A virtual environment tool applied to visualize construction processes

This communication describes a virtual reality technology application in the construction-training domain. A prototype was developed that serves as a didactic tool for civil engineering students of disciplines concerned with building construction. Geometric modeling and virtual reality techniques are used on the visual simulation of construction processes and to define user-friendly interfaces in order to access construction information, which could prove useful to civil engineering professionals. The construction of a double brick wall is the case studied. The wall is defined as a three-dimensional geometric model formed with the several components needed to construct it. Using the wall´s virtual model it is possible to show, in an interactive way, the sequence of the construction process and observe, from any point of view, the configurations in detail of the building components. This is a didactic application in the construction processes domain of great interest to civil engineering students