The Benefits of Virtual Reality

KAUSHAL DIWAN, RAYMOND HUYNH, OCEAN VAN

Virtual Reality (VR) is a technology that is ready for large-scale implementation on

projects that fulfill the criteria outlined in this document, which summarizes the
results and findings of the VR Initiative implemented on several DPR Construction
projects. Based on these findings, DPR is working on a rollout plan that details various
technical requirements to successfully implement VR at the project level.

Photo courtesy of Justin Schmidt

INTRODUCTION
DPR’s strategy around technology and innovation is to adopt and ‘90s failed to live up to the hype, VR has made some giant
new technologies that have the potential to increase value for strides forward in recent years.
owners and improve the predictability of project outcomes.
Many commercial construction projects deploy an array of new Today, the technology is coming into its own, with diverse
or emerging technologies, such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles applications being implemented across multiple industries. And
(UAVs), 3D printing, laser scanning, digital offsite prefabrica- the construction industry is beginning to take note. In a survey
tion, and 4- or 5-D BIM, etc., to help drive innovation, improve of construction technology trends conducted by ARC Document
productivity and increase collaboration. None, however, match Solutions, Inc. (2017), nearly two-thirds (65.3%) of industry
the promise of VR to transform the way we visualize and participants ranked the growing use of VR applications as the
consume information on projects. number one tech trend, surpassing UAVs, the ‘internet of things”
and paperless environments. (http://www.prnewswire.com/
Once relegated to the gaming and entertainment industries, and news-releases/arc-document-solutions-survey-identifies-cur-
decades after unsuccessful experiments with VR in the 1980s rent-construction-technology-trends-300211053.html).

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When DPR first began experimenting with the technology back in Note that there are two types of VR setups, Mobile VR and
2010, the only option was to hire VR developers to build custom Console VR. Mobile VR requires a mobile device such as an
commercial applications. Location and cost were major hurdles iPhone, Samsung or Google Pixel, and a headset, such as a
to overcome before VR could be more widely adopted. Project Google Cardboard, Samsung Gear VR, or Google Daydream. The
team members had to physically travel to a VR company’s VR content in this set up is from a mobile app and the device is
immersive virtual environment room (i.e. CAVE) to step inside turned to landscape mode when viewing in the headset. On the
the VR simulator. Costs were also considerably higher, requiring other hand, Console VR requires a VR-ready laptop or computer
the user to pay for the customer VR development and room and a console VR device like Oculus Rift or HTC Vive.
rental.
This paper focuses solely on Console VR technologies because it
As an early adopter, DPR recognized its potential to enhance has provided more applications than the mobile VR setup.
collaboration and communication among project teams, archi-
tects and designers, owners and end users. In 2014, DPR dove
Mobile VR
headfirst investing time and effort to better understand how
immersive visual experiences could help streamline expectations
Phone Required
for project delivery and potentially reduce the cost of rework.
(Learn more at https://www.dpr.com/media/blog/is-this-virtual-re-
alitys-turning-point).

A QUICK ASIDE: VR VS. AR

Google Cardboard Google
At this juncture, it is important to make a distinction between VR Daydream
(virtual reality) versus AR (augmented reality). While sometimes
used synonymously, there is a clear difference:
•  VR is an artificial, computer-generated simulation or recre-
ation of a real-life environment or situation. It immerses
the user by making them feel like they are experiencing the
simulated reality firsthand, primarily by stimulating their vision Samsung GearVR Zeiss VR One
and hearing.
•  AR is a technology that layers computer-generated enhance- Console VR
ments atop an existing reality to make it more meaningful Computer Required
through the ability to interact with it. AR is developed into
apps and used on mobile devices to blend digital compo-
nents into the real world in such a way that they enhance one
another, but can also be told apart easily.

Oculus Rift PlayStation VR

HTC Vive
Source: Re-flekt GmbH
Google Cardboard image courtesy of Maurizio Pesce
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/legalcode

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When, Why & How to Use VR
When is it appropriate to use VR on a construction project? VR technologies can
be implemented throughout the entire project life cycle to add value and greater
predictability to projects.

Virtual reality use cases throughout project lifecycle. (Source: ICon Lab, Penn State)

DURING PLANNING AND DESIGN

•  VR can be immensely useful at the earliest stage of a project
to help teams perform an end-user study and gain insight
from those who will be using the space. The team is then able
to incorporate end-user’s ideas and feedback into the design/
drawings.
•  Users can provide valuable insights into the moods of various
spaces, furniture layouts for offices and lobbies, medical
equipment layout for hospitals, workflow of staff, check visual
line of sights for nurses and security guards, safe access for
facility managers, etc.
Photo courtesy of Chidambaram Somu
•  VR also extracts the metadata from users, tracking where
users focus their gaze in the virtual space and foot traffic A VR session with doctors and nurses at a medical center project in
Tucson, AZ. A project executive for the owner said, “This was much
through heat maps. This helps reveal patterns in which users more personal and intimate. I definitely see a great value in being able
are interacting with the building, that can help influence to walk around rooms, almost touch things, get a sense of scale, walk
out of the room into other parts and just get an immediate personal
space utilization and provide data for development and valida- view of the space is fabulous.”
tion of architectural features.

