NEW
TECHNOLOGY
COULD BE
A VIRTUAL
BONANZA
Virtual reality and augmented reality are still new
technologies in the construction sector, but could be
game-changers in the not too distant future
By Jim Timlick
Fairly or unfairly, the Canadian construction industry has a
reputation for being slow when it comes to the adoption of
new technologies.
In fact, a 2017 industry survey conducted by KPMG indicated
the majority of Canadian construction and engineering firms did
not have a technology integration strategy in place and most considered
themselves technological followers rather than leaders.
Despite this technological reluctance, one relatively new form
of technology is becoming adopted by an increasing number of
companies in Canada’s architecture, engineering and construction
(AEC) sector, and has the potential to be a serious game-changer
for many segments of the industry, including heavy construction.
Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are perhaps
best known for their use in today’s multi-billion-dollar video game
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