Best practices in using Virtual Reality for Design Review

Abstract

Immersive three-dimensional (3D) model review is a key use case for Virtual Reality (VR) in engineering endeavours. The stereoscopic image provided by VR headsets enables users to naturally perceive the 3D model; this bypasses the mental effort needed when viewing 3D on a regular display and viewers can easily grasp the complexities. This technology is particularly beneficial for team members who aren't design experts, such as construction staff, the Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) team, and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs). VR allows these users to actively engage, understand, and contribute valuable insights to the design team in real-time. Now that remote working and online meetings are standard practices, VR meetings are the next step and a natural progression for collaborative design reviews. VR headsets with internet connectivity empower teams to collectively scrutinize 3D models and LIDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) point cloud scans. This user-centric, immersive review approach:-Engages a broader set of stakeholders in the design process,-Swiftly highlights design and layout flaws, and-Facilitates a safer construction sequence, especially when Building Information Modelling (BIM) is used.VR in engineering is therefore a triple-win, with the potential to reduce travel costs and CO2 emissions (significant since the construction sector is responsible for around 39% of global carbon emissions), engage specialized skillsets that may be scarce or geographically dispersed, and identify design issues at earlier project stages. For the latter, there is an outsize cost reduction gain since it is well established that project cost escalation has a significantly non-linear upward trajectory (North American Space Institute (NASA), 2004). Since the construction industry amasses a staggering $2500 billion in rework costs annually (representing 13% of the industry's total budget), early detection of issues is highly important to the success of any project.This paper delves into the workflows of VR design review, exploring how they have been successfully applied in large-scale capital projects, encompassing: -VR hardware and software solutions (current at the time of writing),-Details of a staged roll-out model that reduces barriers to adoption, and-Examples from real-world case studies.