Navigation Tasks in Desktop VR Environments to Improve the Spatial Orientation Skill of Building Engineers

Carlos Carbonell-Carrera,Allison Jaeger,Jose Saorin

doi:10.3390/buildings11100492

Carlos Carbonell-Carrera, Allison Jaeger + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings11100492

Copy DOI

Journal: Buildings	Publication Date: Oct 19, 2021
Citations: 2	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of La Laguna, St. John's University

Abstract

Virtual reality is a powerful tool for teaching 3D digital technologies in building engineering, as it facilitates the spatial perception of three-dimensional space. Spatial orientation skill is necessary for understanding 3D space. With VR, users navigate through virtually designed buildings and must be constantly aware of their position relative to other elements of the environment (orientation during navigation). In the present study, 25 building engineering students performed navigation tasks in a desktop-VR environment workshop. Performance of students using the desktop-VR was compared to a previous workshop in which navigation tasks were carried out using head-mounted displays. The Perspective Taking/Spatial Orientation Test measured spatial orientation skill. A questionnaire on user experience in the virtual environment was also administered. The gain in spatial orientation skill was 12.62%, similar to that obtained with head-mounted displays (14.23%). The desktop VR environment is an alternative to the HMD-VR environment for planning strategies to improve spatial orientation. Results from the user-experience questionnaire showed that the desktop VR environment strategy was well perceived by students in terms of interaction, 3D visualization, navigation, and sense of presence. Unlike in the HDM VR environment, student in the desktop VR environment did not report feelings of fatigue or dizziness.

Highlights

The use of 3D modeling tools combined with visualization techniques in virtual reality (VR) environments is already part of the building engineering design process
To address the first hypothesis that navigation tasks using a desktop VR environment would generate a significant gain in spatial orientation skill, a paired-samples t-test was conducted comparing perspective taking scores before and after completing the workshop
The results revealed that prior to the workshop, students had an average perspective taking error of 35.75◦ (SD = 20.67), and after completing the workshop their error decreased to an average of 24.39◦ (SD = 18.10)

Summary

Introduction

The use of 3D modeling tools combined with visualization techniques in virtual reality (VR) environments is already part of the building engineering design process. VR facilitates the superposition of different structures and installations in projects and allows working with the constructional and architectural design elements of different buildings. Together, this allows for an understanding of the impact on the environment while virtually navigating around the 3D representation of the project [1]. Virtual reality 3D graphic representation helps users to understand three-dimensional space, which facilitates decision-making around a project, compared to representations in two-dimensional plans and models [2]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion