In the last two decades, construction projects have become more and more complex.
The industry has always known as traditional and less innovative, with a slow rate of productivity compared to other sectors. Construction companies still face challenges in delivering their projects at the scheduled time and in the budget. Securing a sufficient level of communication and collaboration within the project team is problematic. Design errors and poor collaboration and communication tools are considered the main rea-sons for project delays and cost overruns. Based on the fact that the interdisciplinary teams such as designers, engineers, and client involvement in the construction project require a proper communication and collaboration tool to increase the efficiency and interactivity of data exchange during the project duration (Lahdou, & Zetterman, 2011).
Building Information Modelling (BIM) has changed the shape of the construction indus-try dramatically in the last decade. BIM usage has a good impact on construction pro-jects in providing a collaboration platform to project participants. Also, communication channels, visualization power to track issues and clarify uncertainties and increase the quality of the design process by detecting clashes at the early design stage and de-crease rework. BIM is considered a centralized data repository and also a data pool that can be extended and interconnect with other emerging technologies like VR (Sampaio, 2018). However, adopting new technology in the construction field is a chal-lenge. The BIM-VR extension creates new business opportunities to increase effi-ciency, agility, and productivity through digitalization and provide innovative solutions for problematic issues between project participants regarding time, cost, and quality (Du, et al., 2018).
VR is an emerging technology that uses an artificially generated environment that is created with software and hardware. Virtual reality is experienced through sound and sight senses to achieve a higher level of perception. VR has been classified as one of the top 10 Gartner strategic technology trends for 2019. A study by Goldman Sachs estimate the size of the VR market will grow to reach 80 billion by 2025 (Bellini, 2016).
VR aids the users to immerse themselves in a full-scale model, allow the users to walk through the project to check the detailed design before construction. In the design pro-cess, VR is a valuable tool in design review that helps to present and facilitate design components to clients who do not have an engineering background. Early Engagement
of stakeholders in the design process through innovative tool increase the satisfaction degree and help to meet the project requirements. Also, provide a basis for the deci-sion-making process at an early stage.
The main goal of this research is to illustrate the applicability of VR and its potentials towards the construction industry and provide an agile communication and collabora-tion platform for project participants that allow them to check the project in full shape in the design stage. On the other hand, VR can optimize the construction process on-site. Project managers can use VR potentials to simulate construction activities to op-timize time, cost, and quality.
1.1. Research outline
The research consists of six chapters.
Chapter 1: Introduces the research topic and explains these research goals, questions, and Methodology.
Chapter 2: Provides a review of BIM and its applications in the construction industry.
Chapter 3: Summarizes literature about virtual reality technology in construction. This literature includes a description of VR definition, hardware and software, and a com-parison between other emerging technologies.
Chapter 4: Illustrates VR applications in the construction industry and analysis of dif-ferent case studies.
Chapter 5: Author analysis of the business drivers that can be improved or created by using VR in a construction project/company. Also, the challenges to use VR in con-struction and guideline to adopt VR for concon-struction company usage.
Chapter 6: provides a research conclusion, answers for research questions, and rec-ommendations for future work.
1.2. Research Goals
The main goals of this research are.
1. Analysing the possibility of using advanced technologies like BIM and Virtual Reality in the construction industry.
2. Explaining The role of Virtual Reality to add value for time and cost management challenges.
3. Provide guidelines and business improvement plans to adopt the VR technology in a construction company.
1.3. Research Questions
The research will attempt to find answers to the following questions.
1. What are the characteristics of BIM, particularly related to the advantages and disadvantages of using the method as a communication and coordination tool?
2. What is the added value to the AEC industry by integrating VR technology?
3. How can the usage of VR in design review meetings to increase client en-gagement and help to prevent potential RFIs and change orders?
4. How can use VR facilitate to create real-time BoQ?
5. How can VR technology provide an alternative model for working remotely during disaster and emergency time (COVID19), an example?
6. What are the challenges and limitations of integrating VR in the Construction industry?
1.4.Research Methodology
▪ Literature review
• Studying previous research related to the application of VR in construction management.
• Reviewing information from the market.
• Data from VR based projects.
▪ Case studies
• VR model to facilitate the creation of real-time BoQ by using (Revit and En-scape-3D).
• Using VR to enhance project planning, programming, and design, an approach for working remotely by using (Revit and InsiteVR).
▪ Benefits and outcomes
• VR can be used to optimize Business drivers or create new opportunities
• Guideline to implement VR technology in a construction company