A process identifies an anchor point of reference in a physical environment, the anchor point being a common point in each field of view of a plurality of users. The process establishes a grid structure in a field of view of a first user, the grid structure being a three-dimensional augmented reality object virtually positioned based on the anchor point at a common, static location in the environment relative to the users and for presentation to the users. The process selects a user-specific point of reference that corresponds to cell(s) of the grid structure against which the first user works in contributing to a collaborative construction of an augmented reality digital model. Based on receiving input from the first user, the process places augmented reality digital model elements into the cell(s), where contribution of the elements by the first user are reflected in the grid structure for the users.