In the ever-evolving fields of architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC), the age-old challenges persistently haunt traditional design review procedures. Despite strides made in enhancing coordination and communication, formidable silos still exist. This is where the groundbreaking opportunities of conducting design reviews in virtual reality (VR) changes the status quo.

What is a collaborative design review in VR?

Collaborative design reviews in VR enhance alignment and understanding, bringing stakeholders into a shared space simultaneously. Distractions fade away, and attention is focused on the immersive environment, resulting in shorter and more efficient meetings.

The spatial perspective simplifies coordination, offering a true 1:1 scale experience of projects without requiring additional skills or new software expertise. Spatial computing allows us to intuitively experience data that would otherwise take much longer in 2D. Clashes and problems become readily apparent, leading to a more universal understanding of the design. Teams no longer have to rely on multiple mock-ups, new renderings, or even tedious redraws.

Before you start out on any collaborative design review, it’s important to establish clear objectives and goals for the session. In fact, it’s helpful for teams to have pre-defined issues that they plan on reviewing together and can efficiently travel from location to location during the design review in VR.

Maintain good communication

If it’s the first time anyone is using VR, take some time before the review to help familiarize them with the headset and software. Interacting in XR is a new skill that takes a bit of patience to learn, like any new tool. However, this can be accomplished with a video tutorial, or guide. While in the VR experience, it’s important to maintain good communication and collaboration. This means not making any assumptions, being patient, and clearly demonstrating the advantages of conducting the design review in VR.

Bringing models into VR is easier than ever before. Autodesk Workshop XR is an immersive design review workspace for AEC teams—connected directly to Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC). Typically, large models are problematic to load in VR and require a lot of sectioning and prep. New advancements provide the ability to experience these models in VR with zero prep and stellar performance. With the introduction of no-prep model loading, the tedious work of getting the model into VR is a thing of the past.

Workshop XR connects users to their existing Autodesk Docs content through the console – accessible from web, desktop, or VR.

Immersive collaborative design review in 3 easy steps

Create workshop: Select an existing Revit or Navisworks model from Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) to review and join stakeholders together in virtual reality.

Review immersively: Physically engage with project data in real-time, and provide feedback, make decisions, and capture issues in-context.

Iterate on projects: Manage issues natively in ACC and move your project forward as your workshop stays up to date with the latest project data.

Previously, large models were problematic in VR. New advancements provide the ability to experience these models in VR with zero prep and stellar performance. With the introduction of no-prep model loading, the tedious work of getting the model into VR is a thing of the past.

Design reviews are essential to how we refine and enhance projects. A central part of successful collaborative sessions is the process of analyzing and incorporating feedback. VR design reviews introduce a groundbreaking dimension to the feedback-gathering process. Instead of traditional and flat mediums, stakeholders can now engage within an immersive environment. This not only encourages an organic exchange of insights, guarding against the loss of valuable input.

The feedback obtained during VR design review sessions provides a foundation for substantial improvements. However, to truly unlock the potential of an immersive session, the data has to undergo careful analysis. With Workshop XR, project data is automatically synced back to ACC. Whether it’s addressing structural integrity, optimizing spatial configurations, or refining aesthetic elements, VR empowers data-driven decision making.

Environment of continual improvement

In VR, stakeholders can seamlessly revisit and reevaluate designs considering the insights gained. This iterative approach fosters an environment of continual improvement, where refinements are made until the design aligns perfectly with project goals—and budget.

Collaborative design reviews using VR serve as a connection for collective intelligence and expertise. The process of capturing, evaluating, and iterating feedback ensures an efficient, and innovative design process.

Collaborative design reviews in VR are not in the distant future. Teams are experiencing project enhancing benefits now. Request a trial to Autodesk Workshop XR to get started.