How virtual reality will change the construction industry

Using virtual reality technology in construction can improve safety, accuracy and collaboration, saving contractors time and money.

In fact, as more and more possible applications are understood or invented, VR has begun to spread to almost every industry imaginable, and the construction industry is certainly no exception. In the coming decades, the way things are built will completely change, making way for the time- and money-saving advantages virtual reality offers. Virtual reality is now able to provide a truly immersive experience, which is very helpful for industries such as construction. In fact, the construction industry is probably the industry that will be transformed the most by the use of virtual and augmented reality technologies.

Building information modeling is one of the reasons why architecture and virtual reality can be perfectly combined. Due to consumer demand, BIM is increasingly used in construction. People expect builders to provide them with a three-dimensional model of their project before they drive the first nail.

There are currently some 3D modeling methods being used, but virtual reality has the potential to make these 3D models something that can actually be walked into and explored, giving developers the opportunity to interact with the design and see it up close. , and make changes they can check in real time. Being able to see 3D buildings through the lens of virtual reality means builders can create better construction projects and identify problems before construction actually begins. This will save time and money for both the builder and the potential client requesting the build.

Clearly, for now, virtual reality has some pretty big benefits, but in the coming decades, things will change dramatically. Compared to the coming marriage of virtual reality and the construction industry, the possibilities now seem like a drop in the bucket. This article will discuss this pairing now and in the future, and what differences will come from building projects using virtual reality to model the project before the build begins.

3D Modeling and Virtual Reality

Architects and engineers use BIM to represent structures so that they have a construction plan that shows where flaws in the building plan are and any changes that need to be made. 3D modeling is an important step at the beginning of a project because it saves the architect from redesigning something that won’t work in the real world, which wastes supplies and time for the builder and those who pay for the construction project. And those supplies and time are used to build things that don't work.

But this is not the only way 3D modeling is currently used in architecture. 3D modeling can be demonstrated to clients, builders, or anyone who needs to know that the project has been built to specifications. Verifying a construction project from architectural 2D plans can be difficult, but 3D models can prove that plans have been followed and the design is accurate. But virtual reality can make it more accurate and easier to observe.

Virtual reality offers builders and architects the opportunity to work with full-scale structures in a virtual reality environment, rather than using the old method of scaling models on a computer screen or physically scaling models.

Collaborating with Virtual Reality

One of the most exciting things about the field of architecture is the ability to collaborate with others using virtual reality. Collaboration is important because it's not just the designer or engineer who comes up with the initial design, it's the client who pays for the build. Additionally, builders should be able to check what is being asked and find out whether it is feasible, give an accurate quote and make suggestions for improvements based on their own experience.

But it’s not just clients, designers and builders who can add value to their construction projects by seeing them in a virtual space. Today, hospitals are asking doctors and nurses to view virtual reality constructions of new buildings to provide valuable input on how rooms should be designed and laid out. This will revolutionize the healthcare industry and start from the ground up in project construction.

Virtual reality has huge potential for collaboration because as VR technology improves, people will be able to walk in and see exactly what their builds will look like and even do things like change paint colors , tweak options, and basically have total freedom to build whatever you want with VR.

Using VR to improve customer experience

Virtual reality can also improve customer experience. Developers who are selling planned homes are using virtual reality to show customers what the homes will actually look like when built and create a buying experience they can't get anywhere else. There are a variety of scenarios customers can play out in their home before they decide to build. They may look at dozens of different options to figure out what they want, which is relatively difficult in 3D modeling. Customers want this experience. They want to be able to see what they are getting before they buy.

Additionally, as we’ve discussed before, customers will also have a ton of freedom in VR. As customers start adding paint, curtains, furniture and everything else to the house, they get a better idea of ​​what their future home will look like. Customer experience is one of the areas where VR will be the biggest enhancement. The finished product can be viewed for a long time before it is finished and changes can be made if necessary. Customization will definitely improve the customer experience.

Virtual Reality Professional Training

Construction professional training can also be conducted through virtual reality. There are many fields where professional training will help prepare people for the job, but construction is certainly one of them. Rather than training someone in the real world to use heavy equipment, especially equipment like a crane, it is much safer and less expensive to train people with modern virtual reality. Today, many people graduate with degrees in engineering or architecture even though they have never worked on a construction site. Many of them have never even seen it up close. But virtual reality is about to change all that.

Imagine how much understanding and experience an engineer or architect would have on a job if they had real-world experience designing in a virtual world before graduating. Additionally, people will learn to perform hazardous jobs and operate extremely dangerous equipment in a safe environment where mistakes do not cost lives. Virtual reality is almost crucial when it comes to professional training in various fields, which certainly includes architecture. In a few decades, virtual reality will be nearly indistinguishable from the real world, which means the construction industry is about to make some major advances.

Virtual Reality and the Future of Architecture

The future of virtual reality is uncertain, but from just one perspective, it is impossible to predict how much development virtual reality will bring to the construction industry. , and all the other industries it could improve. There is no doubt that virtual reality will have a huge impact in the field of architecture, it’s just that no one knows how far this technology will take us. In the near future, virtual reality is likely to become the standard for the conception and construction of all construction projects. No construction project starts or is finally completed until it's built in the virtual space, but there's more to it than that.

Currently, not many companies are using virtual reality to improve their construction operations, at least in a meaningful way. Not many architects and engineers are using this technology yet. But that is expected to change soon. Businesses are only beginning to realize the value of this technology, which is one reason for the slow response. Another reason why companies have been slow to adopt virtual reality is that the technology is not yet complete. But this will all change in the next 5 years as technical fidelity catches up with mainstream rendering. In the future, it will be nearly perfect and everyone will be using it for unforeseen applications.

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