A framework of procedural considerations for implementing virtual reality in design review

Abstract

The implementation of immersive virtual reality in the construction sector is experiencing a period of renewed interest since the earlier research efforts of the 2000s. VR-related applications are increasing in number and scopes, with a focus on communication and analysis of design intents. On the other hand, some obstacles still exist from both technological and procedural perspectives. Focusing on the latter, the paper proposes a framework of procedural considerations for implementing virtual reality systems in design reviews, especially when clients and end-users are involved. The framework is the result of a qualitative research based on seven semi-structured group interviews with a representative panel of design stakeholders (i.e., twenty-four participants, including clients, designers, end-users and an accessibility expert), who were asked to evaluate immersive VR for the usability-focused analysis of a new school building.