Blurring the Boundary Between Real and Digital World - Essay Example

Virtual Reality, 3D and 4D modeling The construction field has changed dramatically over time with the use of technology. As a new barrier is broken each day in terms of technological advances there has grown an apparent need to meld technology with all other walks of life. The field of construction has also made started to make use of technology and with the merging of the two we have gained a new exemplar for the world construction itself. Heavy machinery is now employed at sites where once only men toiled to raise structures from the ground to the skies. Now we come to a new science that has become appealing to engineers, architects and consultants all alike, that which is known as virtual reality and the incorporation of 3D and 4D modeling to help in the envisioning of structures. This article will discuss the use of virtual reality, 3D and 4D modeling in construction management, the advantages and disadvantages of the equipment and the scope that is has in the future. Virtual reality is advanced technology used in the simulation of environments in order to create a three dimensional world where one can interact with their surroundings as though they were reality. This helps the viewers perceive an image from all angles and has been widely used in video games. However popular the notion of virtual reality may be and though there are plenty of tools out in the market to help one indulge in the activity and develop software’s for virtual application it is a time consuming project to undertake. The use of 3D modeling has become very popular in the construction business with university students using the models to help show what their model would look like. This helps in observing the representation of the buildings exterior as well as the interior. However, 3D models only help in observing the potential geometric shapes of the building and do not provide the time frame that the project will be going along. This proves to be a major drawback and for this 4D modeling is used to create a model which goes along all three dimensions and integrates time. So in simple words it would be to say that the simulation would show the construction taking place over a projected time span outlined. However there is little support for those who want to employ these models for the purpose of using them on their construction sites due to the lack of precedents. There is not a lot of information as to how engineers have previously used the models and so those who wish to use the models in accordance with their needs do not have any help in figuring out what needs to be done (Timo Hartmann, Ju Gao, and Martin Fischer, 2008, 776). 3D and 4D modeling have been available for construction purposes for a while now yet the technology is not as user friendly as one would like to imagine. There is a barrier when it comes to applying the technology to real life situations. 3D is used mainly for the purpose of virtual designing which lets designers to experiment with the geometric shapes and structure of the building before it is built into reality. There is proof that the use of technology does help in reducing the chances of rework as well as maximizing the productivity of the project. Reductions in the instances of interferences occurring in the field were also noted as a result with lack of changes in orders and information. Hence a downturn in time from the start of the project till the time it was finally handed over to the manufacturer. All these aspects speak in favor of the modeling itself which can help to understand the construction design much more quickly with the use of models than through the traditional methods. Rather one might go as far as to say that the 3D models have now made the 2D ones near obsolete with their flexibility and lack of hassle when changes need to be made. There have been a number of cases when the use of 3D and 4D models have been used to the fullest to help in the understanding of an architectural layout. Disney used virtual reality when it was pursuing the desire to build the Walt Disney Concert Hall (WDCH) which had quite a number of geometric complexities in the design. Through the use of the simulations created through various data imports the engineers and architects were able to make changes to the designs as per requested by not only the owners but also in accordance with the environment in which the building was to be constructed. The interior was also easy to deal with once the initial design has been simulated in the model. In the case of as complex a project as that carried out by Disney there was a need to generate four 4D models to show the hall. These were for the different aspects of the building in regard to the construction material that was being used. One model was generated for steel, another for concrete and the remaining two were for the exterior and the interior respectively. Such a mega construction project demanded quite a lot in terms of data and it was difficult for the engineers to link the data with the geometry of the building (Issa, 2003, 13). Another major project which used the 3D and 4D modeling was the reconstruction of the San Mateo Health centre. This reconstruction was to take place over a time of five years in which it was going to help relocate some parts of the centre to others. Modeling helped the owner as well as the director in conveying what they wanted done while allowing the engineers to manipulate the designs accordingly. This kept the construction workers out of the hospital where they would have had to take measurements and make notes of all the changes required from the ground. Modeling released them from this unnecessary fatigue, once the data was plugged in and a virtual simulation was created the designers had all they needed. In areas where they had to install some heavy machinery or utilities they made a model with more details while the normal model had the basic data such as the walls, ceilings etc. 4D modeling was helpful in lining up the projection of the project completion in turn with the daily affairs of the hospital without creating a large amount of disturbance (Issa, 2003, 7). As useful as the 4D modeling system may be and as functional, it may not however, always be up to par with expectancies. As with any technology there is a breakdown in model at one point or another due to perhaps inconsistencies in the model itself. There may also be a failure to consider other data such as the cranes at the construction site along with the other heavy machinery that may be present. Though the advancements in virtual reality and in sync, modeling, have been profound there are many obstacles that this particular technology needs to overcome. As many professional engineers are not new to the construction business they have not had the training that goes hand in hand with the knowledge of modeling, making it difficult to use. In interviews conducted by Jennifer Whyte she observed that construction contractors and construction managers and consultants along side the real estate agencies were investing quite a lot in virtual reality. Though when it came down to the architects, who are believed to be the most likely to use the technology, they do not do so. Architects are more likely to use virtual reality and modeling as a way to simulate the environment and the interior of the buildings while using their own style to make their pitch to the client (Jennifer Whyte, 2003, 569-70). A further characteristic that makes it a less attractive option as compared to the old method of sketching is the cost of the simulations. All these reservations aside 3D and 4D modeling are surely going to make the traditional methods obsolete in the near future. This technology allows the manufacturer to see their designs in their completion even before a single brick is laid down on the ground. It can also help the architects incorporate the ideas of the manufacturer down to the last minute detail until they finally have the design that they want without having to spend tedious hours over paper. Virtual reality has given an edge to the construction business and helps to bring in clients who are willing to pay a little more to see a simulation of what they would like to be built, making the business successful in its own right. Designs are produced faster now as compared to the old days when the process of making schematics for a structure took days on end and even then the client was not happy with one aspect or another. Virtual reality has put a new face on the business of construction making it light and easier for not only the clients and potential clients but also for the people working in the business. It helps to cut down construction time and minimizes the wastage of resources and cuts down costs. It is the future of construction whether the change comes gradually or at a rapid pace. References: Hartmann, Timo, Ju Gao, and Martin Fischer. "Areas of Application for 3D and 4D Models on Construction Projects." Journal of Construction Engineering and Management 134.10 (2008): 776-85. American Society of Civil Engineers. Web. 1 May 2010. . Issa, Raja R. A, Ian Flood, and William J. OBrien. 4D CAD and Visualization in Construction: Developments and Applications. Netherlands: A. A. Balkema, 2003. 7. Print. Issa, Raja R. A, Ian Flood, and William J. OBrien. 4D CAD and Visualization in Construction: Developments and Applications. Netherlands: A. A. Balkema, 2003. 13. Print. Whyte, Jennifer. "Innovation and users: virtual reality in the construction sector" Construction Management and Economics 21.6 (2003): 565-72. 01 May 2010. < http://www.informaworld.com/10.1080/0144619032000113690 > Read More