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 Photo courtesy of Eric Luttmann
The pilot plant operations team for a project in the Bay Area ensures the spacing around process piping and equipment meets user access require-
ments.

DURING PROJECT PURSUIT/COMMUNITY OUTREACH DURING COORDINATION/CONSTRUCTION

•  During project pursuit, VR can be used to show how DPR •  VR can be used to create virtual mockups in lieu of physical
approaches the project and tackles challenges. This helps mockups that enable better visualization of distinguished
key project stakeholders better visualize and understand the finish features and complex installations, which are some-
logistics around their projects, as well as allows for better times misinterpreted when only viewed on screen. This
communication among team members. immersive VR environment helps to align expectations for
•  VR can also be used to create excitement with the public and installation of complex or high-end finish work among owners,
end-users, showcasing the project. designers and contractors. Some examples where this has
proven valuable include:
•  typical patient rooms with complex systems that affect
both patients and facilities managers;
•  operating rooms with complicated medical equipment
layout;
•  tight working spaces for physicians/doctors/nurses;
•  kitchen/server areas that need to serve thousands of
people each day;
•  a main lobby area, where understanding space and
direction of traffic is important;
•  working spaces around lab benches in research facili-
ties; etc.
•  During the MEP coordination process, facility managers can
use VR to review the layout of access panels to gain a realistic
sense for their location and accessibility. Facility managers
Photo courtesy of Carlos Gutierrez are also able to review equipment access panel locations to
CEO and design consultants of a new biotherapeutics manufacturing determine the most efficient equipment location and orienta-
facility had an opportunity to walk through their future facility in virtual tion for access and maintenance. This feedback can be tied
reality. The session built excitement with the executive team about their
new facility, which will develop immunotherapies for the treatment of directly into changes in the BIM to be adjusted accordingly.
certain cancers.

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•  During safety planning, DPR’s
Environmental Health and
Safety team can use VR to
review the safety tie-off points
and coordinate major crane
picks over occupied facilities
that cannot be typically shut
down for construction work.
The immersive VR environment
in this context allows for an
effective way to visualize and
communicate the impact of At a hospital project in Virginia, a virtual mockup of an operation room was rendered in virtual reality for
surgeons and nurses to review before construction. The VR mockup cost approximately 15 percent of the
major construction events in budget for physical mockup and the VR session resulted in 35 design changes.
existing facilities that could
potentially be missed when
viewing through traditional
methods. •  The final hand-off of the VR model to facility managers also
•  During site logistics planning, field teams can use VR to can include metadata that contains the names and properties
communicate the impact and disruption of construction activ- of equipment as well as operations and maintenance docu-
ities to the communities in surrounding neighborhoods, those mentation. This further enables facility managers to better
in adjacent buildings, and those in the same building. inform and train their staff as well as provide valuable building
information in the context of where equipment is actually
DURING FACILITIES MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION installed.
•  The hand-over of a VR model can enable building owners and
facility managers to better understand how building systems WHAT IS REQUIRED? HOW TO MAKE VR DELIVER THE
work. Consequently, it helps them to provide training to MOST BENEFITS
building staff and personnel; to provide better maintenance When it comes to deriving the greatest benefit from VR
through clear understanding of access requirements, loca- implementation on a project, there are several factors, both
tion of equipment, etc.; to create safety plans for areas that tangible and intangible, that play a significant role in the value
cannot be easily accessed (ex: lab spaces, clean rooms, proposition. They include:
fabrication rooms, operating rooms, nurseries etc.); and much
more.

The security team at a data center project in the Dallas-Fort Worth area was able to review the security guard house to review a blind spot issue. The
issue was resolved in VR by moving the façade 3 feet, which maximizes the view of the driveway and access gate. Photo courtesy of Piyush Pandey.

