Augmented and virtual reality represent permanent shifts in building design. Currently, 35% of architects use realty-augmenting technology to collaborate with their contractors and clients at every step of the design process.
How are AR and VR used in architecture?
Augmented reality and virtual reality technologies combine 3D models with physical sites. Architects have carried over the technology for AR and VR from the video gaming industry. Utilizing the tech’s potential beyond creating atmospheric games, AR and VR are becoming commonplace for drafting building concepts. Architects are using VR and AR in multiple ways, such as:
Planning
One of the most important uses of AR and VR in architecture is as a planning tool early in the design process. Architects can use realty-altering technology to demonstrate to their clients how their ideas will look in a space. The tools are a great educator for non-designers, giving them practical insight into where their ideas work and where they need to improve.
Training
AR and VR are invaluable tools for newcomers to the world of architecture. The tech provides architects with limited experience to learn without excessive supervision and without putting an actual project at risk. Making mistakes in a virtual space is much cheaper and safer, especially when factoring in the risks of operating hydraulic equipment or large-scale building demolitions.
Subterranean construction
Ground-penetrating radar has been a part of building design since the late 20th century. AR tech, however, gives a more accurate and dynamic visual. These visuals help establish what kinds of hazards could be present below ground before going to the trouble of hiring an excavator.
Collaboration
Experts can collaborate from remote locations through the use of AR and VR. This ability is hugely beneficial in a post-pandemic world. Constructing a building requires a considerable amount of people power, and any tools that can improve the ease of communication for the team are essential.
Maintaining buildings
After a project’s completion, it usually needs regular maintenance to assess any sustained damage and provide the best care for a building. The digital models that architects and builders can create make it easy to track the lifespan of a building, including any of its repairs or changes.
What are the benefits of AR and VR for architecture?
Arguably, the most significant benefit of using reality-altering technology in architecture is the improved cohesion between the teams involved. To build your dream home, you need the following:
- Your original vision and ideas.
- An architect’s experience, training, and skill to design the perfect place.
- A team of stellar builders, plumbers, and possibly specialists guarantees quick installations.
That’s a lot of cooks who could spoil the broth. A digital design can be shared and altered at any time rather than physical drafts and plans that must be understood and interpreted correctly.
Improved accuracy
Using the combination of real-world spaces and 3D modeling, the craftspeople behind your home can do the job more quickly. Using data from a pre-existing property or the site of a proposed property, architects can work with the actual measurements and confines to design a space to scale.
Also, the client can see every step of the design process. They can interject with feedback or requests and see the changes in real time. Most design simulations also offer a realistic view of how the space will look in different lighting when the sunlight is in the room, which can impact how clients want to alter ideas.
Increased efficiency
With so many people involved in the various stages of designing and building a home, it’s easy to make mistakes through miscommunication. Setbacks are an inevitable part of the building. Whether it’s a struggle with a supply chain or an error in the design itself. Eliminating as many roadblocks as possible ahead of time is crucial.
AR and VR can streamline the variables involved in home building and greatly facilitate communication between teams. While the cost of working with AR and VR may concern some architects, the time and money this technology saves can level the playing field.
The limitless possibilities of AR and VR
The benefits of AR and VR in the construction process outweigh the initial expenses, making it a worthwhile investment for any team looking to improve its workflow and communication.
The days of drafting tables and tape measures feel like a different world compared to the latest tech in architecture. The ability to accurately simulate what the sunset will look like in a room that doesn’t exist yet sounds like science fiction. Welcome to the future.
