This research aims to investigate the impact of VR on the AEC industry, focusing on its role in enhancing the quality of training, education, and professional work. Specifically, this research aims to evaluate the evidence supporting VR's increased use and its effectiveness in construction education and training. Additionally, it aimed to assess the impact of VR on the quality, productivity, and safety of construction work. Through this comprehensive evaluation, this study aims to provide a detailed understanding of how VR can be leveraged to improve various aspects of the AEC industry, thereby contributing to its overall advancement and innovation.
4.1. VR in Education and Training
Enhancing Learning Outcomes and Engagement
VR modules can enhance the learning experiences of AEC students [23–26]. Traditional teaching methods often use VR to provide immersive and interactive learning environments that simulate real-world construction processes, allowing students to gain practical experience and skills in virtual settings [23].
Halabi [27] discussed the use of VR in engineering education, highlighting its benefits in reducing development time and costs while increasing student motivation and creativity. They emphasized the effectiveness of VR and 3D prototyping in project-based learning (PBL) to promote effective communication, problem-solving skills, and enhanced learning outcomes.
Furthermore, Al-Khiami et al.[28] found that virtual reality (VR) significantly improved the motivation and performance of second-year civil engineering students in a concrete structures course when compared to traditional 2D drawings.
Improved Understanding of Complex Concepts Through VR Simulations
Through VR simulations, students can better comprehend complex concepts, such as the structural elements of a building or the operation of a tunnel-boring machine, as these concepts are often difficult to grasp using traditional teaching methods [23]. Such pedagogy requires developing a syllabus that combines lectures on theoretical concepts with VR tutorials, providing a hands-on experience through immersive learning [23]. Another example of VR for training is its use in operating unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for building inspections. Researchers developed a VR-based flight training simulator, DroneSim, as an alternative to real-world drone-mediated building inspection training. The simulator enhanced construction students’ UAV operational and flight training skills. The findings revealed that DroneSim, representing a virtual training group, acted as an efficient alternative to traditional real-world inspection training, offering comparable, if not superior, results [29].
Moreover, VR offers a more intuitive grasp of spatial dimensions and other model features than conventional learning materials, which rely on rendered images [30]. A study utilizing VR headsets to explore wood frame construction assemblies found that students understood the subject matter better than those using traditional resources [31]. This finding was further supported by the success of LADUVR, an educational VR application designed to learn architectural details. The step-by-step simulator for the house-building process within LADUVR effectively demonstrated the superiority of 3D real-scale presentations over traditional construction courses. While the initial feedback from participants highlighted some missing steps in the early sections of the simulator, they suggested that increasing the number of steps significantly enhanced their comprehension of the building process. Subsequent sessions received excellent ratings for the clarity of the data presented, emphasizing the value of detailed, immersive educational tools such as LADUVR [32].
Aydin and Aktas[33] discussed the integration of VR in architectural design education, highlighting the development of a novel curriculum based on student feedback. It explored two digital design ecosystems tested in undergraduate courses, emphasizing advanced digital design methods and techniques, such as 3D modeling, building information modeling, visual programming, and real-time rendering. They presented the effectiveness of these ecosystems through a User Experience Questionnaire, revealing that VR tools are attractive and stimulating but can be complicated and confusing. Their findings offer insights into designing VR design studios, addressing both task-related and non-task-related qualities.
Bridging the Gap Between Theory and Practice
VR helps bridge the gap between theory and practice by providing immersive environments that simulate real-world construction processes and enhance practical skills. VR environments can present detailed simulations of complex processes [34]. For example, Sepasgozar [23] provided comprehensive details for every construction task, offering twenty-minute modules that demonstrated the complete operation of a piling rig. This included the sequential processes of digging holes, inserting the cage, pouring in situ concrete, and capping off. Such detailed modules enable students to observe the sequences and predecessors of each method.
Dunston et al. [35] highlighted that VR-based training platforms, which include mock-ups of equipment controls and realistic 3D-modeled scenarios, can simulate various operational conditions, thus avoiding the hazards and costs associated with field training. Their findings indicate that while VR simulators effectively develop essential perceptual-motor skills required for operating complex machinery, assessing the true transfer of these skills to real-world tasks remains a significant challenge.
A VR interactive training environment offers a safe platform for mastering offsite production (OSP) techniques. This VR solution is designed for professionals, including architects, suppliers, manufacturers, and project managers, to promote multidisciplinary learning and break down knowledge silos [36].
By using virtual reality (VR) environments, students learn better about construction project management. In a study, educators observed a substantial improvement in students’ comprehension of construction project management through the use of the Second Life (SL) platform. Participants in SL actively participated in project-based learning, tackling various challenges in construction project management from the initial design phase to project completion. This approach focused on aspects including resource allocation, cost management, quality assurance, and time efficiency [37].
