BIM–AR Integration in Practice: Opportunities, Challenges, and Trade-Offs from a Live Construction Case Study

Abstract: Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Augmented Reality (AR) integration has been widely proposed to improve construction coordination, yet evidence from live site deployments remains limited. This paper presents a qualitative case study of BIM–AR use with Gamma AR on an active university accommodation project in the UK. Site observations and interviews were used to examine workflow integration, benefits, and challenges. The findings indicate that BIM–AR enhances visualisation, coordination, and early error detection when applied selectively, but is constrained by alignment reliability, site conditions, and adoption factors. The study contributes practical deployment insights for BIM–AR implementation in construction.