Augmented reality on construction sites has been discussed for years, but the conversation in Australia has shifted from “wouldn’t it be nice” to “here’s what we’re actually doing.” Several major Australian builders and contractors are now running AR in production rather than just running pilots, and the results are telling.

The Hardware in Use

Three devices dominate AR deployments on Australian construction sites:

Microsoft HoloLens 2 remains the most common choice. It’s self-contained and works well for the 30-60 minute inspection sessions that are the primary use case.

Trimble XR10 with HoloLens 2 is what you see on sites with strict safety requirements — a HoloLens 2 integrated into a hard hat. Several Tier 1 builders have standardised on the XR10.

Magic Leap 2 has a smaller but dedicated following, particularly for large-scale BIM overlays. Its dimming feature is useful on exposed Australian construction sites.

iPads and phones are still the most common AR devices on Australian sites, running apps like Dalux and OpenSpace. They lack hands-free operation but the barrier to adoption is dramatically lower.

BIM Visualisation: The Primary Use Case

The most common and most mature use of AR on Australian construction sites is overlaying Building Information Models (BIM) onto the physical environment. This means a site engineer can stand in a half-built space and see the planned mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems rendered at full scale in their actual positions.

Lendlease has been running BIM-to-AR workflows on several major projects in Sydney and Melbourne, using HoloLens 2 headsets to verify MEP coordination before trades begin installation. The reported benefit is catching clashes and coordination issues that would otherwise be discovered during installation — when fixing them is ten times more expensive.

Multiplex has adopted a similar approach on commercial projects, with site teams using AR to verify structural steel placement against the digital model. Their project managers report that the technology saves an average of two to three days per floor on coordination reviews.

Built Group has been using tablet-based AR across multiple residential and commercial projects, with a focus on defects management. Inspectors walk through completed spaces with a tablet, overlaying the BIM model to identify deviations and log defects with precise spatial data.

Safety Applications

AR safety applications are gaining ground on Australian sites, though they remain less mature than BIM visualisation.

The most promising deployments include:

Hazard zone visualisation. AR overlays showing exclusion zones around operating cranes, live electrical systems, and other hazards. Workers can see these zones rendered in the physical environment, which is more intuitive than relying on signage alone.

Underground service detection. Before breaking ground, AR can overlay known underground service locations onto the dig site. Several Australian civil contractors use this approach, driven by Dial Before You Dig data visualised through apps like Trimble SiteVision.

Induction walkthroughs. New workers are given AR-guided site inductions where safety information is spatially anchored to relevant locations — fire exits, muster points, first aid stations, and restricted areas are highlighted as the worker physically walks the site.

The Cost-Benefit Reality

Let’s talk numbers, because this is where most Australian builders want to land.

Hardware costs. A HoloLens 2 runs approximately $5,800 AUD. The Trimble XR10 adds another $1,200-$1,500 on top. A typical site deployment for a major commercial project involves three to five headsets, putting hardware costs at $20,000-$35,000.

Software licensing. BIM-to-AR platforms like Trimble Connect, Dalux, and OpenSpace charge per-project or per-seat licensing, typically ranging from $500 to $2,000 per month per project.

Content preparation. The BIM model needs to be prepared for AR viewing — optimising file sizes, setting up alignment points, and sometimes simplifying complex models. This takes one to two days per model update.

Measured savings. Australian deployments consistently report:

• 20-30% reduction in rework costs related to coordination clashes
• 15-25% time savings on inspection and QA processes
• Faster defect resolution due to precise spatial documentation

For a major commercial project with a construction value of $100 million or more, even a 1% reduction in rework translates to savings that dwarf the AR investment many times over.

What’s Holding Broader Adoption Back

Despite the clear value in specific use cases, AR isn’t yet standard practice across the Australian construction industry. The barriers are practical:

Connectivity. AR headsets need reliable connectivity for cloud-based BIM access, and many Australian construction sites have patchy mobile coverage. Local model caching helps but introduces version management challenges.

Workforce readiness. Not every site engineer or foreman is comfortable strapping on a headset. The sites that succeed invest in hands-on training and on-site champions.

Fragmented standards. BIM maturity varies enormously across the Australian construction industry. AR works best when the underlying BIM model is well-maintained — a standard that not all projects meet.

The Practical Takeaway

AR on Australian construction sites has moved past the proof-of-concept stage for BIM visualisation and is approaching genuine maturity. If you’re running complex commercial projects with significant MEP coordination, the ROI case is strong and well-documented.

For smaller builders and residential projects, tablet-based AR inspection tools offer a lower-cost entry point that still delivers meaningful improvements to quality management.

The technology works. The question for most Australian construction firms is no longer whether to adopt AR, but when and where to start.