AR in Construction: Overlay BIM Models on Site at 1:1 Scale with Meta Quest

SENTIO VR Team

Mar 4

4 min read

Updated: 3 days ago

AR Mode: Overlay Your Model on the Real World

SENTIO VR's AR Mode on Meta Quest uses passthrough to overlay your BIM model on the real job site at true 1:1 scale. Walk through a building under construction and see exactly how the finished design aligns with what's already in place. Spot clashes between structural elements and MEP runs before they become expensive rework.

This works across a diverse set of 3D file formats — from Revit, SketchUp, Navisworks, and Rhino to standard 3D formats like FBX, IFC, and GLB. Whatever your team designs in, you can overlay it on site. Models can also come straight from Autodesk Construction Cloud (Forma).

How it works: Toggle AR Mode from the Sentio VR panel using the VR/AR switch in the top right corner. Your model renders at 1:1 scale directly over the real-world environment captured by the Meta Quest's passthrough cameras. You get access to the same full suite of review tools you use in VR — Measure, Draw, BIM Data, Sun & Shadow studies, Issue tracking — but now layered onto the actual site. AR Mode works on Meta Quest 3 and 3S. If you're choosing headsets, see our guide to the best VR headset for architecture and construction.

Precision Controls for On-Site Alignment

Two capabilities that our users rely on every day are essential to the on-site workflow:

Transparency at 1:1 scale. Use the opacity slider to dial the model's transparency up or down in real time. Need to see the structural steel behind a finished wall? Fade the cladding. Want to compare floor finishes against what's already poured? Bring opacity back up.

1-degree rotation increments. When you're aligning a model to an existing building, "close enough" isn't good enough. Rotate in precise 1° steps to match your digital model to the physical structure with the accuracy your coordination workflow demands.

Grab-to-Rotate Alignment

Precise rotation is critical, but sometimes you need to get in the ballpark first. The new grab-to-rotate feature lets you reach out with your controller, grab the model, and physically turn it into position. The model moves the way your hand moves. Once you're roughly aligned, switch to 1° increments for fine-tuning.

How to use it:

Enter AR Mode from the Sentio VR panel.
Set your model transparency to your preferred level using the opacity slider.
Reach out with your controller, grab the model, and rotate it into approximate position.
Fine-tune alignment using 1° rotation increments.
Lock the orientation (see below).

Orientation Lock

Here's a scenario every on-site reviewer knows: you've positioned the model perfectly, you hand the headset to a colleague or a client so they can see it too, and the model shifts. Orientation drifts. You have to start alignment over.

Orientation lock freezes the model's position and rotation in place. Once locked, the model stays exactly where you put it — regardless of who's wearing the headset. Hand it to your structural engineer, your client, or your site supervisor. The model doesn't move. Everyone sees the same thing from the same position.

Alignment Workflow: Before and After

Step	Before This Update	With This Update
Initial positioning	1° increments only (slow)	Grab-to-rotate (seconds)
Fine-tuning	1° increments	1° increments (unchanged)
Passing the headset	Model could drift	Orientation lock keeps it fixed
Multi-person review	Required re-alignment	One alignment, everyone sees it

Tips for On-Site AR

Supervise headset users on site. AR Mode blends digital content with the real world, but construction sites have real hazards. Always ensure someone is keeping an eye on headset users — especially around open edges, equipment, or active work zones.

Download your model offline. Heading to a remote site with limited connectivity? Download your project files to the headset before you leave the office. Sentio VR supports offline access so you're never stuck waiting for a connection. Offline downloads need a licensed headset; see 5 ways to present with SENTIO VR for the other presentation options.

Important: Make sure your Sentio VR app on Meta Quest is updated to the latest version to access grab-to-rotate and orientation lock. Update on the Meta Store →

When to Use AR on Site

On-site coordination reviews: Overlay the BIM model directly on the partially built structure. Use grab-to-rotate to align it quickly, lock orientation, and walk stakeholders through the space one by one.

Client walkthroughs on site: Set up the model before the client arrives. Lock the orientation. When they put on the headset, they see the finished design layered over the real space — no setup, no fiddling with controls.

Construction verification: Compare as-built conditions against the design model in real time. Adjust transparency to check how installed elements match the 3D model.

Multi-stakeholder site visits: Align once, lock once. Pass the headset from architect to engineer to contractor to client. Everyone sees the same anchored model from the same position.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which headsets support SENTIO VR's AR Mode?

Meta Quest 3 and Quest 3S. Their colour passthrough cameras let you see the BIM model overlaid on the real site. Quest Pro does not support AR Mode.

How long does it take to align a model on site?

Usually under a minute: grab the model to rotate it roughly into place, fine-tune in 1° steps, then lock the orientation.

Is AR Mode accurate enough for setting out?

AR Mode is built for visual checks, coordination reviews and client walkthroughs on site. It is not a survey-grade layout tool.

Does AR Mode work without internet on a job site?

Yes. Download the project to a licensed headset before you leave the office, and AR Mode works offline.

Conclusion

AR Mode turns a Meta Quest into an on-site BIM overlay: align the model in under a minute, lock it, and pass the headset around. Use it to check what's built against the design and to walk clients through the finished building in the real space.