The Week in Summary: Virtual Reality Is the Name of the Game

What's the name of this week's game? Virtual reality. Virtual reality (VR) is expanding at a nearly exponential rate, both in hardware and software development. Fortunately, for those of us in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) space, these developments reach far beyond simple gaming.

We've discussed some of the road blocks still inherent in VR, but those hindrances are rapidly disappearing. Companies like Oculus are striving to make VR a more fully immersive experience, and in the process are likely to give designers greater control over their virtual environments. The company recently announced the forthcoming release of their Oculus Touch controllers, which reviewers are saying will be a solid first step in creating realistic environments. While the controllers are still largely centered on gaming applications, MIT Technology Review claims, "Oculus Touch feels like a missing piece needed for the Rift to really make sense. Using it makes efforts by Oculus and others to develop more intuitive ways to grab hold of virtual space using gloves or cameras feel crucial to this new medium's future." Fortunately, that tech is also currently in development, so it may not be long before we can "feel" the virtual world in much the same way as we experience the real one.

Now that's what we call hands-on VR! (Source: MIT Technology Review)

Of course, VR has practical implications beyond just the design process. German researchers, for example, are using the medium to prepare construction workers for the myriad potential hazards they may encounter on a job site. Rather than presenting workers with theoretical hazards on paper, the researchers at Ruhr-Universit?t Bochum are immersing participants in an environment where "The worker can... be exposed to simulated dangers such as being run over by trucks... or hit by crane booms, so mistakes can be learned... before construction begins." This method not only teaches the worker how to avoid potentially life-threatening missteps, but helps site managers find ways to reconfigure site layout to avoid these situations altogether. 

We really don't want to be hit by a crane or run over by a truck... (Source: Global Construction Review)

You know a technology is legit when Forbes jumps on the bandwagon. A recent article discusses five ways in which VR will change the world, claiming "It will dramatically transform the way we learn, live, communicate and connect with others around the world." We agree, and also think these five ways can be applied directly to construction. From easing the process of conceptualization to replicating foreign environments, VR stands to make the entire building process smoother and more collaborative. It will also lessen the learning curve, allowing new tradespeople to hone their skills in a risk-free yet hands-on environment. VR and augmented reality (AR) will make design more intuitive, job sites safer, and the end product easier to manage.

There's really no escaping VR or AR at this point. (Source: Forbes)

Aside from the fully immersive experience of VR, AR is a boon for the construction industry. While a virtual environment is great for conceptualization and training, eventually we have to step onto the real-world job site. Tools like the Daqri Smart Helmet allow workers to overlay the actual environment with additional information – blueprints; mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) layouts; possible safety issues – while remaining firmly planted in the real-world setting. Additionally, no amount of training can predict every possible hazard, but with the technology built into the Smart Helmet, we have the potential to keep a mishap from becoming a tragedy. The helmet uses Visual Inertial Odometry (VIO) that can track where the helmet is as well as where it's been through a series of cameras and sensors. And it isn't hindered by obstructions between sensors and computers, as GPS can be, so it would prove invaluable in pinpointing locations in the event of an emergency. VIO can also be used on machinery, giving a project manager a comprehensive view of their job site assets, human and otherwise.

These Smart Helmets keep workers safe, and they don't even look that funny. (Source: Medium)

With so much happening in the world of AR and VR, it can be hard to keep up, much less keep track. Fortunately, our friends at VIATechnik have compiled this handy list of "50 Virtual Reality Technologies in Architecture and Engineering" to help navigate the landscape. Check it out to see what's new and what else is on the horizon. Have a great weekend!

Nimble is just one example of the many strides VR is making into our physical spaces. (Source: VIATechnik)

As you may have noticed, we've been doing a lot of writing about the impact of computational BIM, generative design, and the future of how we work. One thing we haven't done is turn some of this thinking into more rigorous analysis. But now we're ready to do that! 

If you work for a general contractor, subcontractor, or design firm and want to collaborate on whitepapers that quantify how computational methods of working will change our industry, reach out to us and let's talk about what we can do. We're open to collaborations worldwide and have lots of ways of measuring performance indicators to gain insight into change in our industry. Contact Brett Young at [email protected].