IMMERSIVE AND INTERACTIVE RESEARCH GROUP

Evaluating the Current Adoption of BIM in the Egyptian Industry

In this project, the IIR hasset forward the goal of assessing the current adoption of BIM, and its different uses in the Egyptian construction industry.

An Evaluation of Best Practices for the development of BIM Execution Plans 

Building information modeling implementation has brought forward the development of planning guides, or BIM Execution Plans (BEP), which support teams in identifying implementation steps and the stakeholders responsible for generating and managing information. However, numerous BEP templates that exist present a challenge when choosing the guide that can fit every need. With this study, the IIR aimed at evaluating a small sample size of BEPs and suggest essential guidelines that must be followed when developing a BEP. With this early study, the IIR hope to open a new avenue of research in identifying the next steps in BIM planning.

A Framework of Procedural Considerations For Implementing Virtual Reality In Design Reviews - led by and in collaboration with Silvia Mastrolembo Ventura - Universita' di Brescia

The implementation of immersive virtual reality in the construction sector is experiencing a period of renewed interest since the research efforts of the early 2000s. VR-related applications are increasing in number and scopes, with a focus on communication and analysis of design intents. On the other hand, procedural challenges still obstacle their effective adoption for such purposes. The study proposes a set of procedural considerations to take into account when immersive VR is used for feedback collection in design reviews. The framework represents a first step to address in a systematic way the practical implications related to VR-aided design reviews, especially when clients and end-users are involved.

A Decision-Making Framework for the Development of Interactive Workspaces

In this project, the IIR have set forward the goal of developing a framework, which can guide the process of creating an interactive and collaborative workspaces. Factors, such as space, purpose (such as research, educational, and professional), processes, cost, and technology were selected as the framework’s main drivers. Once the main components of the framework were defined, a decision map was created to indicate the path to achieve the best configuration for an interactive workspace. To validate the framework, the researchers interviewed experts in the professional and research world. Based on the feedback received from these interviews, the research team was able to improve and finalize the framework. The designed framework presented in this study can support future researchers and industry members in their development efforts of future interactive workspaces. 

Implementation of Virtual Design Reviews in the Generation of As-Built Information

Generation of as-built building information is a growing necessity for retrofitting and renovating existing facilities. As building information modeling (BIM) is increasingly adopted in the construction industry, the development of information-driven models is becoming a standard for existing buildings. Additionally, it is essential to evaluate and review the generated information before the design can begin. The goal of this research project was to provide an exploratory two-step study (i.e. process mapping followed by a proof-of-concept experiment) on the implementation and assessment of visualization tools. To achieve this goal, four residential retrofit projects that required the production of as-built information were selected. Based on the results, the projects that included visualization tools had fewer RFIs concerning issues such as the location of building elements.