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Enhancing Public Engagement in Architectural Design: A Comparative Analysis of Advanced Virtual Reality Approaches in Building Information Modeling and Gamification Techniques

Ehab, Ahmed; Burnett, Gary; Heath, Tim

Enhancing Public Engagement in Architectural Design: A Comparative Analysis of Advanced Virtual Reality Approaches in Building Information Modeling and Gamification Techniques Thumbnail


Authors

Ahmed Ehab

Gary Burnett



Abstract

Purpose: This paper investigates the potential of virtual reality (VR) technologies—specifically, building information modeling (BIM) (“Autodesk Revit”) and game engines (“Unreal Engine”)—to enhance public involvement in the design and execution of architecture and urban projects. The main research question focuses on comparing the effectiveness of these two methods in creating an interactive design model for participatory design in public spaces. Methods: The study employed a VR exploratory experiment with 33 participants, followed by semi-structured interviews to analyze two recent developments in London: the Sky Garden, and Crossrail Place Roof Garden. Participants interacted with the design models and provided feedback on their experiences. Results: The findings demonstrate that integrating VR with BIM software using the Enscape plugin effectively enhances user involvement, enabling real-time generation and testing of design alternatives. While both methods were found to be beneficial, participants reported a preference for the direct implementation of VR in BIM software. Conclusions: This research highlights the potential of VR technologies—specifically, BIM and game engines—as a co-design approach for public and social spaces in urban environments. It also identifies limitations and future research opportunities in adopting these methods for participatory design.

Citation

Ehab, A., Burnett, G., & Heath, T. (2023). Enhancing Public Engagement in Architectural Design: A Comparative Analysis of Advanced Virtual Reality Approaches in Building Information Modeling and Gamification Techniques. Buildings, 13(5), Article 1262. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13051262

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date May 9, 2023
Online Publication Date May 11, 2023
Publication Date 2023-05
Deposit Date May 18, 2023
Publicly Available Date May 18, 2023
Journal Buildings
Electronic ISSN 2075-5309
Publisher MDPI
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 13
Issue 5
Article Number 1262
DOI https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13051262
Keywords Virtual reality; BIM; gamification; participatory design; public realm; interactive design model
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/20836988
Publisher URL https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/13/5/1262

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