The inception of VR and AR technology in the Architecture, Construction, and Real-Estate sector has brought infinite opportunity and dynamic industry changes, setting the industry for transformation. Virtual Reality (VR) is acknowledged as the design and engineering tool that is adding value from conceptual design of the raw project ideas to marketing of the unfinished/finished projects. And giving advantage to people in various aspects of the construction process.
Interactive visualization encourages architects to present their vision and plan, which is not built yet more competently than 2D images and blueprints. Construction professionals can fix the site problems, reduce waste, enhance safety and quality control through virtual inspections. Moreover, immersive visual environments, stunning animations, and virtual walk-throughs are helping real-estate agencies to project their property holistically with a life-like quality.
eLogicTech Solutions is a leading CAD services company, providing 3D visualization services and supporting architectural, construction, and real estate with cutting-edge VR and AR technology.
Visualization Challenges in the Construction Industry
Today, the construction industry faces several visualization challenges throughout the whole construction process it goes through. Modeling and architects have to confront time and accuracy issues. Safety, in-efficiency, and unappealing practices in construction are plaguing the industry, thus increasing the demand for modernization. Some key challenges faced by the industry are as follows:
Visualization of Architectural Design
Architects face a long and complex process to create an architectural 3D model from the conceptual plan. Creating an accurate model for an existing structure with exact detailing is extremely difficult and requires frequent site visits and revision.
Using a 3D architectural model for construction crews and engineers is challenging. Generally, these models only meet a single purpose. Therefore, maintaining an efficient cooperation flow between architects and the construction team becomes difficult.
Clash-free Engineering Design Visualization
The role of 3D visualization in engineering design is crucial for effective communication, reducing technical complexities, and detecting clashes or conflicts with existing structures. Architects and engineers suffer 3D model visualization challenges while expanding an existing structure or creating a new structure amid buildings for precise and clash-free MEP and other engineering system design.
Realistic Visual Environment
Bringing an environmental perspective is essential to solve any architectural design and aesthetics challenges and early. An integrated design is required to embed and visualize natural surroundings such as sun path analysis, shadow analysis, energy simulation, and other sustainability factors.
Entire Plan Visualization for Validation
Presentation is crucial for project design approval and financing. Even though stakeholders have in-depth project ideas and design, a realistic and interactive visualization is required with AR and VR technologies to show detail and specifics.
How VR and AR Transforming the AEC Project Visualization
Integration of VR and AR technology in the AEC sector is slowly transforming the industry. VR tools with BIM influence the entire work process, i.e., from conceptual design to construction administration. The industry has seen a tremendous change in the design and review process of a construction project. The application of VR in AEC is ready to become the industry standard. Some emerging VR trends shaping up the AEC industry are as follows:
VR up-gradation with AI
The application of AI with VR is helping AEC professionals explore new ways to interact with the environment. It brings new opportunities by integrating realistic images in the virtual environment. Real-estate developers can give immersive visualization experience in a simulated environment to their end-users, even before the project gets built. Developers can offer their stakeholders a virtual walk-through if they are not present on site.
Immersive Training with VR
VR tools help the AEC professionals to train their employees. And also experience the worksite challenges without actually exposing them to hazardous conditions and health & safety risks. VR tools offer immersive training in architecture and design. The participants can experience and visualize different design choices in reality.
Mobile Accessibility of VR with Extended Reality (XR) and 5G
XR converges augmented, virtual and mixed reality and will enable mobile users to experience VR. Connectivity of XR and 5G will enable 3D modeling and interactive visualization on mobile devices, removing any physical constraints.
Digital Twins
Digital twins are the virtual model of a product, process, or service. Integrating the digital twins and VR tools, data can be analyzed, and potential issues or problems can be identified.
Virtual Reality – The Big Picture
The immersive experience by VR technology has proved to be a game-changer for architectural firms, construction professionals, marketing agencies, and the real estate industry. The industry has recognized the importance of VR at the design stage, site maintenance, project bidding, getting client, council approvals, project marketing, and other operational processes. Therefore, the usage of VR is growing gradually in the AEC industry. A few specific applications of VR by these industries with their benefits are as follows:
Collision Control of Buildings
VR enables architects and engineers an immersive visualization of digital design. The depth and visual overview provided help them to identify any collision or clash of structural elements. It is helpful for a new project design or an existing structure that was difficult to discover through a 3D model on screen.
Bridge Maintenance
VR helps in bridge maintenance, which is difficult due to the unavailability of the current digital model. We can create a digital twin of the bridge using a high-resolution lidar and a point cloud. And view the digital twin VR environment and inspect areas that are difficult to access. With multi-user VR applications, several people from different locations can meet in a virtual building model, discuss the design and share their inputs.
MEP Coordination
With the help of energy modeling software - AX3000 and VR, we can get immersive visualization of the MEP. The addon AX3000VR combines cloud technology with VR glasses and helps visualize the complex geometry of the piping system with their spatial integration. We can also identify any design error during the virtual tour and rectify it.
Enhanced Client Communication
Real estate agents can demonstrate a 3D model with a virtual walkthrough at an early stage. It gives a clear understanding of the design, its architecture, fixtures, and other technicalities.
They can choose textures such as colors, materials, or finishes of their choice. And can suggest ant design changes to meet their requirement. VR supports client communication and saves time and money on costly changes or re-work.
eLogicTech Can Help You in the Technology Shift
eLogicTech brings a rich experience and expertise in the space of 3D visualization real-estate virtual tours. Our developers are experts in VR, AR, XR, and 3D BIM technology to create an immersive and visually delightful experience through realistic 3D architectural visualizations for stakeholder presentation or project showcasing. Along with BIM modeling, interior and exterior designing, and real estate virtual staging, leverage eLogicTech’s VR and AR services to save cost, time, increase site safety, and market your project effectively.
