Development of a Virtual Visit Model Based on a Bim Model and a Game Engine

Abstract

AbstractIn an ever-changing world, the construction industry must adapt to the emergence of new digital technologies. One of the most important characteristics of this industry is its fragmentation and the fact that the different actors involved in construction projects come from different organizations and have to work together on a temporary basis to achieve a common goal. Therefore, to improve productivity and collaboration, the use of information technology is inevitable and has long been seen as a potential solution to the issue. In this context, numerous research studies have addressed the potential of Building Information Modeling (BIM) to improve collaboration and productivity in the industry. BIM has many benefits such as increased constructability, reduced conflicts, and reduced cost estimation times, as well as many other opportunities. However, there are many challenges associated with adopting this approach within the construction industry, and the adoption rates appear to be lower than expected. Not all BIM users have all the knowledge needed to take full advantage of the potential of this approach, whether it be for communication between project teams, the use and visualization of the model, or the dissemination of information between different trades. There is also a lack of client commitment to BIM in the industry, but also a targeted deployment of BIM in a few uses by a limited number of construction industry stakeholders. To overcome these challenges, it is necessary to propose more integrative BIM solutions, with ease of understanding and capable of accommodating different profiles and backgrounds. In this context, to facilitate the deployment and application of BIM, easily accessible technologies such as immersive systems and interfaces could be a promising alternative. Thus, Virtual Reality (VR) is emerging as a promising asset to the BIM approach. However, very few research works have been dedicated to the interoperability between BIM and VR environments. This research project aims to propose a VR-based intuitive visualization and interaction environment, allowing involving the project owners and the public in the choice of project options. The paper first presents the different steps and methods that allowed the design of a virtual tour model using Unreal Engine. The final result allows navigating realistically in an environment where a user can intuitively interact with objects and project options.