Integrating BIM and Virtual Reality to Support Decision-Making in the Finishes Selection of Residential Buildings

Integration of Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Virtual Reality (VR) for Collaborative Design Review: A Comparative Study

A framework with three core components has been developed, which contains a BIM model component, which contains the geometric, semantic, and orientation data of building elements and provides a set of functions to support collaborative design review.

Mixed Reality for Construction House Evaluation and Quality Assessing

The construction industry is a critical sector of the global economy, requiring strict adherence to regulations and accurate execution of building plans to ensure quality and customer satisfaction. In this context, we propose a mixed reality (MR) system for construction house evaluation and quality assessing (CHEQA). MR. CHEQA enables the overlay of digital construction definition models onto real-world construction sites, allowing users to visually compare the intended design with the actual construction. The system also provides measurement tools to quantify discrepancies and assess compliance with industry standards. Implemented using a commercially available mixed-reality headset, MR. CHEQA enhances on-site verification processes by offering an intuitive and immersive visualization of construction elements, such as walls, windows, electrical layouts, and piping. Experimental evaluations in different settings demonstrated the system’s effectiveness. The results presented in this study demonstrate the potential of MR. CHEQA as a valuable tool for improving quality control in construction projects.

Digital 3D garment development process: From concept to virtual prototype

The digital transformation of the apparel industry is increasingly driven by the integration of 2D pattern development and 3D virtual simulation technologies. This study focuses on the digital 3D garment development process using VStitcher (Browzwear), presenting a structured workflow from the initial design concept to the final virtual prototype. The proposed approach emphasizes the transition from traditional physical sampling to digital prototyping, enabling improved efficiency, faster design interactions, and reduced material consumption. The workflow includes 2D pattern construction, material definition and mapping, virtual garment assembly, 3D simulation, and fit evaluation on a digital avatar. The results demonstrate that integrating 2D and 3D environments creates a continuous feedback loop that supports iterative refinement of design parameters and early detection of construction and fit issues. The study further confirms that virtual prototyping, supported by styling tools, enhances garment evaluation by enabling advanced manipulation and simulation of manual fitting adjustments. This contributes to reduced physical sampling, improved development accuracy, and increased workflow efficiency. However, simulation accuracy remains dependent on precise pattern construction, material parameter definition, garment complexity, and user expertise, while certain tactile fabric properties cannot yet be fully replicated digitally. Overall, the study demonstrates that 3D garment development systems such as VStitcher provide a robust methodological framework for more efficient, accurate, and sustainable apparel product development in both industrial and educational contexts.

With Pixels & Timber: Application of Mixed Reality for Human-Centered Train Design & Engineering

Modern metro train design projects must balance evolving customer requirements, diverse stakeholder expectations, and the need for early, reliable engineering decisions. Conventional validation methods—document-based analyses, static CAD reviews, and late-stage physical mock‑ups—often reveal design issues too late, resulting in costly redesigns, schedule risks, and inefficient stakeholder involvement. To overcome these challenges, the Siemens Mobility project team developed an award‑winning Mixed Reality (MR) Human Factors (HF) and Customer Experience (CX) testing and validation approach—deployed in the ongoing Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport (SM-WSA) project—that merges physical prototyping with immersive Virtual Reality (VR) environments. The approach employs cost‑effective wooden or 3D‑printed structures augmented with a high-end Virtual Reality (VR) visualisation, enabling MR-based interactive evaluation of the train interior's user facing elements. This setup allowed rapid exploration of dozens of design variants and enabled evidence‑based design engineering decision making significantly earlier in the project. The method proved particularly effective for pre-validating a few design areas, such as stopping‑marker positioning, inclusivity & accessibility, and design options such as seat fabrics or headrests.The MR‑driven review workflow, combined with user performance- and behaviour-based system tests, demonstrated measurable benefits. First, evidence‑based Human Factors engineering became possible through precise spatial assessments using integrated haptic and visual feedback, enabling more confident design assurance and acceptance. Second, co‑creation and collaboration improved through intuitive, immersive engagements with train operators, accessibility committees, and end users, aligning with ISO 9241‑110 principles for human‑centred design. These sessions enhanced understanding, consensus-building, safety and engineering assurance and overall CX validation. Third, risk reduction and early design freeze were achieved by resolving issues before the high‑fidelity mock‑up stage, reducing Non‑Compliance Costs (NCCs), and preventing downstream costs from schedule disruptions.

An integrated framework for selecting augmented reality software to enhance occupational safety in the electro-energetic industry

Bridging Geometric Gaps between Digital Survey and BIM through Open-Source 3D Tiles - IFC Integration

Abstract. The adoption of innovative digital heritage workflows in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) sector faces significant challenges, particularly in integrating digital survey data with Building Information Modeling (BIM) into a unified model. This paper begins with a literature review that outlines the geometric and software-environment constraints complicating such integration and examines various proposed solutions, with particular attention to open-source tools and standard formats. Building on this foundation, the paper introduces an innovative two-stage method: (1) segmenting, classifying, and enriching digital survey data into a BIM model; and (2) developing a web viewer that hybridizes this BIM model with the original survey data. The proposed workflow relies exclusively on open-source tools and open standards, with Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) used as the native editing format. A seamless continuity is established between the Bonsai add-on for Blender, used as a BIM authoring environment, and the web library That Open Engine, which serves as a dissemination tool enabling interactive querying of BIM data within a web browser. This library shares a common dependency on Three.js with 3DTilesRendererJS, allowing the overlay of a tiled photomesh of the asset. This integration enables the combination of an accurate geometric and visual representation with structured metadata interaction within a unified web environment. Overall, the proposed approach provides a robust and flexible framework for supporting practical applications such as dissemination, documentation, and diagnostic studies of heritage assets.