Virtual Reality is no longer a thing of future. It is here. We have both the hardware and software now to yield immersive experiences. VR has numerous applications in all kinds of industries. One of them is construction. A Building Information Model (BIM) is a 3D model which gives information about the physical and functional components of the structure. BIMs provide engineers with insights and tools to design efficiently. Converting these models to VR experiences could aid in more robust designs.
The sheer satisfaction.
No matter how many times you show the architectural drawings to the client, they can’t really grasp how big a space is going to be or how the sunlight would flow through the hall to light up the entire place. These little details are important to them. Through a VR experience, they can literally walkthrough the place and get the feel of how it would all turn out.
Solicit invaluable design input.
When a structure is right there in front of you living and breathing, you happen to notice things that you wouldn’t have otherwise noticed. A client can easily point out what he likes and what he doesn’t. He could set things up as per his convenience.
This could be particularly helpful for the places where traffic flow is very important. Such as a hospital. Placement of everything, from equipment & beds to even the trashcans, makes a difference. With a VR model, nurses and doctors could move about the space and realize the best design for their optimum efficiency. A virtual structure gives you the luxury of shifting walls, passages, and twist things the way you like. A bricked building, on the other hand, is rigid and doesn’t offer that flexibility.
Improve your engineers’ efficiency.
A VR model would prove more effective than BIMs even for the engineers to solve design problems. A structure is not very different from a body with all its intricate details. It has its own circulatory system of wires and pipes. And their placement affects the aesthetics of the space. All of this design would be much better handled when the structure would stand before them living and breathing.
Reduce the overall cost.
Virtual reality would help a layman comprehend different construction stages by showing him a simulated BIM model. For big projects like a bridge, it would help the engineers also analyze the workflow as they could see the 4D model in VR. They could also correspond the progress with the amount of money spent. This could help them to schedule the activities in a way that would minimize the cost.
Get competitive edge.
Construction companies like Gilbane, Bechtel, and McCarthy have started to adopt virtual reality to design more robust buildings in less time. But not everyone can setup VR research labs. There are companies like EchelonVR willing to offer the service to convert your 3D model to an immersive VR experience.
Are you a virtual reality enthusiast? Follow the EchelonVRblog to learn more.
