The Potential Impacts of Virtual Reality on Construction Industry

This document explores the potential impacts of virtual reality in the construction industry, focusing on how it can revolutionize the design phase and improve risk assessment. Virtual reality offers a versatile tool for creating simulated environments and allows users to interact with the project before it is built. It has the potential to enhance accuracy, inclusivity, and simplify viability in construction projects.

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The Potential Impacts of Virtual Reality on Construction Industry
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The Potential Impacts of Virtual Reality on Construction Industry
Part one: Research
While Virtual Reality VR presently seem to be a video game and entertainment thing, the
technology has a great potential in construction industry some years to come. This technology
offer an extremely versatile tool in the construction industry and its applications can be seen
from various facets (Wu, Zhang, Shen & Peng, 2013). In this document, we explore potential
impacts of virtual reality in the construction industry.
Virtual reality and construction
Virtual reality involves the use of computer technology for creating simulated
environment (Turner, Hutabarat, Oyekan & Tiwari, 2016). The technology, unlike the traditional
user interface, involves a user in an experience. The VR is all about creating a virtual world
which a user can interact with (Wang, Truijens, Hou, Wang & Zhou, 2014). In virtual reality,
users put on VR goggle through which they can step inside the project while the project is still in
design phase. Since it provide its users with the opportunity to go through the experience; to see
how the building will function as well as its appearance when it is completed, VR can be seen to
pose a significant impact in the construction industry soon.
In the whole of the economy, construction industry is the industry where the real life
impacts of virtual reality can be felt. The fact that the industry involves a lot of physical work
and the product is very tangible does not imply that there is no need of the VR technology to
facilitate effectiveness and efficiency of the process that lead to the final product (Le, Pedro &
Park, 2015). Virtual reality promise unmeasurable impacts to the construction industry. Some of
the notable impacts include accuracy and inclusivity, simplifying viability, avoiding obstacles

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and capability to fine tune among others. One of the major obstacles in construction projects is
visualization and visualization is the major component of the virtual reality technology. This
shows how this technology will be important for construction industries in future.
Part two: Brainstorming
The current virtual reality are mostly based on desk top applications where users can
interact with the graphic presented on the computer screen. A fully immersive VR, however goes
a step further by using a more advanced display unit instead of computer screen (Akintoye,
Goulding & Zawdie, 2012). The following are ways through which Virtual Reality may change
the future of construction industry.
Performing risk assessment during design phase: the VR technology is capable of assessing
and identifying risk related codes. The technology can enable code consultants who are specialist
in evaluating virtual environments to learn essential information by exploring virtual settings.
This could consequently help in pointing out areas that require improvement in the initial design
stages when adjustments can be made, thus leading to reduction of risks that may be experience
in the final phases of the design (Pedro, Le & Park, 2015). The VR technology can be used even
in the later stages of the design or even after completion of the project. Its potential of simulating
evacuation in the event that an emergency is experienced can be helpful. Additionally, it may
enable training the building inhabitants in a virtual environment is essential; it could help the
occupants to prepare on the off chance that any real situation is experienced.
Involving contractors in the design stages: through VR technology, the construction team will
have the opportunity to get involved in the project in the design stages. This will enable
contractors to provide their views concerning the design conflicts due to the reason that they are

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the ones who always lead in spotting and identifying issues during the construction stage.
Through virtual picture of the complete project, the contractors can raise issues in the early
phases of conflicts seen during virtual walk through.
Enabling a better preparation for the construction: VR models can be used by construction
managers or general contractors to pre-plan the construction stages before the project is
executed. This will enable the contractors to make the eventual construction process which is
efficient. It will also allow the contractors to practice the building’s assembly process before the
project begin (Ma, 2011). VR can also allow the contractors to explore the construction scenarios
well before the actual process start as well as determination of the potential dangers and
equipment logistics prior to the project.
Learn how the building is likely to be used by occupants: virtual walkthroughs enabled by
VR may be essential for designers to gain an understanding of how the building occupants are
likely to use the building (Ku & Mahabaleshwarkar, 2011). It may turn out that the way building
occupants plan to use it is quite different from the designer’s perception as far as vertical
transportation, circulations and focal points are concerned. The information can then be used by
the designers to provide the design that satisfy the users’ needs.
System monitoring: virtual reality can be utilized for the building system monitoring to
determine any equipment failure on the off chance that a system failure is encountered. The
technology can as well be used to identify areas of excess pressure buildups as well as pointing
any potential leaking that cannot be spotted by a necked eye.
Part three: Regulation and ethics

