Augmented reality (AR)

Augmented reality (AR) adds digital objects on top of the real environment seen through a camera. Unlike virtual reality, it does not carry the user into another world; it enriches the place they are already standing in. A phone or tablet camera detects floors and walls, and a 3D model is placed on those surfaces at the correct scale and position.

AR in architecture and interiors

Its best-known use is placing furniture and products: seeing how a sofa, a kitchen island or a light fitting will sit in a room at real size before buying it. On the architectural side, you can hold a phone up on site and see the mass of a future building on the land, or drop a small model onto a meeting table and walk around it. On construction sites, comparing the model of services and structure with the real view helps catch clashes early.

Practical points

Because AR models are drawn in real time by the phone’s processor, they have to be light: textures are downsized and polygon counts reduced. Lighting depends on the real surroundings, so models do not always look photorealistic, yet the scale and position information is usually the most valuable part. Drift in placement over large outdoor areas is also a common issue. For how 3D visuals support product sales, see 3D product visualization for sales.