How interactive displays are transforming architecture, engineering, and construction industries

Interactive displays are game-changing tech tools for architecture, engineering, and construction professionals. These powerful smart board displays create dynamic workspaces where teams can collaborate in real time, manipulate complex models, and streamline every phase of the project lifecycle. Whether you’re an architect refining a design, an engineer analyzing structural components, or a project manager coordinating construction timelines, interactive display technology offers tangible benefits that directly impact your bottom line.

What are interactive displays for AEC?

Interactive displays are sophisticated digital whiteboards that respond to touch, stylus input, and external devices, allowing users to directly interact with and manipulate on-screen content. Interactive displays feature multi-touch capabilities that enable several team members to work with the same content simultaneously—a crucial advantage for collaborative design reviews and planning sessions.

For AEC professionals, these displays function as collaborative hubs where teams can examine blueprints in detail, rotate and explore 3D models, annotate designs in real time, and conduct virtual site walkthroughs. The technology allows teams to utilize industry-standard software platforms like Autodesk and Bluebeam, transforming traditional workflows into dynamic, interactive experiences.

Benefits of interactive displays for AEC

Enhanced collaboration

Interactive displays transform collaboration by creating shared visual workspaces where multiple team members can contribute simultaneously. When architects, engineers, and contractors gather around an interactive display, they can collectively mark up drawings, manipulate models, and problem solve in real time.

Interactive displays extend collaboration beyond physical limitations. Team members can join from construction sites, satellite offices, or remote locations, contributing their expertise regardless of geography. This connectivity ensures that critical decisions aren’t delayed by travel constraints or scheduling conflicts. When an unexpected site condition arises, field personnel can share photos and measurements with the design team, who can then modify plans while everyone views the changes on the interactive display. This level of responsive collaboration helps teams identify and resolve issues before they escalate into costly construction problems.

Improved design and planning

Interactive displays elevate design visualization beyond what’s possible with static screens or paper drawings. AEC professionals can manipulate 3D models with intuitive touch gestures—rotating structures to examine them from all angles, zooming in on complex details, and creating cross-sections to reveal internal components. 

The annotation capabilities built into these displays transform passive design reviews into active problem-solving sessions. Team members can sketch directly on blueprints, highlight areas of concern, and propose modifications that everyone can see immediately. 

Digital markups can be saved, shared, and tracked throughout the project lifecycle, creating a comprehensive record of design decisions and revisions. The ability to overlay different building systems (structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing) on a single display helps teams coordinate complex installations and avoid the costly rework that results from system conflicts discovered during construction.

Increased productivity

Many project delays stem from communication gaps, approval bottlenecks, or difficulty accessing up-to-date information. 

Task management becomes more visual and intuitive when teams can organize project elements on a shared screen, assign responsibilities with a touch, and track progress. For example, during a pre-construction meeting, team members can pull up the project schedule, identify potential conflicts, and collaboratively adjust timelines while documenting decisions for all stakeholders. This visual approach to project management helps teams stay coordinated and accountable throughout the project lifecycle.

Integration with industry tools

The true value of interactive displays in AEC workflows comes from their seamless compatibility with industry-standard software. Modern displays work directly with building information modeling (BIM) platforms like Autodesk, allowing teams to open and manipulate native file formats without conversion or functionality loss. This integration preserves the intelligence built into BIM models, enabling teams to access component data, run clash detection, and update models directly from the display.

Beyond design applications, interactive displays integrate with the full ecosystem of AEC software. Teams can transition from Bluebeam for document markup to Microsoft Teams for communication to specialized construction management software, all on the same display. This eliminates the productivity drain of switching between devices or applications and creates a more cohesive workflow.

Cost and time savings

By improving visualization and collaboration, teams can identify and resolve design conflicts early when changes are relatively inexpensive rather than discovering problems during construction when modifications can cost thousands or even millions of dollars.

The reduction in printing costs alone can generate significant savings for firms handling large-scale projects. Beyond the direct expense of printing, interactive displays eliminate the time spent distributing, organizing, and updating paper documents. They also reduce the risk of teams working from outdated drawings, a common source of costly construction errors.

Remote collaboration capabilities further reduce expenses by minimizing travel requirements. When specialists can participate in design reviews virtually, firms save on travel costs while still benefiting from their expertise. This is particularly valuable for projects with geographically dispersed teams or consultants.

Key components of interactive displays

Multi-touch functionality

Multi-touch technology recognizes and responds to multiple points of contact simultaneously, allowing several team members to work with content at the same time..

Multi-touch displays support various input methods to accommodate different working styles and precision requirements. Team members can use fingers for quick gestures and navigation, styluses for detailed drawing and annotation, or specialized tools for precise measurements. This flexibility makes the technology accessible to everyone on the project team, regardless of their technical background or drawing abilities.

Annotation tools

Users can access a comprehensive set of drawing tools—including freehand sketching, geometric shapes, text notes, and measurement instruments—all optimized for the precision required in architectural and engineering work.

During design reviews, team members can circle areas of concern, sketch proposed modifications, and add detailed notes that remain attached to specific drawing elements. For instance, when reviewing a building elevation, an architect might use annotation tools to explore alternative window arrangements, while a contractor adds notes about installation requirements and potential cost implications. The immediate visual feedback accelerates the design refinement process and ensures everyone understands proposed changes.