The interactive nature of VR increases students’ motivation and interest, making it engaging and beneficial to their learning experiences. Students participating in a study reported positive experiences with virtual modules, expressing increased motivation, driving knowledge, and applying learned concepts in real construction scenarios [23, 38]. The virtual modules provide students with a deeper understanding of construction practices by simulating productivity measures, visualizing machinery operations, and illustrating critical paths in construction projects, leading to increased knowledge and skill acquisition [23]. VR in construction education can offer students a realistic and engaging learning environment that bridges the gap between theory and practice [39].
Facilitating Collaborative Learning and Decision-Making
VR facilitates collaborative learning and decision-making through interaction with the content. For example, a social, collaborative VR-based construction safety education system was developed using five criteria: ease of use, visual output, safety cognition, safety memory, and safety accessibility [15]. The system demonstrated significant potential for enhancing experiential learning in terms of construction safety. Another notable application of VR in construction education was the use of role-playing experiences in the virtual environment called SL to engage students in interactive scenarios for construction process learning, safety training, design reviews, and real-time integration of physical sensors for building monitoring [39]. However, using Virtual Reality (VR) in education poses several challenges, including high technical knowledge to design scenarios, a steep learning curve, high costs, realism and accuracy issues, difficulties integrating curriculum, user discomfort, and ethical and privacy concerns [37].
VR Implementation and Perception in Construction Education
VR can be experienced in several ways, including through headsets and computer screens [34]. Students positively view the implementation of head-mounted devices in the construction curriculum, indicating a favorable perception of its potential benefits [31]. To further facilitate the application of VR in construction education, researchers have proposed a framework that utilizes the Unity tool to create content for construction sequence simulations. This framework allows for rapid content creation [40].
Additionally, VR technology has proven cost-effective and accessible for educational purposes. The implementation of VR reduces the financial burden of deploying experiential learning platforms in universities, making it a cost-effective solution for academic purposes [41, 42].
Reduced Training Costs and Resources
Despite the upfront investment required for application development, the cost of implementing VR-based applications is significantly lower compared to the expenses associated with real-life equivalents, such as organizing visits to actual construction sites [32]. In addition to cost savings, VR applications have the potential to shorten the educational process for intricate laboratory tasks that involve numerous steps, further optimizing both time and cost efficiency [43]. By streamlining the learning process and reducing the time required for students to master complex concepts and procedures, VR technology can help educational institutions maximize their resources and provide a more captivating and efficient educational experience. Moreover, compared to traditional paper-based testing, the temporal demands during short testing quizzes (STQs) utilizing VR technology are significantly lower [44].
Scalability and Flexibility of VR Solutions
The scalability and flexibility of VR solutions make them suitable for various educational settings, ranging from small classrooms to large training facilities [42]. In construction education, this approach allows students to visit construction sites virtually and navigate through various floors and stages of construction [42]. By providing a virtual alternative to physical site visits, VR technology enables students to access learning opportunities that may otherwise be limited owing to logistical, safety, or accessibility constraints. When an immersive interface offers virtual access to construction systems, it eliminates the need for physical site visits to observe these systems in their actual context [45].
In a study by Maghool et al. [29], almost all participants highlighted the superior flexibility of this VR application compared to traditional university classes. They appreciated the freedom to choose when, where, and what they had learned. The ease of shifting between different learning resources, from a three-dimensional representation of construction details to a recorded video demonstration of construction activity, was particularly noted for enhancing engagement. Additionally, approximately half of the participants believed that this flexibility level would significantly improve the effectiveness of their learning process [32]. Consequently, VR technology makes the learning experience more inclusive and accessible, promoting equal chances for students to employ the subject matter and expand their skills in construction education [41].
Safety Training and Hazard Identification
VR is instrumental in safety training and hazard identification in the construction industry [46]. When VR solutions implement social collaborative virtual reality, it significantly enhances safety education [15]. In this case, multi-user collaboration and role-playing functions facilitate a deeper understanding of construction site dynamics and hazards. Simultaneously, the safety content provided through the system improves safety cognition by offering adequate information via virtual scenarios and safety standard-based question-answer games, enabling students to acquire safety knowledge effectively [15].
VR can simulate real-world safety circumstances, allowing students to exercise and understand safety protocols in a controlled environment. According to participants in the study conducted by Jeelani et al. [47], VR technology training exposed them to various construction activities, hazards, and accidents that would not be feasible in a single accurate construction site. This VR training helped them comprehend how seemingly minor hazards could trigger a chain reaction, potentially resulting in serious accidents [47]. Moreover, such a module empowers students to understand construction site risks and potential dangers [15].
