Virtual reality has entered multiple areas of our life. Twenty years ago, it was frightening and attractive – what is it? How can we deal with these new opportunities? Today, powerful PC systems allow builders and architects to visit their buildings earlier than the excavator demolishes the first object on the construction site.
The incorporation of VR technology in construction marks a new age of improved design, efficiency, safety, and client satisfaction. It has been instrumental in creating detailed 3D models, fostering better understanding, and promoting seamless communication.
Optimized construction sequences, timely completion, and cost reductions attest to VR’s benefits in project planning. We’ll show 8 benefits the area can get from virtual reality machines.
Short Review of the Benefits for Architects and Builders
Fortune Business report forecasts the global market of virtual products at a phenomenal $84 billion. Each third construction company in the UK is already testing or planning to implement virtual reality in their projects.
The figures in other developed countries are the same. The demand for these specialists is still rising because virtual reality awards many benefits to the area.
1. Tighter C2U contact and a better experience
The letter C here means contractor and U is for user. For example, I live in Germany and plan to buy an apartment in Florida. But I’m too busy at the moment to fly there and investigate. Remember that the prices are lowest when the contractor prepares the place for future construction. But I already want to see how it be not on plain paper but in voluminous mode.
Virtual reality will help. If the apartment builders have an interactive VR panel, I can see the model and even visit each free lot. I can model the positioning of furniture, test wallpapers and curtains. Or project the house of my dream.
That’s a great help in making the contractor-and-user relations tighter and more trustful because both sides may negotiate the argued positions. The same applications give me information about the stages of project release.
Source: vection-technologies.com
2. Management of XXI century
The building experts use them for management too. The solutions from Virtual Reality Experiences, a top British product supplier of virtual environment systems, allow the architects to create a 3D model of any object and see what happens with it under different conditions.
It’s much cheaper than making a scaled copy of the building and delivering it to specialized laboratories sometimes located abroad. Now you can model it on the powerful servers at the nearest university or your company’s ground.
3. Better training
VR is a crucial element of staff training. Using machines helps them to avoid mistakes typical for earlier epochs. For example, Eastern Europe had to start the demolition campaign of the 1970-1980s brick buildings earlier than expected due to the absence of computer modeling, which was developing in Europe and the United States.
The staff also reduces the injury risk while training in virtual conditions. The construction simulator helps the trainees to reduce risks or enhance safety.
4. Enhanced collaboration
The virtual environment unites the remote workers developing the project. Combining virtual reality tools with digital communication and project management platforms allows architects to work from wherever they want without losing efficiency. Some webcams already have virtual reality options, so the managers can control the construction or communicate with on-site workers from any point on the Earth.
Source: forconstructionpros.com
5. Enhanced Design and Visualization
The advent of Virtual Reality (VR) has been transformative for architects and designers, enabling them to conceive and visualize building designs with a depth hitherto unachievable. 3D models furnished by VR technology facilitate a dynamic and interactive design experience, significantly enhancing stakeholder understanding. This clarity of vision streamlines communication among project teams, clients, and investors.
The ability to virtually traverse the proposed structure gives architects and builders an opportunity to identify potential design pitfalls early. VR offers the capability to experiment with spatial arrangements, ponder accessibility, and examine design element interactions, contributing to a design that satisfies both aesthetic and functional needs.
6. Streamlined Project Planning
The construction industry has reaped substantial benefits from VR technology in terms of project planning. Teams can collaborate in a shared virtual space, promoting real-time discussions and expediting decision-making. This eliminates the necessity for costly, time-consuming physical models.
During these virtual walkthroughs, design conflicts, system clashes, and spatial inefficiencies can be identified and rectified early on, fostering project efficiency and minimizing delays. With VR’s ability to optimize construction sequences and logistical planning, smoother construction processes and cost savings are realized.
7. Risk Reduction and Safety Training
The construction field, plagued by potential on-site accidents and injuries, benefits from VR’s provision of a secure environment for safety training. Workers can practice safety protocols and equipment operation within a virtual environment, negating real-world risks.
Practical experience gained through VR training in handling critical situations equips employees with confidence and competence, resulting in reduced on-site accidents and a safer workspace.
Source: esub.com
8. Client Engagement and Satisfaction
Client engagement within the construction industry has experienced a significant shift with VR. Rather than relying solely on blueprints and static 3D models, clients can now explore their future buildings in a realistic and immersive way. VR presentations enable clients to assess spaces, visualize design elements, and evaluate aesthetics and functionality.
This immersive experience cultivates a deeper emotional connection, allowing clients to provide early feedback, resulting in real-time adjustments. Consequently, the final design aligns closely with the client’s vision, ensuring project success and customer retention.
9. Additional Possibilities
VR’s role in safety training, resulting in fewer accidents and a safer workspace, cannot be overstated. Moreover, VR presentations elicit stronger emotional connections with clients, enabling real-time feedback and ensuring that projects exceed expectations.
As technology evolves, the future holds even more promise for VR’s role in shaping innovative, sustainable construction practices. Truly, the construction industry is tapping into VR’s potential to reimagine building envisioning, planning, and realization.
Conclusion
Finally, let us tell you the 20-year Ukrainian anecdote: The American investor has funded the trade center in Kyiv. The Chinese architects created the project. Albanians visualized it. The Greek company delivered the materials.
Kazakh employees managed the equipment, and Congo builders constructed it. This situation was comical and expensive at that time. But now it’s everyday practice. Thanks to virtual reality platforms.
