Revolutionizing Construction: How Argyle and Magic Leap Are Transforming Architecture, Engineering, and Construction

The Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry is struggling with an outdated image. Many people think of it as an old industry, slow to innovate, relying on paper-based processes.

While there have been developments in some fields within the industry, construction remains one of the sectors where the adoption of new technologies has been notably slower, leaving persistent challenges like rework unaddressed.

The process is an unfortunate and persisting fact of every build. It involves demolishing and correcting mistakes due to design issues, inaccurate blueprints, and clashes between structural elements and infrastructure like HVAC, plumbing, and electrical.

In the US alone, rework costs up to $31 billion annually. Globally, the figure rivals the GDP of entire countries. On individual projects, rework costs can be as high as 20%.

It’s not just missed deadlines and added expenses. Rework can severely damage the reputation of a construction business—threatening reputation, client trust, and long-term success.

Argyle and Magic Leap: A Better Way To Build

Two companies, however, are solving this problem using cutting-edge technology: Argyle and Magic Leap.

Building information models (BIMs) are digital representations that capture both the physical and functional characteristics of a construction project that give all tradespeople on a job a detailed and interactive blueprint for all stages, from design to completion.

While these models are already used for builds, they weren’t meeting their full potential due to a missing critical component: Augmented Reality.

Maret Thatcher, Argyle’s CEO, envisioned a better way to build by bridging the gap between digital design and physical construction. “Argyle is an AR-based BIM model solution specifically created for use in industrial or commercial construction. So these are really large-scale construction projects on massive footprints,” she explains.

By taking working digital construction files out of the office and aligning them at building-scale with the physical world using AR, Argyle brings the designs to life on build sites, saving construction companies and their clients time and tens of thousands of dollars on each project.

“Because the technology converges the digital and physical worlds, it helps us work faster and better. That is just the beginning,” she says.

How Magic Leap 2 Helped Make Argyle Real

Early in her development of Argyle, Thatcher had tried building the app on other devices. Between ergonomic issues, optical problems, and more, she grew frustrated. That changed when she had the opportunity to try Magic Leap 2.

Maret shared how critical some of the key capabilities and features of Magic Leap 2 were to the app’s success. “Magic Leap 2 really opened up worlds for us. Dynamic Dimming™ was massive,” she said, referencing the proprietary light-limiting technology’s importance for on-site teams. “This is used outdoors a lot and in sunlight, and other devices had such bad washout that they were barely usable. Dynamic Dimming™ made it possible to use Argyle how it needs to be used.”

Optical see-through technology, one where Magic Leap leads the AR category, presented other advantages that made Magic Leap 2 the clear choice: “That see-through glass is not to be reckoned with.” Without the distortion, lag, and potential shut-off imposed on users by passthrough video devices, Magic Leap 2 gave a more precise and safer experience.

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The device’s developer-friendly open platform helped Thatcher leverage all of the device’s features and capabilities, from its lightweight optics, ergonomic design, industry-leading FOV, and Dynamic Dimming™ technology, Thatcher notes that they were able to “port it over and modify it really quickly.”

The Shortcomings of Traditional BIM Visualizations

Construction companies have long used BIM files to design their builds. But because the files are viewed on 2D screens, disconnected from their actual environment, and aren’t editable in the field, this disconnect results in inefficiencies and errors. Phone and tablet-based attempts at integrating BIM files onto job sites have fallen short because of the inadequate field of view, the poor ergonomic experience of constantly holding a device up, frequent QR code scanning for alignment, and glare washing out the image on screen.

“Working with two-dimensional drawings isn’t much better,” says Thatcher. “It’s not the fastest or most intuitive way. It takes a lot of expertise. With building information modeling put into augmented reality, all levels of expertise are able to get a really good understanding of what’s going to be built and how that needs to be done.”

Argyle’s Innovative Solution

Argyle was designed to address the limitations of other BIM solutions by integrating them into augmented reality at every stage of construction, achieving centimeter-precision without the need for QR codes. Users can move elements on the fly to workshop better ways to build and account for all the additional infrastructure needed. This integration leads to better accuracy and efficiency on every build.

Building a user-friendly interface was crucial for Maret Thatcher. “The folks using Argyle don’t have any experience with AR, so we made it as simple as possible, and they’re really enthusiastic about adopting and incorporating it,” she says.

That user-friendly interface and quick learning curve have been essential on job sites where diverse skill sets, trades, and specialties need to communicate effectively to ensure every build properly accounts for their construction and installation needs.

“Argyle’s really great at helping construction teams improve collaboration, not only within their own job, but we’ve seen people talking to other trades,” Thatcher says. “The electrical folks will talk to the mechanical folks and say, ‘Look what we have to do. Can you make sure you give us a little room here?’”

The Impact

On a recent build in Jacksonville, FL, Miller Electric VDC/BIM Coordinator, Michael Wickersham, used Argyle on Magic Leap 2 alongside Thatcher on one of his projects.

“I’m excited to be using this technology,” he notes. “The biggest benefits would be the quality control, which is saving time, which is saving rework. Magic Leap 2 and the Argyle software will really benefit you in that manner.”

“People don’t have to do things the way that they’ve always done them,” says Thatcher. “The construction industry will invest in the tools that save them money, that save them time, and that give them a competitive advantage.”

So far, they seem to be proving her right.