Augmented Reality puts us on the map as digital engineering frontrunner

I am a digital savvy and entrepreneurial engineer at Royal HaskoningDHV and associated to the Business Unit Smart Solutions. I am responsible for introducing Augmented Reality via the (Microsoft) HoloLens, a digital tool that will help shape the future of engineering. This tooling easily adds a lot of value to our clients, because it simply helps stakeholder management through visualisation of the project outcome. With the HoloLens people can virtually walk through a new project design and experience it themselves. Let me tell you something about my work, my challenges and what motivates me: translating client and colleagues needs into successful HoloLens applications.

My daily work

My responsibility is introducing Augmented Reality to our business via the HoloLens. Augmented Reality enables engineers and a wide variety of stakeholders to visualise and work with digital content / holograms as part of the real world; i.e. mixing our world with a virtual world. Recently I visited my Maritime & Aviation colleagues in Liverpool to get them started with the HoloLens, so they can show stakeholders the visual outcome of a project. I am also, together with ICT and a software developer, looking into new applications of the HoloLens that are relevant to our clients and our projects. A good example is designing live on location with our own content.

My biggest challenge

It is a real challenge to translate my colleagues’ and clients’ needs into successful applications. Stakeholder management is essential to us and our clients; using the HoloLens gives the opportunity to do just that through visualising the project outcome. We only started with the use and further development of the HoloLens three months ago. I had to and still do a lot of testing to master the potential of the HoloLens. My colleagues and I are in the process of familiarising colleagues and clients with this new technology to make sure everyone fully grasps the great opportunities it can bring.

Why is the HoloLens a smart solution?

I believe that Augmented Reality has the potential to allow for truly integrated engineering, faster and cheaper construction, virtually guided maintenance and – last but not least – truly engaged stakeholders. A major benefit is that it’s low-cost creating the visual outcome. We have identified a number of projects that are suitable for developing new HoloLens applications. Like a medical equipment manufacturer, for whom we are looking into developing interactive design applications. New applications of the HoloLens will help us position ourselves as a digital frontrunner.

Why I feel excited about the HoloLens?

Augmented Reality is a trend that will push through; it will become more easily accessible. It is amazing to appropriately fit Augmented Reality into the engineering process. It is a low-cost digital tool that easily adds a lot of value to our clients, as it effortlessly helps stakeholder management through visualisation of a project. That is great, isn´t it?! For a sneak preview of the possibilities, please have a look at the HoloLens experience of Heerlen Railway Station (the real deal is even more impressive).

What gets me energised?

We’re now only experiencing the start of a trend, using Augmented Reality into real life practice. Augmented Reality will bring about a true revolution to engineering consultancy and the way we work. In the very near future AR technology will be available to the masses, and before we know, it will be part of our daily lives.

What attracts me most in working for Royal HaskoningDHV?

What attracts me most is the wealth of knowledge we collectively, at Royal HaskoningDHV, hold. The freedom and autonomy we have to explore beyond common practices. And the increasing focus we have on digitalisation as the key towards a promising future. Spending much of my time on developing digital applications, I come across loads of highly exciting projects – ranging from hospitals and schools to ports and roundabouts. At the same time, I get to collaborate with many ambitious colleagues that are open to the future. How cool is that!

HoloLens experience of Heerlen Railway Station