The digital transformation in the construction industry, which is also referred to as Construction 4.0, is gaining impact in recent years. BIM as the central point for model-based planning and communication is at the centre of this development. This paves the way for the implementation of further technologies, such as augmented reality (AR) or artificial intelligence (AI) in the construction process. However, the submission process currently receives little attention in the BIM project cycle, even though it has a significant impact on a building project. There is a huge potential for the application of BIM and AR in the building submission process. BIM allows partly automatic compliance checks to be performed. The BIM model and the results of these checks can be used as basis for the AR model. This paper investigates an application for AR in a BIM submission process. Here we show that especially the plan check process and hearings in the approval process can be improved and sped up by combining BIM and the visualization technology of AR. In this process, AR can support the building authority in checking the compliance with building regulations. Additionally, non-experts involved often have problems grasping the planned building project just based on the technical 2D plans. In this case, AR helps them to visualise the impact of the planned project and allows for better judgement. Use-cases are presented, showing strategies to improve the plan check process and assist the building authority as well as the persons involved, for both experts as well as non-experts. Finally, the requirements, technical implementations, and effects of an AR application for the plan check process are described. An AR-supported plan checking process can vastly improve the presentation of technical content. This leads to better understanding and more transparency for non-experts. Because AR is relatively easy to use, it might become ubiquitous not only to experts, but also to the general public.

Zusammenfassung Die Bauwirtschaft gehört bis dato zu den am wenigsten von der Digitalisierung erfassten Wirtschaftszweigen. Der vermehrte Einsatz von Building Information Modeling (BIM) in Planungsbüros beschleunigt nun die Digitalisierung des Bauwesens. Dies ermöglicht den vermehrten Einsatz weiterer digitaler Tools im Bauprozess, zum Beispiel Augmented Reality (AR). Neue Tools bieten die Chance, die vorhandenen Prozesse neu zu überdenken und auf Innovations- und Effizienzpotenzial zu untersuchen. Die Autoren sehen für die Technologie AR großes Potenzial im Bauprozess. Im Forschungsprojekt AR-AQ-Bau führten sie daher eine Anwendungs- und Anforderungsanalyse für AR durch. In diesem Artikel werden einige derzeitige und mögliche Anwendungen von AR im Bauwesen sowie deren Anforderungen an AR-Hard- und Software (z. B. durch die Besonderheiten der Baustelle) dargestellt und ein Ausblick in die Zukunft gegeben. Der Anwendungsbereich von AR ist äußerst vielfältig. Einerseits kann BIM dadurch leichter auf die Baustelle übertragen und können Abnahmen und Qualitätskontrollen durchgeführt werden. Andererseits stellen ein Remote-Expert-System, Schulungen und die Unterstützung im Behördenverfahren weitere Einsatzmöglichkeiten dar.

The widespread usage of BIM and technological advances in augmented reality (AR) paves the way for Construction 4.0. This digital transformation has reached the construction industry and requires consideration of all life cycle phases. The approval phase has been little researched to date. In Vienna, the analogous process takes up to 18 months. This long duration inhibits progress in the building industry. One reason for this is objections from parties who are nonexperts and have difficulty understanding the project solely from its 2D plans. Therefore, the City of Vienna wants to redesign the building authority processes through the use of BIM and AR in the BRISE-Vienna research project. This article examines possible applications for public authorities. AR can be utilised at the interface between authorities and stakeholders and is intended to accelerate processes through better communication. For the City of Vienna, 12 AR use cases were developed from process analyses and expert interviews. In addition to the conception of the AR use cases for public authorities, a study was carried out regarding their benefits and feasibility. The use cases have the potential to increase the understanding of the project for experts and nonexperts. The best-rated AR use cases (plan checking and hearing during the permission process) will be further developed in the research project. The AR use cases should help to significantly accelerate processes in Vienna and, thus, serve as a basis for other cities and countries.