Virtual Reality headsets such as the Oculus Rift, Gear VR , Google Day Dream and HTC Vive have the power to change the way architects/Engineers design and communicate buildings before they are built. The wearer is instantly immersed in a true three dimensional environment that gives an incredible sense of scale, depth and spatial awareness that simply cannot be matched by traditional renders, animations or physical-scale models.
A VR experience can fool your brain into thinking what you’re seeing is actually real. This sensation of actually being inside a building also makes VR an incredibly powerful tool for communicating design intent. Clients, in particular, often don’t have the ability to understand spatial relationships and scale simply by looking at a 2D plan or 3D model. VR can evoke a visceral response in exactly the same way that physical architecture can.
VR can play an important role at all stages of the design-to-construction process, from evaluating design options and showcasing proposals, to designing out errors and ironing out construction and serviceability issues before breaking ground on site.
Even at the conceptual phase, VR can be an effective means of exploring the relationships between spaces – the impact of light on a room at different times of the day or year, or views from mezzanine floors. With a physical scale model or BIM model on screen, you still have to imagine what it would be like to exist inside the space. With VR, you actually experience the proportion and scale.
BIM & Analytics
VR/Ar technology can also provide a solution to a technical installation product in action, such as HVAC or a pump physically present in the building. The service engineer can look at objects with the device and immediately see real-time data on working hours, scheduled maintenance and any errors. The engineer can carry out maintenance or remove jams with the use of clear visual instructions provided by the manufacturer. In addition, AR/VR devices also have a camera on board. In case you need a second pair of eyes as a service engineer, pressing a button allows your colleague or manufacturer to have a look and help you get started.