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Along with the stated potential impacts of the virtual reality in the construction industry,
there are certain regulations that may limit its users from achieving its full potential. This section
presents the regulations and ethics that may act as constraints in achieving full potential of the
VR technology induced change concerning performance of risk assessment in the design phase.
The regulations and ethics are framed in accordance with the Lawrence Lessing’s regulations
including Market, Law, Architecture and Norm regulations.
1. The marketing regulations and ethics according to Lessing deals with economic forces. In
this sector, the regulations that may limit people from leveraging the full potential of the
technology include obtaining a written permission from various authorities including
economic authorities that allow the continuation of the project if it happen that by any
chance that any risk is identified.
2. Law, on the other hand may require that the project should not be continued until the risk
is reduced. This may lag the project thus limiting the impacts of VR.
3. According to architecture, professional ethics may demand that risk assessment is done in
a fair and safety cognizant manner according to the principles of safety.
4. Lastly, norms may compel the designers to do the risk assessment in compliance with
various standards including ISO standards and so on which the designers may find it is
difficult to follow.
Part four: Disruption caused by VR in construction industry
Process description

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There are various process in the industry followed during construction projects that may
experience the impacts of the virtual reality. This section provides a brief overview of the
processes that are involved in the construction industry.
Construction industry involves three major processes or stages. These three stages
included the design stage and construction stage. The design stage is also known as pre-
construction stage. It involves the development of plans and models. This is the stage which
requires maximum attention failure to which permission for construction may not be given. The
second stage involves modeling stage. This stage is not normally followed by some designers but
it is very important as it enables the designers to visualize how the building would look like after
completion. It also involve very essential activities like risk assessments among other activities
that ensure safety for the building occupants (Sacks, Perlman & Barak, 2013; Zhao & Lucas,
2015).
The last stage involves the actual construction process. This phase involves the actual
building, it involves various activities including preparation of site, inspection, laying
foundation, framing the building, inserting doors and windows, siding and roofing electrical and
mechanical preparation, flooring, painting, among other activities. Failure can be experienced in
constructions sometimes because of may be a poor planning process. The VR technology provide
solution to such challenges as shown in the following section.

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Figure 1: The process model diagram for the change
How the design phase in construction industry may be affected by VR (risk assessment)
The design phase including planning and modelling is the area that may experience
immense impact due to the changes mentioned above. It has been difficult to offer training to
building occupants to better prepare for any risk that may occur (Goulding, Nadim, Petridis &
Alshawi, 2012). Additionally, risk assessment during the design process has not been easy in the
past due to the reason that plans which were used may not provide a comprehensive view of the
buildings. Virtual reality technology has potential solutions to these challenges.
The virtual reality has demonstrated that risk assessment can be effectively done in
construction project at the design phase. Considering a construction project involving a project
for a story building, the building is complete and the occupants need to be trained how to handle

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risks in the building, virtual reality can provide a virtual environment which aid in the training
process (Park, Lee, Kwon, & Wang, 2013). Additionally, in the event that a risk assessment
deeds to be done for a building which is to be constructed, virtual reality can enable assessment
at the design stage thus enabling the contractors to deal with the risks in lower stages. The
outcome of this change is that it enhances efficiency in construction industry.
Part 5: Video transcript
Virtual reality technology have shown the potential to cause disruptive changes in the
building and construction industry. While it has been slow to implement the use of the
technology, it offer a paramount benefits that could provide great impacts in the building and
construction industry. This video show a few fundamental impacts that can be experienced in the
industry.
The virtual reality can cause changes in the building and construction industry in various
ways. One of the most important way is by enabling performance of risk assessment in the
design phase. Virtual reality technology enables a walk through space in a virtual environment.
This could consequently help in identification of the areas that may need improvement in the
early stages of the design when the changes can be adjusted.
This technology can be utilized even in the late design stages and after completion of the
project, it capability for simulating evacuation in emergency scenarios can be utilized in these
stages to train the building occupants in a virtual setting thus helping them to prepare for any
emergency.

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Another way by which virtual technology may cause change in the building industry is by
enhancing collaborative virtual reality experience. Construction industry usually involves a team
of professionals. And it is essential to have a stable way of communication for the best results.
In contractor’s view, the virtual reality provides an efficient way of discussing any
pressing issue disregarding the physical location of the team members. This is in the sense that
the contractors or construction managers can have a virtual meeting and see each other’s virtual
reality representation.
Client’s perspective on the other hand show that the technology can be used in
establishing a better understanding between contractors and the clients. Virtual reality can
provide the clients with an opportunity to reconsider their needs or make changes at the planning
phase. An effective collaboration between all of the engaged parties reduces the chances of
errors or misunderstandings during in the project.
As it can be seen, virtual reality guarantees overreaching impacts in the building industry.
The discussed changes are a just but a few among the multitudinous changes. Other changes
which are essential to note include enabling a better preparation for construction project, gaining
insights on how building occupants plan to use the building and system monitoring among
others.

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References
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