User Engagement for Sustainable Development: How Can Virtual Reality Help?

Abstract

This study investigates the potentials of gaming and Virtual Reality (VR) for engaging end-users in the initial design stages, particularly in interior material selection processes. The study first provides a review to explain why BIM-VR technologies can achieve the study’s objective. Next, a prototype is developed to provide a virtual platform for users to engage in the design process of a building. Users can navigate within a building, select different elements, and see a set of pre-defined scenarios using the platform. The model will visually represent design scenarios, and a set of graphical user interfaces provide access to the scenario information (e.g., cost and environmental impacts). The platform was evaluated in a case study. The results showed that the platform was technically successful and could properly show the users' required information.