Recently building information models have substantially improved the explicit semantic content of design
information. Information models are used to integrate the initial phases of project development. On the construction
site, however, the designs are still mostly represented as line-based paper drawings or projections
on portable displays. A generic technology that can integrate information and situate it in time, place and
context is augmented reality. The specific research issues addressed are (1) does augmented reality have a
potential use in civil engineering, (2) how big – in comparison to other technologies - is this potential and (3)
what are the main barriers to its adoption. The generic research issue was to develop a methodology for evaluation
of potentials of technology. A prototype was built. It was tested on a real construction site to evaluate
the potential of its use using the action-research method. A set of structured interviews with potential users
was then conducted to compare the prototype to conventional presentation methods. Using this methodology
it has been found out that augmented reality is expected to be as big a step as the transition from 2D line
drawings to photorealistic 3D projections. The main barrier to the adoption is immature core virtual reality
technology, conservative nature of construction businesses and size of building information models.