A VR Engineering Remote Collaboration Framework: The BIM to VR pipeline
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Author / Producer
Date
2025
Publication Type
Conference Paper
ETH Bibliography
yes
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Abstract
Virtual reality presents a new and innovative way for engineers, architects, and other stakeholders to collaborate on engineering projects. It enables the manifestation of virtual avatars representing VR users who can interact within a dynamic gaming simulation. At present, game engines facilitate the seamless importation of CAD and BIM models, simplifying the process. Moreover, the incorporation of VR capabilities and multiplayer support has become notably more accessible, thanks to a plethora of readily available templates and assets that can be easily acquired or downloaded from various sources. Lastly, with the introduction of Meta's "App Lab," distributing apps directly to other VR headsets has become significantly more accessible, allowing for a streamlined pipeline for remote collaboration. These advancements have paved the way for an efficient, rapid, cost-effective pipeline that empowers interdisciplinary professionals to coexist remotely within a BIM model. This alternative approach could improve design visualization and error detection. Furthermore, the methodology can seamlessly incorporate untrained stakeholders, including clients, and lead to better stakeholder involvement and communication. This paper aims to present a step-by-step framework for transitioning from BIM software to a gaming simulation and showcase the usability and efficiency of the method through an exemplary use case. A model developed in the powerful BIM software “Revit” will be utilized for the simulation. The game engine “Unity” will facilitate the development of the VR demonstration, including basic physics integration and networking capabilities to create an immersive multiplayer simulation with voice chat and VR bodies. Overall, this paper seeks to showcase an alternative and innovative method of collaboration, harnessing the potential of game engines and virtual reality to create more efficient and sustainable solutions in the field of engineering and architecture.
Permanent link
Publication status
published
External links
Book title
Advances in Information Technology in Civil and Building Engineering
Journal / series
Volume
628
Pages / Article No.
702 - 709
Publisher
Springer
Event
20th Conference of the International Society for Computing in Civil and Building Engineering (ICCCBE 2024)
Edition / version
Methods
Software
Geographic location
Date collected
Date created
Subject
Virtual reality; Remote collaboration; Building information modeling
Organisational unit
03859 - Adey, Bryan T. / Adey, Bryan T.
Notes
Conference lecture held on August 26, 2024.