Avvir vs. OpenSpace.ai — Which One Should You Choose?

The construction industry is undergoing a digital transformation, driven by technological advancements that enhance processes and improve efficiency. Avvir and OpenSpace are leading platforms in this field, offering unique virtual design and construction (VDC) solutions.

Let’s compare the differences between Avvir and OpenSpace.ai. We’ll start by providing an analysis of both platforms. Then, we’ll take a closer look at the features and capabilities that set them apart. By the end of this article, you should have a much better idea of which software would be best for your construction project.

Avvir — A Detailed Analysis

Avvir is a pioneering technology company that specializes in as-built QA/QC & verification and real-time progress tracking for the construction industry. Founded in 2017 in New York City by Raffi Holzer and Tira Odhner and joining Hexagon in 2022, Avvir has emerged as a leader in leveraging photography, laser scanning, and AI-powered analytics to ensure accuracy, quality control, and project efficiency.

To achieve this vision, Avvir developed a groundbreaking platform that integrates 3D laser scanning with advanced AI algorithms. This unique combination allows Avvir to compare captured point cloud data from the construction site with the original design models. By analyzing these data sets, Avvir provides precise as-built verification, identifying any deviations or discrepancies and ensuring adherence to design specifications and model coordination.

The platform's capabilities extend beyond as-built verification. Avvir also offers real-time progress tracking by overlaying the captured as-built data onto the design and coordinated models. This feature enables construction teams to monitor project timelines, track milestones, and identify any delays or issues that may arise during the construction process.

By providing these real-time insights, Avvir empowers project stakeholders to make proactive decisions, mitigate risks, and optimize construction schedules while eliminating any unnecessary waste.

Let's explore the key features that set Avvir apart:

• Accurate as-built verification: Avvir's 3D laser scanning analysis technology enables the comparison of captured point cloud data with the original design and coordinated subcontractor models, ensuring accurate verification of as-built conditions. By highlighting deviations and discrepancies, teams can identify potential issues early in the construction process.
• Real-time progress tracking: By overlaying the as-built data onto the models, Avvir provides real-time insights into project progress. This allows project teams to monitor construction timelines, track milestones, and identify any delays or discrepancies.
• Enhanced quality control: Avvir's advanced algorithms automatically detect deviations from the coordinated models, enhancing quality control measures. Quickly identifying inconsistencies can reduce rework and delays while also ensuring adherence to design specifications.
• Compatibility with design software: Avvir is compatible with leading design software, such as Autodesk CAD and Revit. This eliminates the need for manual data transfer, and reduces errors and time-consuming tasks.
• Accessible data repository: Laser scans, project models, 360 photos, and analysis all in one easy-to-access, simple-to-navigate, immersive, cloud-based viewer with unlimited project team access.

Avvir offers a range of key features that set it apart in the construction industry. With these features, Avvir empowers construction professionals with the tools they need to ensure accuracy, streamline processes, and achieve successful project outcomes.

OpenSpace — A Detailed Analysis

OpenSpace.ai is a technology platform that has transformed the way construction site data is captured, documented, and shared. The company was founded in 2017 in San Francisco by Jeevan Kalanithi, Philip DeCamp, and Michael Fleischman.

OpenSpace has been at the forefront of leveraging advanced technologies such as 360-degree imagery, artificial intelligence, and computer vision to streamline construction processes and enhance collaboration among project stakeholders.

By combining the power of 360-degree imagery, AI, and computer vision, OpenSpace created a platform that automates the process of visual documentation at construction sites. Using 360-degree cameras, construction teams can easily capture high-resolution imagery while navigating the site. 

OpenSpace has gained recognition and trust from industry-leading construction firms, architects, and general contractors. Its user-friendly interface, combined with its ability to provide comprehensive visual documentation and collaboration features, has set a new standard for construction site documentation.

Let's delve deeper into the key features offered by OpenSpace:

• Automated visual documentation: OpenSpace simplifies the process of capturing visual documentation. Construction teams can easily navigate the site with 360-degree cameras recording video, reducing the need for manual upload of individual 360 images to floor plans.
• Image mapping: The platform's video recording feature allows for the site to be recorded with 360 video. Then, the software selects out key 360 images for mapping to the floor plans, which correspond with the construction sites. This allows stakeholders to assess project progress virtual walks easily. Users attach a camera to their hardhat and walk around the job site to complete the photo documentation process.
• Collaboration and communication: OpenSpace’s user-friendly interface allows users to share visual documentation with project stakeholders. This enhances decision-making processes and fosters better coordination among team members.
• Integration with project management platforms: The software integrates with leading project management platforms, enabling streamlined workflows. This integration allows for easy access to visual documentation within existing project management systems.

OpenSpace offers a range of key features that make it a powerful tool for construction site documentation and visualization. With its user-friendly interface and integrations with project management platforms, OpenSpace enhances project transparency, coordination, and efficiency.

Avvir vs. OpenSpace — Choosing the Right Solution

Both Avvir and OpenSpace excel as technology platforms that can help project management, field, and VDC teams. However, there are key differences between the two. Avvir is more robust in terms of reality capture and Building Information Modeling (BIM) capabilities while OpenSpace is more focused on 360 project documentation and analysis. 

Let’s take a closer look at nine ways Avvir sets itself apart from OpenSpace:

• Existing conditions verification: Avvir specializes in precise as-built verification using 3D laser scanning technology. The platform automatically compares captured point cloud data with design models to identify discrepancies and ensure accuracy. This feature provides a detailed analysis of how closely the existing conditions models align with the intended design.
• Real-time progress tracking: Avvir's platform overlays as-built data onto design models, which makes real-time progress tracking possible. This feature provides insights into project timelines, milestones, and potential delays. It makes proactive decision-making and risk mitigation easier. Avvir is able to track progress against any modeled element whereas OpenSpace progress tracking is limited to select trades.
• Advanced quality control: Avvir's algorithms automatically detect deviations from design models, which enhances quality control processes. By identifying inconsistencies early on, construction teams can address issues promptly. This cuts down on rework and potential delays.
• Utilization of LiDAR scans: Avvir leverages 3D laser scanning technology, including LiDAR scans, to capture highly accurate point cloud data of construction sites. This technology enables Avvir to create detailed and precise as-built representations, enhancing the verification process. OpenSpace relies on photo documentation to represent and analyze the construction projects, as well as to use with floor plans for analysis. This is not as accurate as LiDAR scans compared with the BIM models.
• Hardware and software agnostic approach: Avvir is hardware agnostic, meaning it can work with various types of 3D laser scanning devices. This flexibility allows construction teams to choose the hardware that best suits their needs and integrate it seamlessly with Avvir's platform. Avvir also allows photo data to be ingested from other capture platforms like Struction Site, Drone Deploy, and Multivista.
• Automated deviation analysis: During construction, Avvir's platform automates the analysis of deviations between captured point cloud data and design models. By automatically comparing the two datasets, Avvir identifies and visualizes discrepancies, enabling efficient quality control and reducing the need for costly manual inspections.
• Future clash detection analysis: Avvir goes beyond as-built verification by offering future clash detection analysis. This feature allows construction teams to predictively identify potential clashes or conflicts between elements installed and elements which are not yet installed. This encourages proactive problem-solving and minimizes rework.
• Automated as-built models: Avvir enables the push of identified deviations directly to the BIM platform. This seamless integration streamlines the process of updating design models with as-built data, ensuring accurate documentation and enhancing collaboration among project stakeholders. This is all while being a value add to the value gained from real-time and predictive installation and as-built analysis.
• BIM-centric approach to progress tracking: Avvir calculates percent complete by utilizing the BIM as the baseline and making use of metadata like linear footage and area to calculate totals. This allows project teams direct visibility into how percentages are being calculated.

Though OpenSpace.ai excels in its partnerships and integrations with project management platforms, Avvir also has many integrations and can easily access and share reporting and site links, making integrations and partnerships a more equal comparison point. 

An advantage to Avvir is that the platform provides much more advanced capabilities for accurate as-built verification, data analysis, and BIM integration. Avvir uses coordinated BIM models to obtain the data used for reporting and analysis. These models fit within the expectations and workflows common to most VDC departments and general contractors.

These capabilities can be a difference maker, empowering construction professionals to streamline processes, enhance quality control, and optimize project outcomes, all with the accuracy of LiDAR and BIM analysis.

Technology Can Improve Your Construction Projects

OpenSpace and Avvir are powerful platforms that cater to the unique needs of the construction industry. By thoroughly analyzing the features and capabilities of each solution, construction professionals can make an informed decision based on their specific requirements. OpenSpace's user-friendly interface, collaboration features, and project management integrations make it suitable for projects of various sizes.

However, Avvir's predictive clash detection, as-built verification, and BIM-centric progress tracking are well-suited for large-scale projects with complex architectural and programmatic elements. By selecting the right solution, construction professionals can leverage technology to streamline processes, enhance accuracy, and achieve successful project outcomes.

Request a demo from Avvir today to see how the platform can give you complete knowledge of your build, at any time.