State-of-the-Art Review on Mixed Reality Applications in the AECO Industry

AbstractThe ability to combine digital information with the real world enables mixed reality (MR) technology to provide a better display of information, resulting in its increasing popularity in various fields. The architecture, engineering, construction, and operation (AECO) industry is no exception. However, existing reviews on the use of MR technology can hardly keep up with the rapid development of MR applications. Therefore, a state-of-the-art review focusing on MR technology applications in the AECO industry is needed to reflect the current status of MR implementation in the AECO industry. This review is based on articles retrieved from well-acknowledged academic journals within the domain of the AECO industry. In this paper, 87 journal papers on MR applications are identified and classified into four categories: (1) applications in architecture and engineering, (2) applications in construction, (3) applications in operation, and (4) applications in multiple stages. Five basic components of MR, including spatial registration, display, user interaction, data storage, and multiuser collaboration, in each of the aforementioned 87 journal papers are identified and discussed. After reviewing the selected applications and corresponding MR components, this paper summarizes the challenges of MR development and provides insights into future trends of the MR technology in four aspects, namely: (1) accuracy of spatial registration, (2) user interface (UI), (3) data storage and transfer, and (4) multiuser collaboration.