering to name a few, which industry professionals were required to learn to produce remarkable quality visuals and designs.
ARCHI-E is introduced as an extension of the already existing Building Information Modelling (BIM) software, “BIM is used for creating and managing data during the design, construction and operations process. BIM integrates multi-disciplinary data to create detailed digital representations that are managed in an open cloud platform for real-time collaboration.” (Autodesk, n.d.) which made it an integral part of the designing and decision making process as it anticipates the needs of the user and offered suggestions to enhance the creative process. ARCHI-E soon became a partner in the design journey of all industry professionals.
Besides being a design companion, ARCHI-E bridged the communication and coordination gap which majority of the industry professionals face by promoting collaborative practices amongst architects, engineers and designers, so they could join forces in shared holographic spaces through ARCHI-E. So, professionals from various parts of the globe can get together now on a hologram call or ‘HoloCall’ and walkthrough the design process and develop the design in real-time while collaboratively making decisions on the project. This promoted inclusivity and productivity amongst professionals. Even for remote construction sites, Architects and Engineers could run multiple weather and structural simulations for unfavorable sites including, Sun-Path, Wind Pressure and direction, Average rainfall etc.
ARCHI-E has become an essential tool for students as well. Learning on ARCHI-E has enabled the students to hone multiple skills like 3D visualisation, spatial analysis, use of building services etc. thereby, helping the society in creating a new generation of creative problem solvers and innovators who are now well-equipped with the constraints of various technical software’s.
As ARCHI-E becomes an integral part of the professional industry, it becomes a pioneer of the Fifth Industrial Revolution (5IR) which celebrates the synergy and harmonious collaboration of humans and machines by not being a threat but a medium to maximize creative thinking and human potential. Architects, Engineers and Designers are now free from wasting their time on repetitive tasks and can now focus their minds on creating unconventional ideas. ARCHI-E becomes an example of the boundless potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) when designed to empower and elevate human potential, thereby changing the landscape of Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry.
CREATIVE OUTPUT
ARCHI-E, the designer equivalent of J.A.R.V.I.S. from the Iron-Man series, represents an unprecedented jump in artificial intelligence and scientific technology as we know it with extensive applications in various domains of the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry.
The AI would have many feathers’ in its hat including its ability to enhance efficiency, productivity and collaboration within in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry. ARCHI-E would provide architects and engineers with limitless powers within a swish of a wrist or by interpreting audio/visual commands allowing them to refine their designs at a faster pace. This would allow industry professionals to get free from learning a new software every few year, enabling them to devote their focus and energy in creating unique designs while also accelerating the project timelines. Furthermore, after initially being installed as an extension to the Building Information Modelling (BIM) software, ARCHI-E would include the quality of various, modelling and visualizing software’s into its system thereby making it an all-inclusive software. This ease in the process of designing will create an environment for designers to change the landscape of the AEC industry as we know it which would be free from the constraints of technological limitations.
There are multiple multinational design corporations which work on numerous projects around the globe, inclusion of ARCHI-E (which would be stored at the cloud) would help them in promoting collaboration amongst various industry professionals from across the globe. This would not only promote cross-cultural collaboration but also open up a space for creative discussion resulting in better design solutions. Also, ARCHI-E could also be connected to Google Earth and other geographical mapping websites and software’s which would enable architect’s to run various weather simulations like – historical weather study, sun-path analysis, wind direction and average rainfall and humidity analysis in real-time. This feature would be helpful during the designing of various projects with unfavorable site conditions.
Besides having various features and technological advancements, ARCHI-E would initially bring up a sense of doom amongst industry professionals. As people often tend to think of AI as a replacement for humans but as we are transitioning from the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) into the Fifth Industrial Revolution (5IR), we need to understand that the future technologies are being designed to foster an environment of harmonious creativity between humans and machines. Besides, in the not-so-distant future, the idea of self-evolving AI like ARCHI-E will not be possible as it would function on the large amounts of data that would be fed into its server. Also, designers and architects would bring in the aspect of human experience in the design process through their personal experience, practical judgement and academic understanding.
Although, during the initial transition of adapting ARCHI-E into their lives, large scale upskilling would be required to understand its algorithm and how to maneuver it.
