Application of mixed reality for improving architectural design comprehension effectiveness
Introduction
In the last decade, the most common way of representing architectural design ideas has been using traditional 2D orthographic projection drawings (i.e. elevations, sections and floorplans), along with realistic images of digital 3D models called renderings. These renderings were drawn by hand in the past but, due to technological advancements, they are now made digitally in a computer using different software such as Sketchup, Revit, AutoCAD, or ArchiCAD. These tools have given the construction process many benefits like: communication improvement, fluid development of design ideas and problem identification in early stages of the project [1]. Even though these representations have precise measurements and defined materials, they can only be seen through two-dimensional means such as printing or computer screens, which make the process less intuitive.
However, in recent years architectural rendering has received the influence from Extended Reality (XR) technologies. This is a term referring to wearable devices and computer-generated graphics that allow the creation of real-and-virtual environments with which the user can interact [2]. XR includes many types of technologies such as Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual reality (VR) and Mixed Reality (MR). With XR immersive models, it could be possible to address many existing problems in the current design review process which traditionally have inconvenient solutions. For example, design teams in need to produce several physical models to analyze multiple design options for a single project, architects who wish to save time in tedious explanations to non-architect clients about certain project details, contractors who are looking to eliminate the creation of physical mockups when solving design issues in the construction site, or firms wanting to reduce the amount of paper waste they produce while designing a project. MR's ability to allow the user to see the real world while displaying a holographic 3D model merged with the physical environment [9], gives a more intuitive and natural interaction with architectural design. It can provide just the critical, spatially referenced information, that augments an individual's knowledge of the environment [4] better than printed rendered images, computer screens and VR headsets produced for the same purpose [5].
The rapid advancement of technology and the potential applications of MR both in the office and the construction site, make it a technology that might revolutionize the way architects and other construction professionals work in the next couple of decades. That is why the researchers decided to explore MR's possibilities. They designed an experiment based on an original architectural design, in order to determine if the use of Mixed Reality in the architectural design review process is more effective than traditional representation methods for communicating the architect's proposal during the development stage of design. This will hopefully aid in expanding the existing body of knowledge that relates XR and architecture, give more concrete results on how this relationship can be sustained and possible methods on how XR, specifically MR solutions, can be applied pragmatically in the field or the office. At the same time, this research could also help professionals, who are unsure of whether MR is a good fit for their company, to make a decision that fits their specific needs.
Section snippets
Extended reality
Extended Reality (XR) refers to all real and virtual combined environments as well as human-machine interactions generated by computer technology and wearables [2]. All these technologies can create immersive digital worlds to various extents, and each offers specific tools that can allow the user to achieve different goals. Hence to discuss about XR, it is necessary to first discuss what is known as the Reality-Virtuality Continuum [6] (see Fig. 1). In one end, AR happens when the real world
General information
In an attempt to find a method for combining 2D and XR in design review, the authors of this paper decided to design and perform an experiment in hopes of shedding some light on the subject [28]. This experiment was performed in Taipei, Republic of China (Taiwan) during the first half of the year 2020. During this time, the world was facing a pandemic known as COVID-19, which caused many countries to halt work and normal activities for a period of time. Nevertheless, Taiwan never went into
Participants
Altogether, 42 participants (Male: 26; Female: 16) took part in the experiment, with 20 as part of the control group (2D), and 22 as part of the experimental group (MR). The average age was 26.36 years and they ranged from 20 to 58 years. Regarding academic background, 30 participants were professionals with either a bachelor's or a master's degree, and 12 participants were students from different university majors. Then, 16 out of 42 people had previous knowledge reading plans, either from the
Discussion
We see that MR's advantage is the ability of allowing the user to explore a given space in a way that accurately mimics reality (see Fig. 6). Since MR headsets, like the HoloLens, do not need prior training, it becomes clear that mixed reality can become a helpful aid for the design review process and make it more efficient. MR allows users to interact with a 3D model while still being able to interact with the real world and read specific information from a printed drawing at the same time.
Conclusions
The work describes the design, and implementation of an experiment which used the holographic capabilities of the Microsoft HoloLens to evaluate its effect on design review effectiveness during the development stage of design. For this purpose, an original architectural design proposal was created, in order to provide a base line that would allow the comparison of participants. They were divided into two groups: a control group, which looked at the design with 2D drawings, and an experimental
Declaration of Competing Interest
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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2022, Telematics and InformaticsCitation Excerpt :XR technologies have been helpful in construction, engineering, and architectural design activities. For instance, Osorto Carrasco and Chen (2021) employ MR to enhance comprehension of the aesthetic characteristics of materials and evaluate their effect during the design stage. In the same context, Birt and Vasilevski (2021) develop a BIM visualization experience for a 24-hour transition simulation (the day-night lighting change), using visual avatars and voice communication capabilities for single and multiuser modes.
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2022, Automation in ConstructionCitation Excerpt :MR applications take advantage of the intellectual reality recognition function in problem-solving. For example, in a renovation project, Osorto Carrasco and Chen [3] overlapped architectural design with the original building to perform design review and feedback collection. El Ammari and Hammad [45] designed an MR application that delivers maintenance information as well as sensor data to workers onsite via a tablet.