Virtual built environment

Details

Visualization of existing and future built environments enables citizens to experience spaces that no longer exist or are still under design. Under the scope of this project we have developed several studies namely the following three:

Ponte de Sôr municipality future ideas for the city were shown by Immersive Virtual Reality to the population. Using a Head Mounted Display (HDM) it was possible for everyone at the “Flavours Fair”, April 29th to May 1^st 2017, to navigate virtually in the future market and surrounding areas. This technology, developed by the Digital Living Spaces group of ISTAR-IUL, ensures full immersion and a sense of presence that is impossible with any other representation method. According to the author of the architecture project, architect João Monteiro, “this method of exploring a future space has enormous potential for communication with clients and lay people “. Immersive virtual reality gives the user the experience of being in real space. The user can walk virtually to their liking by choosing the route and looking in all directions. This partnership between ISCTE-IUL, the João Correia Monteiro architect’s studio and the Ponte de Sôr municipality made it possible for all its residents to have a thorough knowledge of what will be the space that will result from the renovation of the city’s market, creating an area for startups and creative businesses that will revitalize the city.

Navigate in Ponte de Sôr model here.

In the scope of an ongoing project of AUDAX, ISTAR-IUL collaborated with the design and 3D modelling of interior spaces for new concepts for stores of leading companies from Telecom, Bank, Insurance and Energy industries. For such an assessment the 3D models of stores were created using several computer aided design software, including Unity, and then visualized by potential stores’ users with Oculus Rift. The immersive visualization enables potential users to have a full experience in the designed store and assess how the differences in the design can affect their use of the space. For a collective experience inside the store PocketCAVE could have been used which would enable e.g. group discussion.

Development of a 3D digital model of the ISCTE-IUL campus and surrounding areas. The model enables visualisation both in immersive virtual reality (PocketCAVE and Oculus Rift) and in augmented reality ARch4models app. A comprehensive model allows a deep perception of space both by regular users and occasional visitors and offers the means to support immersive visualisation of the campus aiding decision-makers shape its future evolution. The PocketCAVE virtual reality facility supports visualisation in groups, with interaction through gesture and speech while the Oculus Rift provides a similar, but individual, more immersive experience. Augmented reality enables the visualisation of the full 3D model in a tablet, with the ability to perform cross sections with any orientation in real time. With the Arch4models app, the 3D model can be overlaid on a physical 3D model allowing the simulation of design alternatives. This technology is particularly well suited for presentations to small groups. In all these augmented and virtual reality apps, users can visualise the 3D model by layers, with each layer representing a different construction system: architectural features, structural system, MEP systems, furniture, etc. With this project we aim at demonstrating the possibilities these technologies bring to several areas of action, namely, on the visualisation of the built environments and discussion and evaluation of design projects.