Another major aspect to think into consideration is cyber-security, as we are transitioning into a world of advanced technologies and high-tech gadgets at our disposal, we need to understand the various banes associated to it. If hacked, ARCHI-E would contain all the confidential and sensitive information associated with respective organisations, so cyber-proofing ARCHI-E would be a major consideration while designing it followed by regular technical audits to monitor its performance and security network.
Although, integrating ARCHI-E into the lives of industry professionals would be a major boost to the AEC industry, but introducing this change would be carried over during a long period of time due to the industry’s traditional beliefs and practices. Also, during the initial stages of its introduction, ARCHI-E might not be affordable to all which might create a difference the work output of various design and construction organisations. Therefore, while designing such advanced technology, we need to keep in might its availability and accessibility to each and every industry professional and educational institutes. One of many possible negative impacts of ARCHI-E could be the lack of basic-skill development amongst young creatives, as with the easy access to technology comes the lack of skill development. So, it would be crucial to impart basic and essential information to young architects, engineers and designers so that their creativity does not completely rely on artificial intelligence and they are able to create unique and meaningful designs.
ARCHI-E would be bringing a transformative change in the landscape of the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry with its advanced technology and luring features. But in order to have a beneficial outcome, stakeholders must not only focus on advertising the positive but also improving the shortcomings of the AI, including upskilling initiatives, subsidized rates for educational and public sectors to maximize ARCHI-E’s adoption across the globe while also understanding the potential risks associated with cyber-security and unethical hacking practices. Only after striking a balance between the positives and the negatives, will we be able to introduce ARCHI-E into the lives of AEC professionals.
CONCLUSION
Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry is one of the most fast-paced and ever evolving ones. With the inclusion of advanced technologies like Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and now with the inception of Artificial Intelligence (AI) the industry has started to enter in a revolutionizing era. The inclusion and integration of such advanced technologies into the industry is promoting collaboration and execution whilst improving the efficiency of project timelines.
Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) have already established themselves in the field of Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) by offering immersive experiences unknown to mankind which outstep the boundaries of conventional design processes. Architects and Designers can now visualise their projects in three dimensional at a human scale ratio which allows them to make more informed decisions while designing any space and also increases the communication amongst various stakeholders. 3D visual walkthroughs provide in-depth description of the design and also the potential risks and challenges associated with it.
Artificial Intelligence though still in its initial stages is doing unprecedented advancement in the AEC sector through intelligent computing and furturistic visualisation. AI bots like Midjourney are helping designers in the Graphic Design Industry to increase their creativity by providing instant results based on the given prompts. Simultaneously, Holography is also developing its tech to compete with the already existing AR and VR technologies. It will help in maximising cross-cultural contribution and creation of a global collaboration network.
ARCHI-E, is a conceptual AI that might become a reality in a not-so-distant future and soon might become a pivotal partner in the design processes along with architects, engineers and designers and help us move into the Fifth Industrial Revolution (5IR). The concept though visionary is still laying the foundation of future and technologies associated with it. While Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) talks about maximising productivity and the introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI), the 5IR focuses on achieving a balance to create an environment of harmonious creativity amongst machines and humans. Following the lines of that, ARCHI-E could be the pioneer in taking the AEC into the 5IR with its ability to seamlessly integrate various software’s under one umbrella transforming the way architects and designers conceptualise and execute their projects. It’s ease of maneuverability and the ability to interpret audio and visual gestures and create collaborative environment amongst individuals would make it a success in the AEC industry. Amongst various benefits, ARCHI-E would have its fair share of setbacks like, challenge of skill erosion amongst young architects and designers, data security concerns due to unethical hacking practices etc. So, the industry must also prepare itself to adapt to the potential challenges that the technological advancement ARCHI-E might bring. For example, impart proper training to young architects of basic and essential information so that they do not completely rely on ARCHI-E, cyber-security audits of ARCHI-E to protect confidential and sensitive data of various organisations and making sure that the technology is available to all.
The AEC industry is on the verge of entering a technological revolution, where the synergy of various immersive technologies like Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), Holography with Artificial Intelligence (AI) would change the landscape of the industry by unprecedented innovation, maximized efficiency and global collaborations. So, stakeholders must be ready to embrace and adapt this technology and foresee the challenges associated with it and prepare accordingly.
