We’ve been hearing for a while that virtual reality (VR) is the wave of the future. I’m here to tell you the future is now.
The first true VR experience took place nearly 6 years ago with the Oculus Rift. Since then, VR has been making headlines in the realms of leisure and entertainment, allowing users to explore far-off lands or dive head-first into their favorite video games.
But VR has many uses beyond entertainment. Construction companies, including Turner Construction, are integrating it into their day-to-day operations. Turner’s VR lab and equipment planning simulates the final structure of a room or building, allowing our clients to “walk” through and interact with the design before we even break ground. It’s a cutting-edge solution that’s saving owners time and money and enabling us to better meet client expectations.
Let’s take a closer look at virtual reality’s place in construction.
SETTING EXPECTATIONS
For those of us in the construction industry, it’s fairly easy to get a clear picture of a room simply by looking at blueprints or viewing a building information modeling (BIM) video. For clients, blueprints and videos offer an idea of what they’re getting, but it’s just that—an idea. Even with the best BIM video, it can be difficult for clients to envision the scale and true functionality of a room. Mock-up rooms have long been a solution to help clients visualize their design, but they are neither cost- nor time-effective and are physically unfeasible for large rooms.
Imagine, instead, being able to “explore” an entire building before it’s built. VR proves to be an efficient and affordable method to do just that. Showing clients a simulation of the structure inspires confidence and reduces overall time spent on changes in the design phase of the project. By giving the client the ability to virtually interact with a true-to-size simulation of the built environment, we can manage their expectations beyond the level capable through 2D renderings.
MOVING FROM BIM TO VR
Creating an interactive virtual space is easier than you might think. Widely accepted in the construction industry, the BIM platform is the foundation of building this virtual reality. Architects design the base BIM file, which is then uploaded into the VR software for conversion.
Once the BIM file is converted to a virtual file, it is ready to explore, but all of the furniture, tools, and instruments within the file are static. To solve this problem, designers reenter the virtual file and turn each individual item within a room—from furniture to gadgets to plants—into its own virtual file, so that the user is able to rearrange the room as they wish. It’s this level of interactivity that’s the true benefit of virtual reality.
SAVING TIME AND MONEY
Most commonly used in highly technical rooms—such as operating rooms and emergency room departments—VR allows clinicians to explore their proposed workspace. For example, when surgeons put on the VR headset, they are able to test the functionality of an operating room by virtually “walking” around the space. Once “inside” the room, they can step up to the operating table, complete with instruments and functioning monitors, to get a feel for the space. They can even pick up and move the instruments and tools around with the help of a VR wand.
By offering this level of interactivity, VR accelerates the speed and quality of design decisions clients make, saving them a significant amount of time and money. In one instance, we gave 19 surgeons a virtual room tour of their new operating room and, over the course of 2 days, they identified 101 changes to the room—a number of changes that would take weeks for the client to identify with traditional methods. Since the surgeons and nurses were able to see and interact with the room, they could immediately spot issues in design and helped our team accomplish in 2 days a process that can take up to 2 months.
A contextual reference allows clients to make decisions faster and earlier on in the design process. Because they are able to identify the changes before construction begins, those changes can be made for virtually no cost.
BEYOND MEDICAL ROOMS
VR is most often used in highly technical health care projects where good planning and design are key to workplace efficiency. However, uses for VR within the construction field are infinite. Repetitive projects, like hotels or labor and delivery rooms, can greatly benefit from the VR experience. Clients pour millions of dollars into these projects, so a firsthand look and the ability to make changes before all rooms are built ensures that the client gets the best possible result.
Companies in need of large spaces like an atrium or hotel lobby can also benefit from these simulations. Sizeable, ornate projects are expensive, and rarely does a company want to invest without certainty that it will be done to their satisfaction. Exploring a simulation of the room allows clients to see, feel, and sense the volume of the space. There is no limit to the virtual world, so whether it’s a fully functional operating room or a hotel lobby with 40-foot ceilings and a waterfall, VR helps us achieve the maximum satisfaction for every single client.
In our experience, the benefits of VR have far outweighed the initial investment. The ability to interact within the space cements this technology’s value. And, VR removes the ambiguity from design that often results in change orders during construction or changes after a structure is built. When a client has access to a virtual model of their building, their confidence level is higher, communication is stronger, decisions are made more quickly, and projects are delivered more efficiently and with greater satisfaction. Ultimately, we can better serve our clients with the help of VR, consistently meeting or exceeding expectations. ■
About the Author:  Russ Alford is general manager for the Turner Medical & Research Solutions (MRS) business unit, based in Nashville, Tennessee. He is responsible for the effective management and development of medical equipment planning and management projects across the U.S. Mr. Alford joined Turner in 1982. During his career, he has been involved with the company’s retail, education, and healthcare market segments, and has lead over $2 billion of design and construction efforts for projects across the U.S. Learn more at www.turnerconstruction.com.
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Modern Contractor Solutions – August 2016
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