By utilizing VR technology to simulate safety hazards, it is possible to simulate safety hazards without using materials or damaging equipment [41, 48]. In a study conducted by Jeelani et al. [47], it was observed that after training, participants recognized more hazards and employed more efficient strategies to manage them. Additionally, a study introduced a social collaborative VR-based system to enhance learning about construction safety by allowing students to engage in role-playing, collaborative learning, and social interaction within a 3D virtual environment [15].
Joshi et al. [49] discussed developing and implementing a VR training module for safety training in the precast/prestressed concrete industry. The VR module, developed using Unity3D and Visual Studio, focused on three major safety concerns: personal protective equipment (PPE), the stressing process, and suspended loads. It aimed to provide cost-effective, repeatable, and engaging safety training. The module was evaluated through efficacy and effectiveness analyses, showing it to be user-friendly with minimal simulation sickness and more effective than traditional video-based training methods in engaging participants and enhancing their understanding of safety protocols. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of VR in improving the safety awareness and hazard identification skills of construction students and professionals.
VR in Construction Work
Facilitating Iterative Design Processes
VR is a powerful tool for iterative design processes, facilitating efficient progression toward an optimal design solution. It simplifies “what-if” conversations with stakeholders, helps to visualize challenges, explores design options, and assesses the impact of various alternatives on aesthetics and cost [50].
Users can choose architectural components, modify materials, compare cost variations between designs, and see the effect on the overall project cost in real time [50]. This hands-on design exploration approach fosters creativity, encourages experimentation, and facilitates informed decision-making. Furthermore, VR’s ability to present complex architectural concepts in an accessible and engaging manner enhances communication among project participants, streamlines the design process, and leads to more successful outcomes. Consequently, VR technologies are highly valued by students and professionals alike for their ability to visualize architectural models, making complex concepts more accessible and discussions productive [48]. This immersive technology enhances the design process and improves communication and decision-making among project participants.
Enhancing Design Review and Error Detection
VR significantly enhances the design review process by providing designers with a sense of presence in their virtual environment. This immersive experience allows users to perceive and interact with design elements more effectively and intuitively. It offers insights that are impossible to gain through traditional methods, which often fail to provide a clear spatial understanding, convey complex designs effectively, offer interactivity, reduce cognitive load, engage reviewers, review changes flexibly, and provide a holistic perspective [22].
VR improves spatial perception and visualization, enabling users to better understand and interact with 3D models. These models are particularly effective for examining specific design concerns, such as sightlines, owing to the first-person perspective and capability for free movement within the virtual space [22]. VR’s high-quality visualization capabilities are especially beneficial for architectural designs that include complex features, such as curved walls, slanted ceilings, or other irregular shapes, allowing for a more accurate representation of unique architectural details [22].
In VR environments, users can experience being inside a virtual house, freely walking through it, and interacting with different building parts. By clicking on highlighted points, users can access detailed views of specific building sections through interactive menus and section planes [32]. This interaction allows users to look through parts of the building to comprehend architectural details [32].
Moreover, it helps identify design issues and model mistakes early in the project, reducing the likelihood of costly errors. For example, a game Design Review Simulation in VR significantly enhanced the ability of students to identify mistakes, with results showing that they detected a notably higher number of errors compared to reviewing 2D drawings [21]. Additionally, VR facilitates the discovery of design issues or modeling mistakes through the features of virtual teleportation, which offers an eye-level viewing perspective. This method provides a more detailed and intimate view of the virtual environment, allowing for a thorough examination of design elements that may be overlooked in traditional viewing modes [48]. Not only does design comprehension improve, but VR also allows users to identify errors, for example, in construction schedules [11].
Transforming Collaboration and Decision-Making
VR and Building Information Modeling (BIM) reshape the way abstract concepts are understood and applied across professional communities, encouraging cross-cultural and global interactions [37]. BIM with VR helps students understand design (for example, complex plumbing networks) more effectively [51]. This technology has proven exceptionally effective in interior design and construction, particularly in selecting and visualizing finishing materials. This assists various stakeholders in choosing their preferred finishing materials and visualizing design changes, thereby enhancing the decision-making process with recommendations on material collocation [50]. VR immerses users in a virtual environment, allowing them to experience designed spaces qualitatively and quantitatively. This immersive experience is pivotal in evaluating spatial designs and making informed decisions [50]. VR’s facilities to present designs to clients make complex proposals more accessible and understandable [52].
BIM combined with VR technology enhances this process by enabling users, even those with minimal software skills, to actively engage in collective decision-making. Platforms such as InsiteVR enhance this capability by providing real-time dynamic design collaboration experiences, allowing people worldwide to meet and work virtually [48].