The benefits of digital annotation over traditional paper mark ups include: 

• Toggle revisions on and off to reduce visual clutter
• Organized by discipline, reviewer, or priority
• Color-coded for quick identification
• Automatically compiled into actionable punch lists
• Saved as part of the project record

Field personnel can mark up drawings with practical insights that might otherwise be lost in translation between the job site and design office. The results are better design decisions and fewer RFIs during construction.

Integration capabilities

Seamless software integration distinguishes professional-grade interactive displays like the ActivPanel from basic touchscreens. These displays operate as extensions of industry-standard AEC tools, preserving software functionality while adding the benefits of touch interaction and collaborative viewing.

Bluebeam integration enables sophisticated PDF markup workflows that are standard in construction documentation, while Microsoft Teams compatibility ensures remote participants can fully engage in collaborative sessions. The displays support direct file access from cloud storage platforms, eliminating the need to transfer files or work with static screenshots.

Real-time updates

Real-time update capabilities ensure all project stakeholders work from current information, addressing one of the construction industry’s most persistent challenges: version control. When changes are made during a collaborative session on an interactive display, those modifications can be instantly synchronized across the project team’s devices and platforms. This immediate propagation of updates eliminates dangerous scenarios where field crews work from outdated drawings while designers have moved several revisions ahead.

This capability proves especially valuable during active construction phases when RFIs (requests for information) require rapid resolution. Engineers can sketch clarifications directly on the relevant drawings, with those updates immediately available to the construction team waiting on site. The technology also maintains a complete revision history, ensuring teams can track changes and understand the evolution of design decisions throughout the project lifecycle.

How to implement interactive displays in AEC workflows

Step-by-step guide

Step 1: Assess your team’s needs
Begin with a thorough evaluation of your firm’s specific collaboration challenges and workflow requirements. Consider the types of projects you handle, team sizes, and frequency of collaborative sessions. Identify current pain points—are design reviews taking too long? Do interdisciplinary conflicts frequently emerge during construction? Are remote team members struggling to participate effectively?

Create a prioritized list of requirements based on your assessment. Understanding these needs before evaluating specific products will help you make more informed decisions and avoid investing in capabilities you won’t use.

Step 2: Choose the right interactive display solution
Select an interactive display that aligns with your identified needs and technical requirements. Consider:

• Display size (larger for group collaboration, smaller for individual workstations)
• Resolution quality (critical for detailed architectural and engineering drawings)
• Multi-touch capabilities (how many simultaneous touch points are supported)
• Software compatibility (ensure seamless integration with your AEC applications)
• Mounting options (wall-mounted, mobile stands, or tabletop configurations)
• Connectivity features (wireless screen sharing, video conferencing integration)

Evaluate the total cost of ownership, including hardware and any necessary software licenses, mounting solutions, and ongoing support. Promethean’s ActivPanel offers a comprehensive solution designed specifically for professional environments, with features optimized for AEC workflows. 

Step 3: Train your team on its features
Develop a comprehensive training program that goes beyond basic operation to showcase how interactive displays enhance specific AEC workflows. Start with hands-on sessions that allow team members to practice with their actual project files rather than generic examples. This practical approach helps users immediately see the relevance to their daily work.

Designate power users who can provide ongoing support and share best practices as adoption grows. These individuals can help troubleshoot issues, discover new workflows, and maintain momentum after the initial training period. Schedule follow-up sessions after a few weeks of use to address questions that arise during  implementation.

Best practices

Position displays in spaces that encourage collaboration, such as project rooms or design studios, while ensuring they’re accessible for impromptu coordination sessions. Consider lighting conditions, viewing angles, and acoustics to create an optimal environment for interactive work.

Establish clear protocols for both in-office and remote collaboration. Define how remote participants join sessions, how files are shared and accessed, and how decisions are documented. Create templates for common activities like design reviews or client presentations to ensure consistency and efficiency across projects.

Integration with existing software tools should enhance established workflows. Configure displays to automatically sync with your project management systems, cloud storage, and communication platforms. Develop naming conventions and file organization structures that support quick access during collaborative sessions.

Regularly review and refine your workflows as teams become more comfortable with the technology. What works well for initial implementation might not be optimal as users become more sophisticated. Collect feedback from different user groups and be willing to adjust processes to maximize the value of your investment.

Common mistakes to avoid

1. Overlooking training needs. Don’t assume that intuitive touch interfaces require minimal instruction. While basic operation may be straightforward, maximizing value from interactive displays requires understanding how to leverage advanced features within specific AEC workflows.
2. Failing to integrate with current workflows.  Some firms purchase interactive displays without considering how they’ll fit into established processes, leading to resistance from team members comfortable with existing methods. Avoid this by involving end users in the selection process and gradually introducing new capabilities rather than mandating wholesale workflow changes.
3. Moving too fast. Ensure your IT infrastructure can support  connectivity requirements and security protocols can accommodate new collaboration methods. Plan for a transition period where both traditional and new methods coexist, allowing teams to gradually shift their workflows as they become comfortable with the technology. 

Transform your AEC workflows with interactive display technology

From enhancing team collaboration through multi-touch functionality to streamlining workflows with seamless software integration, interactive displays address the industry’s most pressing challenges. The ability to visualize complex designs, coordinate across disciplines, and connect distributed teams translates directly to improved project outcomes.

Explore Promethean’s solutions designed specifically for professional environments, or schedule a demo to experience firsthand how the ActivPanel can enhance your team’s collaboration and productivity.