November 22, 2024
Think of Augmented Reality (AR) and you’ll probably think of games like Pokémon Go that use a digital overlay to project objects—and Pokémon—onto our physical environment, allowing users to interact with them in real time. At Seaspan, we’re applying the same concepts to our shipbuilding processes to bridge the gap between the digital and real world.
You won’t see Pikachu on the decks of JSS1, but you’ll find these AR advancements and applications even cooler—read on to find out why.
What is Augmented Reality and how does Seaspan use it?
Augmented Reality (AR) is a visualization tool that empowers users to see a real-time view of the physical world with digital overlays. Unlike Virtual Reality (VR), where users are fully immersed in a virtual environment, AR uses a camera to capture the real world and display it on a screen, integrating it with digital information.
Your personal experience of AR probably relates to Poké Balls, but it’s surprisingly common in the construction industry, too, and that’s where our journey begins. Traditionally, shipbuilders have relied on 2D paper drawings and Computer-Assisted-Design (CAD) models viewed on desktops. Leveraging the existing construction-tailored software, Seaspan’s Innovation Team identified a compatible data format for Seaspan’s specific CAD models. By collaborating with both the New Build and In-Service Support teams, they identified use-cases and applied these parameters to the software to successfully integrate AR into our shipbuilding-specific processes.
Now, our teams can visualize the current ship build state overlayed with digital models.
With quick training, downstream users like Area Supervisors can effectively overlay 3D models onto physical assets directly on their tablets to quickly inspect structures and access additional engineering information stored in the model. If discrepancies arise, team members can quickly reference the overlays for clarification, fostering better collaboration. AR allows them to visualize hidden structures—such as those concealed beneath floorboards—without the need to remove any surfaces. Additionally, advancements in devices such as the iPad equipped with LiDAR sensors, have improved tracking accuracy, allowing for real-time alignment checks within centimetres.
At Seaspan, the adoption of new technologies like Augmented Reality is reshaping our shipbuilding approach. By enabling teams to visualize projects in real time, we enhance collaboration and streamline workflows, setting new standards.