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THE RIGHT MINDSET COMPLEX PROJECTS
VR is, by nature, a tool used for communication. As such, the Projects that are complex in nature and require a lot of
success of VR is dependent on a project team’s ability to create cross-functional collaboration between different project stake-
an environment where people can openly collaborate and holders can derive the greatest benefits from being able to
contribute to the success of the project. Some of the project accurately visualize the final product through VR applications.
environments, tools and delivery methods that can help set the
stage for successful implementation of VR on a project include Examples of DPR project types in which VR has shown the most
the “Big Room” colocation environment, Integrated Project value to date have included hospitals, clean rooms, labs, data
Delivery and the Design-Build delivery methods. These all foster centers, and schools, all of which exhibit complexities in use
a project environment that is commonly characterized by: case, MEP systems design, and stakeholder involvement.
•  A sense of shared responsibility
•  High levels of trust amongst team members
•  “Problem Solving” mentality versus “Blame” mentality
•  Diversity and open mindedness towards trying new
technologies and processes

During a VR session at the medical plaza project, the identified window

did not provide a clear line-of-sight for ICU nurses to perform a quick
assessment of the patient, particularly of the head and chest, and
pieces of life-supporting equipment, without obstruction. Photo courtesy
of Chidambaram Somu.

SETTING REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS

For VR to have the most benefit to a project team, there needs
to be a focus on the specific applications for VR. You wouldn’t
put the entire model in VR and expect people to find it useful
just because they can see the building through a fancy headset,
right? We’ve seen the greatest degree of success from VR
when it is used to solve specific user, design or construction
challenges. It is instructive to look at specific examples/
questionnaires of what we mean here:

User Challenges – VR can engage the end-user and allow them

to provide feedback on an array of areas such as:
ORIGINAL REVISED •  Do I have enough space to work?
At a research institute project in Durham, NC, the client had an oppor- •  Do I have access to critical utilities?
tunity to let the CFO review the what the future executive leadership
team’s suite in VR. This session led to a significant layout revision to the •  Am I comfortable when immersed in this space?
suite as shown above. Fortunately, this effort was done in the early stage •  Do I have a visual line of sight?
of the project so the team was able to revise the floor plan. Images cour-
tesy of Chetan Potdar. •  Is it safe to access and comply with safety standards?
•  Can pre-manufactured components on equipment be
placed more efficiently to work better with the design of
surrounding elements?

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 •  Can I provide more accurate costs by visualizing complex
assemblies that look simple on paper?
•  Can I get buy in from the facility lead, the neighborhoods
and the community with plans to mitigate disruptions,
through VR?

CONCLUSION
Whether it is during the project pursuit, design development,
MEP coordination/installation, safety and site logistics planning,
or during the facilities maintenance stage, VR clearly has evolved
into a powerful tool with widespread applications. Far more than
During a VR session at the same data center project in Texas, the team just a “new technology,” DPR views VR as a strategic tool that
identified that the mechanical pipes were too close to the structural
column, which might cause a tripping hazard to facility engineers. This project teams across the country are increasingly leveraging
feedback was incorporated into the design of next phases. Photo cour- to add value, increase stakeholder engagement, increase
tesy of Piyush Pandey.
communication, resolve project challenges and ultimately,
Design – VR can help drive a cleaner process during project improve project predictability and outcomes.
design by focusing on such questions as:
•  When immersed, is the design intent fulfilled? Depending on use cases, it does not take an excessive amount
•  Are clearances code-compliant? of work to render a BIM to VR. And with the necessary, essential
•  Do finishes look the way designers and owners envision VR infrastructure and supporting software in place, DPR
them? teams are increasingly finding that past hurdles they may have
•  Am I distracted with a feature that is insignificant when encountered have largely disappeared.
properly visualized?
So where does a team start when it comes to knowing whether
VR is a viable tool to deploy on a new or current project? First,
talk to the local BIM /VR professionals. They can help you assess
the strategies and applications VR may have on a particular
project. Secondly, have a conversation with both the client and
the entire project team to assess if VR is the right solution to
address specific issues, needs or challenges. And finally, teams
should make sure they bring the right mindset, set realistic
expectations, and understand the benefits and the best use
During a VR session at the research institute project in Durham, the cases where VR can make a real difference on a project. Given
facility engineer had an opportunity to coordinate access to an air those conditions, VR will only become a more indispensable tool
handler that was suspended over 11 ft. above ground. The mechanical
room space was small and served as a storage room. The team was able for DPR teams as they continually strive to build smarter, better
to meet the client’s needs to have enough space for a 6’-2” engineer to and faster, both now and well into the future.
service the air handling unit (AHU), swap out coils, change filters, access
to valves and store chairs. Photo courtesy of Chetan Potdar.
For more information about Mobile VR, please refer to the VR
Construction – At this stage, VR enhances communication and Roll-out Plan that is being developed by members of the Tech &
can reduce rework. Some areas that may be addressed: Innovation team. While DPR’s current efforts are mostly concen-
•  Do we have enough space to install large equipment? trated on applying and implementing VR on various projects,
•  Am I properly communicating the end result for this it is important to note that Augmented Reality (AR) is another
installation? ongoing corporate initiative that DPR is also researching and
•  Are there blind spots that I cannot see in the model or piloting on a few projects. We will explore AR in greater depth in
the drawings? future years as its potential applications increase.
•  Can I reduce rework and provide higher quality through
better communication with VR?

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