Use of virtual reality in the construction industry

evaluation of practical cases

Abstract

After the evolution brought by Building Information Modeling (BIM), extended realities emerge with the technological potential to improve project integration and immersion, although there is still limited data on their applications. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the use of virtual reality in BIM models, in the form of a Virtual Tour. A multiple case study was carried out from a convenience sample, consisting of eight projects from a consulting engineering company. The information was collected through meetings and documents and evaluated based on the SWOT technique. As a result, its use in the stakeholder engagement and project/construction interface support phases stood out. In addition, this technology proved to be strong due to its flexibility for remote handling and on various devices, innovating the form of visualization and facilitating the decision-making process. Restrictive factors such as operating costs and software limitations are points of attention for improvement. The application of virtual reality has proven to be efficient in supporting the different phases of construction. However, large-scale implementation, standardization, and expansion of hardware use are still necessary to bring a more widespread market in this area.