Pedro Gameiro Henriques

A virtual environment tool applied to visualize construction processes

This communication describes a virtual reality technology application in the construction-training domain. A prototype was developed that serves as a didactic tool for civil engineering students of disciplines concerned with building construction. Geometric modeling and virtual reality techniques are used on the visual simulation of construction processes and to define user-friendly interfaces in order to access construction information, which could prove useful to civil engineering professionals. The construction of a double brick wall is the case studied. The wall is defined as a three-dimensional geometric model formed with the several components needed to construct it. Using the walls virtual model it is possible to show, in an interactive way, the sequence of the construction process and observe, from any point of view, the configurations in detail of the building components. This is a didactic application in the construction processes domain of great interest to civil engineering students

Interactive models used in Civil Engineering education based on virtual reality technology

This paper describes the application of virtual reality technology on the development of didactic models related to the construction activity and to the design of roofs. The models, showing construction processes, allow the visualization of the physical progression of the work following a planned construction sequence, the observation of details of the form of every component of the works and carry the study of the type and method of operation of the equipment applied in the construction. The roof model supports student to draw up plan drawings of roofs and the correspondent 3D model, tasks which relies on an understanding of the three-dimensional nature of the respective constructive process. The models present distinct advantage as educational aids in first-degree courses in Civil Engineering. The use of Virtual Reality techniques in the development of educational applications brings new perspectives to the teaching of subjects related to the field of civil construction.

The Use of Virtual Reality Models in Civil Engineering Training

Virtual Reality techniques were used to develop educational didactic models in the area of Civil Engineering. The visualization of the distinct physical steps of a construction is shown in the virtual applications here presented. The developed models bring new perspectives in the teaching activity as a support to expose new curricular programmes or complex sequence construction. In order to obtain models, which would be able to visually simulate the geometric evolution of the construction activity, techniques of geometric modelling and virtual reality were used. The models make it possible to view the physical evolution of the work, to follow the planned construction sequence and to visualize details of the form of every component of the works. They also support the study of the type and method of operation of the equipment necessary for these construction procedures. These models have been used to distinct advantage as educational aids in first-degree courses in Civil Engineering.

Virtual Reality Technology Applied to Simulate Construction Processes

This paper describes a didactic application that is part of a research project whose main aim is to develop a computer-aided system which will assist design and construction processes. It is based on the visual simulation of construction activities. Geometric Modeling and Virtual Reality techniques are used to visualize the design process and to define user-friendly interfaces in order to access construction information, which could prove useful to Civil Engineering professionals. As a first step, it was developed a prototype that serves as a didactic tool for Civil Engineering students of disciplines concerned with building construction. The construction of a double brick wall is the case studied. Using the virtual three-dimensional model of the wall it is possible to show, in an interactive way, the sequence of the construction process and observe from any point of view the configurations in detail of the building components.