360 VIRTUAL TOURS – GROWING FAVORITE AMONG DESIGNERS AND ARCHITECTS

2019 has already set an exciting stage for the VR world. A number of industries – education, health, design and military – have seen widespread application of Virtual Reality. Teachers can now take their students on virtual tours to historical sites within the comfort of their classroom; healthcare and military professionals can be trained in the use of advanced and expensive equipment without the risk of damage. Lastly, it helps design professionals to create and experience their work even before it takes physical form.

Advanced technology has enabled us to usher in a new, modern world of breath-taking visualization experiences!

In the field of Architect & Design, this technology has significantly improved the workflow of architects in ways that were never possible earlier. Advances in VR technology have paved the path to a better, more efficient, and faster design process. Read on to find out the seven most critical reasons why designers should adapt to this technology and integrate it into their design process:

Pre-construction Trouble-shooting:

360 Virtual Reality tours aid designers to digitally visualize a potential design and helps them identify any logistical flaw. It enables the stakeholders of the project to have valuable insights into the design – the kind which is not possible through 2D plans or 3D models alone. This allows for time and cost-efficiency. The VR 360 allows for virtual navigation of the space, thereby empowering the designer to analyse the project in depth. Designers can critically inspect the design before a single brick is put in place for construction.

Cost-Effective:

Conventionally designers have built 3D models of their projects to showcase their work. These 3D models can easily be converted to 360 VR visualizations at minimum costs, regardless of the type or scale of the project. Digitally modelled VR 360 tours significantly reduces cost of the visualization process as well as cost of implementation of design changes in the project.

Collaborate and Communicate:

Large projects usually involve multiple stakeholders which demands efficient project communication and delivery. Conventionally, collaboration between stakeholders and the design team would have progressed through multiple construction site visits and exchange of hard copy design documents which would lead to delay in project completion time.

VR 360s now allow hyper-realistic digital mock ups of the project to be built. Multiple design team members and/or stakeholders can quickly experience and make decisions about the interior and exterior design of a building, while sitting in the comfort of the conference hall. This visualization method saves time and money, as well as helps in fast tracking the painstaking decision making process thereby making this tool a growing favourite among designers and clients alike.

Business development and marketing:

Usage of VR 360 tours increase the marketability of an organization, giving them an edge over their competitors. An organization using VR will easily stand out through the lasting impression of their thrilling and unique experience. It would be easy to distinguish themselves as the industry leaders. Incorporating VR videos also increases the chances of winning bids and securing the project. VR is set to become the most widely used visual marketing tool. Clients find it easier to visualize the design of their project and it also opens up the scope of giving real-time feedback, which can help architects and designers to efficiently customize their designs accordingly.

Training:

VR 360 tours can be used to give a precise idea to the construction team about how the project is to be built. Training of construction teams can be enhanced by conducting virtual site walkthroughs. Additionally, VR videos are an especially effective way of communicating with workers who have a language barrier as well.

Spatial Awareness:

Space design has long been a language among architects and designers. VR 360 tours helps them share this language with the world.The magic of a client being able to enter detailed floor plans in the correct spatial proportions helps them understand the design exponentially better. This also eliminates the misunderstandings which are sometimes created by presenting 2D drawings to the client. VR 360 tours bridges the gap between a design vision and practical reality.

Real-world scenarios simulation:

3D programmers often use VR 360 simulations to check and test fire escapes and security setup of a space. They gather insightful data about the design through a virtual reality tour. The simulations are especially important to spot safety and security loopholes that might have escaped the eyes of designers in models and plans.