EchoXR: A Collaborative VR Framework for Spatial Acoustics in Architectural Design
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Author / Producer
Date
2025
Publication Type
Conference Paper
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yes
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Abstract
This paper introduces EchoXR, a multiplayer Virtual Reality (VR) framework enabling real-time, collaborative exploration of architectural acoustics. By leveraging advanced tracking and spatial audio technologies, participants can co-experience how design changes—such as adding absorptive panels, altering partitions, or varying materials—impact the acoustics of a virtual environment. Although acoustic simulations often require extensive processing time, EchoXR integrates optimized algorithms with VR’s immersive capabilities to deliver a realistic acoustic performance in real time. Notably, users can hear each other’s voices auralized according to the simulated acoustic conditions, providing an immediate, immersive sense of how proposed design modifications affect speech intelligibility and influence overall noise level in the space. .The system supports multiple concurrent users, allowing designers, clients, and stakeholders to engage in synchronous, spatially coherent discussions. Through intuitive 3D user interfaces, participants can collaboratively adjust design elements and instantly perceive the resulting acoustic effects. This shared acoustic experience fosters more informed decision-making, minimizing the need for costly late-stage interventions or hastily added acoustic solutions that can disrupt the overall design concept and function of the space.The preliminary implementation demonstrates the feasibility and potential of collaborative VR auralization for architectural design workflows. By facilitating a deeper understanding of acoustics in the early design phase, EchoXR underlines the transformative role immersive technologies can play in shaping the future of built environments.
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Publication status
published
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Book title
Human Interaction and Emerging Technologies (IHIET 2025): Proceedings of the 15th International Conference on Human Interaction and Emerging Technologies (HIET 2025), University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria, August 25-27, 2025.
Journal / series
Volume
197
Pages / Article No.
204 - 212
Publisher
AHFE International
Event
15th International Conference on Human Interaction & Emerging Technologies (IHIET 2025)
Edition / version
Methods
Software
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Date collected
Date created
Subject
Virtual reality; Collaborative architectural design; Immersive acoustics; Real-time auralization; Spatial audio
Organisational unit
03708 - Gramazio, Fabio / Gramazio, Fabio
03709 - Kohler, Matthias / Kohler, Matthias