PC-based photo realistic virtual environments to facilitate construction design and non-destructive testing

Abstract

Virtual Reality (VR)-based visualization offers a wide range of capabilities whereby several versions for a design can be generated, viewed, and manipulated before narrowing down on the final blueprint that can be chosen for implementation. More importantly, hierarchical modeling of the scene in 3D facilitates facile project management, and is economical, considering the rising costs of materials, equipment, and labor. Besides, VR-based visualization offers a wide range of advantages including testing the positioning of component elements of a scene (construction project), verifying line of sight or other visibility issue, and enhancing the aesthetics of construction. This study demonstrates using appropriate 3D scenarios the various aforementioned advantages of VR-based scene-tree visualization and proposes the use of a OLE (Object Linking and Embedding) Interface for enhanced interaction with clients. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2009.