Trimble’s new SiteVision system uses augmented reality (AR) to visualize 2D and 3D data on outdoor project sites with cellular or internet. Integrating hardware and software in a lightweight handheld or pole-mounted solution, it displays 3D models and assets in a real-world environment at a 1:1 scale, from any angle or position. Trimble announced the product at the INTERGEO tradeshow in Germany.
“Augmented reality is now ready for everyday use in a wide range of applications,” stated Trimble general manager Mark Nichols.
It allows users to blend digital content with real-world environments, according to the company. For example, city planners can visualize a new building design in the exact spot it is to be erected, a work crew could identify the exact position of underground cables or pipes before digging, an electric utility can confirm placement of poles and lines with customers and crews, or a construction supervisor could assess the progress of heavy equipment by visualizing actual work performed against the site plan.
Using Trimble Connect cloud-based hosting, SiteVision can access models from all stages of the lifecycle of infrastructure and buildings—from initial concepts of roads or buildings through the operations and maintenance phase of the assets—to increase collaboration, enhance work accuracy and ultimately improve operations and utilization.
“It allows you to see the finished product on the actual site before anything’s ever built,” said one early adopter in heavy equipment construction.
SiteVision furnishes visual digital models from a range of data collection, design and constructible modeling tools in open industry-standard formats including IFC and LandXML. For civil projects, it accurately visualizes data from Trimble’s Quantm, Business Center and Novapoint; design data from Civil 3D and Bentley OpenRoads; and GIS data from Esri ArcGIS software. SiteVision powers Building Information Modeling (BIM) projects with open data from Trimble’s Constructible BIM solutions including SketchUp and Tekla, and BIM data from Autodesk Revit and AutoCAD software. For utility companies, PLS-CADD power line design, Distribution Design Studio (DDS) and other industry-specific design data is also supported.
The system consists of a Trimble Catalyst DA1 Antenna, Electronic Distance Measurement (EDM) rangefinder and power management that connects to a user-supplied Android mobile phone. GNSS position accuracy from a multi-constellation receiver (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QASS, SBAS, and L-Band corrections) is listed at 1 cm horizontal, 2 cm vertical.
A software subscription, available to single users on a monthly or yearly basis, combines high-accuracy positioning services and cloud-based processing technology to create a centimeter-accurate AR system.
