Towards collaborative immersive environments for parametric modelling

Abstract

The Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry started to integrate Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) solutions in Computer-Aided Architectural Design (CAAD) tools, but their use is mostly limited to visualisation purposes. Few of these tools propose the ability of advanced modelling directly within an immersive environment. To fill this void, we previously proposed a software bridge between Grasshopper, a popular tool for parametric architectural modelling, and the HTC Vive VR headset. This bridge allows to adjust parameter values and get real-time feedback on the corresponding parametric geometries from within a VR environment. In this paper, we discuss how to extend that solution with support for live collaboration as design processes very often involve multiple collaborators. This requires addressing a variety of related challenges such as bandwidth and latency issues, conflicting intents, and virtual co-presence. We describe these challenges and presents ways to tackle them.