An integrated virtual reality and case-based reasoning model for training in building pathology

It has long been recognised by building surveyors that training a surveyor is both time-consuming and relatively risky. Universities and colleges recognise the difficulties of taking groups of students to inspect a property because of health and safety, insurance liability and organisational considerations. This paper proposes a solution to these problems by developing a virtual reality package that helps students to learn how to survey a building. Using a virtual environment to train young surveyors in building pathology should help to improve the effectiveness of young surveyors´ reports and reduce the possibility of litigation. With the aid of virtual reality models and digital camera images, it is hoped that a package can be developed to enable students to carry out a building survey without leaving their desktop. The prototype is centred on a 19th Century detached house as a virtual environment that students fly through looking for pre-programmed defects. The defects portrayed in the environment are taken from real-life examples or cases. The user identifies the precise nature of the defect by examining a more detailed part of the environment as he/she flies closer to the surface where the defect is located. The cases of defects are programmed into the environment using a case-based reasoning application. The main deliverable is a prototype which, if successful, will be developed into a full educational application