b'Work or play? Caio De Azevedo, a Project Engineer with McCarthy Building Companies, tests the Oculus Rift as part of a comparison to determine which current virtual reality option is the best fit for clients, partners, and the Building Team. Photo: McCarthy Building COS.W New TechnologyLets Construction Projects Go Virtualhen McCarthy Building Companies workscountry are continuously looking for ways to enhance our on large projects such as hospitals or officeservices to benefit clients and partners, he says. He adds complexes, it often incorporates VR (virtualclient feedback has been extremely positive although some reality) to put project details instantly and simultaneously inneed to learn more about the capabilities the technology the hands of owners, designers and subcontractors so betteroffers. Some people believe that looking at a model on decisions are made in minutes rather than hours, days oran iPad is AR, so weve got some educating to do, he says. weeks. However, the owners who understand the capabilities of AR The technology can offer potential benefits at the jobsite,are blown away.including the ability to view plans in realtime and identifyYou have to have the two elements (physical and virtual) mistakes, which in turn enhances safety. Additionally, theworking in harmony in order to call it AR. Our industry is technology is compatible with mobile and wearable devices,heading down the right path, but we probably need another further promoting the use of wireless tools at constructiontwo to three years of R&D in location tracking before it sites. becomes mainstream, McCool says. McCool admits there Dave McCool, director, virtual design and construction,was some initial resistance to adoption. Construction McCarthy Building Companies, says the company has thecompanies arent traditionally built on innovation; theyre capability to use VR on every project, but is extremelybuilt on operations, so there definitely were and will sensitive to the appropriate use of technology dependingcontinue to be challenges, he says. However, we think on owner and design partner needs. Our impression is thatweve got a healthy balance of resistance at McCarthy, which like any other cool technology, its not always practical ormakes us grounded innovators. Were continually looking effective. Sometimes pencil and paper are the most effectiveat ways to push existing technology tools and test out new tools. But, when it makes sense to use, it can be veryones to improve client results.powerful, McCool points out. The most significant benefitWhile McCarthy was an early adopter, other construction of VR is obviously visualization through an immersivecompanies are likely to add the technology to their arsenal environment, McCool says. You can see and feel what thewithin the next few years. ABI Research anticipates mobile space will be like before we finalize the drawings. This kindvirtual reality device shipments to hit more than 50 million of foresight enables us to reduce wastefulness, respond toby 2020. Gartner, meanwhile, includes virtual and AR on skilled labor shortages and create a great experience for ourits predictions for the top 10 strategic technology trends in owners and design partners. 2016.McCool says McCarthy was quick to adopt VR and is eagerVR immerses the wearer in a 360-degree, 3D environment, to do more with AR. As an industry leader in our use ofwhile augmented reality overlays 3D graphics onto the technology throughout the design and construction process,wearers view of the real-world environment.our VDC (virtual design and construction) teams around the 20 www.mrca.orgMidwest Roofer Meanwhile, AR can be defined as the real-time'