Through role-playing scenarios, participants can interact with building systems and construction equipment, along with other project stakeholders, throughout the various phases of a project, including programming, design, construction, and operations and maintenance. This interaction allows for efficient management, simulation, analysis, and updating of project data, facilitating a comprehensive and practical approach to resource allocation [39]. Integrating VR and BIM in construction management ultimately leads to more accurate planning, reduced waste, and improved project outcomes.
Providing Realistic and Immersive Experiences
VR provides realistic and immersive experiences invaluable for construction work. The immersive quality of VR technology offers an experience akin to visiting a real construction site where participants can observe work unfolding as if they were physically present. This realism is emphasized by users who describe their experiences as believable and engaging, and it feels like an educational excursion into the actual workings of a construction site [23, 47]. Realistic 3D views provided by VR applications enhance this sensation, allowing users to see and feel the space as if it were real [43, 52].
Furthermore, VR technology has transformed architectural design, which is presented and reviewed. It enables a real-time, photorealistic experience from a first-person perspective. It incorporates elements such as gravity to visualize designs within their true context, far surpassing traditional 2D drawings and static 3D models on a computer screen [48]. This technology also allows users within a VR interface to toggle the visibility of construction elements. This enables them to visualize building components typically obscured by other layers, thereby offering a deeper understanding of structural complexities [45]. Daylighting and artificial lighting simulations in VR, complete with immersive walk-through and fly-through experiences, are phenomenal. This technology offers a vivid and interactive way to explore and understand the effects of lighting in various settings, thereby enhancing both the aesthetic and functional aspects of architectural and design education [48].
Enhancing Understanding of Scale and Complexity
VR enhances the understanding of the scale and complexity of construction projects and prepares professionals for real-world challenges. Virtual reality (VR) has proven to be a superior method for hazard identification and prevention training, particularly for tasks such as reinforced concrete and stone cladding works, significantly outperforming traditional methods [14]. VR technology creates immersive and interactive scenarios for users to engage with during assessment tasks, such as site inspections and job safety analysis reviews. This approach enhances training by accommodating diverse contextual safety skill assessments within simulated environments, allowing for practical, experiential learning [44]. Learners are introduced to innovative approaches such as the safety pyramid, which shifts their focus from merely protecting against hazards with personal protective equipment (PPE) to actively eliminating them [47]. This proactive approach is reinforced through feedback mechanisms and virtual site walkthroughs that sharpen risk perception by highlighting potential dangers under seemingly safe conditions [47].
By engaging with various modules, trainees can visualize the scale of operations and possible impacts of risks, enhancing their understanding of the repercussions of safety failures in real-world settings [23]. In VR, students inspect and identify hazards within 3D models, reflecting on the safety information learned from previous modules [15]. This learning is further deepened as they participate in safety training games by applying their knowledge to recognize latent hazards during simulated construction activities [15].
Studies have shown that VR-based safety training enhances self-efficacy more effectively than traditional lecture-based training by providing mastery experience and interactive learning opportunities [53]. Additionally, virtual environments offer a safe alternative to actual construction sites, eliminating the inherent risks of physical site visits [32].
Detailed procedural training includes checks such as ensuring the correct wearing of PPE before entering hazardous areas such as wells, assessing mental readiness and equipment suitability, and familiarizing trainees with underground conditions and safety equipment such as refuge chambers under NPC guidance [54]. VR also simulates real-world contexts to review crucial safety issues, such as egress, clearance, and traffic maneuvering during various construction and maintenance phases [48].
Furthermore, VR facilitates interactive learning through quizzes and role-playing scenarios, allowing users to engage in hands-on activities with various safety aspects of construction equipment and operations, making the learning process both immersive and effective [39]. These features highlight the comprehensive nature of VR-based safety training, which addresses many safety concerns and provides learners with practical experience for identifying and mitigating hazards.
Resource Allocation and Project Planning
Allocating people and machinery to specific tasks is crucial for construction and project management [23]. VR technology aids in optimizing equipment and labor utilization by providing visualization of detailed simulations of project workflows. Virtual environments such as Second Life (SL) offer a range of transformative possibilities for education and professional collaboration. SL, for instance, enables group discussions with learners globally and facilitates the exploration of equipment and facility simulations, thus opening extensive learning and interactive opportunities [37].
By identifying potential issues early and allowing for detailed planning, VR minimizes rework and change orders, saving time and resources. Using VR in project planning can minimize sudden and time-consuming changes before construction begins, which enhances end-user satisfaction and reduces the costs related to changing orders during the construction phase [50].