Maximizing Construction Efficiency: Top 5 BIM and VR Integration Benefits

Introduction

Building Information Modeling (BIM) has already had transformative impacts on the construction industry. But it’s not the end of innovation in the sector. It’s just the foundation for what comes next. Virtual Reality (VR) has been on the radar for years, but only recently has it become broadly practical and accessible in construction.

“The integration of BIM and VR is revolutionizing construction by creating a more collaborative, efficient, and cost-effective building process,” said Francesco Cappilli of BIMaking, an Italy-based consultancy specialized in BIM technologies and VR services. “As VR technology continues to develop and become more accessible, its impact on the construction industry will only become more significant.”

In this white paper, we’ll explore how integrating BIM with VR can significantly enhance construction efficiency. But let’s start with the basics. What are BIM and VR?

BIM is a digital approach to construction that models the physical and functional characteristics of a building. It facilitates data sharing among project participants from design to construction to operations. By integrating 3D models, material specifications, cost estimates, and schedules, BIM promotes efficient collaboration between architects, engineers, contractors, and end clients.

VR immerses users in a virtual environment, so they can interact with 3D models and spatial representations of building designs. By using VR headsets, stakeholders can virtually walk through a project, experiencing the design and identifying problems before construction begins.

The reason BIM and VR can now effectively integrate comes down to next-gen technologies. After years of tethered headsets that required regular software updates that made VR use frustrating and inefficient, users can now stream applications from the cloud directly to their headsets, making them effective tools for real-time collaboration and decision-making.

Here are 5 key ways that BIM and VR integration will enhance construction efficiency.

1. Enhanced Visualization for Complex Projects

VR and BIM Bring Construction Blueprints to Life

Integrating VR with BIM enables project stakeholders to immerse themselves in a virtual environment where they can explore and interact with the 3D models of the project. Stakeholders can walk through the virtual building, where they can visualize spatial relationships, scale, and aesthetics more effectively than with traditional 2D drawings or even 3D models on a screen. For example, architects and clients can see how different spaces relate to each other and make necessary adjustments to optimize the layout.

There are also benefits when it comes to material estimates.

“By accurately visualizing the building in VR, construction teams can create more precise material estimates, reducing waste and saving costs,” said Cappilli.

New Rochelle Case Study: Virtual Reality-Enabled Urban Planning

The city of New Rochelle, NY used virtual reality to help citizens visualize changes to the city as part of a downtown revitalization program and a drive to expand housing supply.

The VR platform, known as NRVR (New Rochelle Virtual Reality), enabled residents to visualize proposed changes in a highly immersive way. The key features of this initiative included:

360-Degree Views: Residents experienced nearly 3 million square feet of proposed developments through VR goggles or mobile devices.
Public Engagement: Four public kiosks and a dedicated VR space at the New Rochelle train station facilitated resident interaction and feedback.

The project was funded by a $1 million (USD) grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies.

New Rochelle's use of VR technology in its downtown revitalization program serves as a model for other cities looking to enhance public engagement and ensure that urban development projects meet the needs of residents. This innovative approach not only helps residents visualize the future cityscape but also fosters a more inclusive, participatory planning process.

Early Project Visualization Limits Errors and Helps Control Costs.

One of the major benefits of BIM-VR-enabled visualization is it creates the ability to identify – and address – problems before they happen. Designers can simulate the built environment, including things like lighting, acoustics and spatial functionality, all before construction begins.

“VR allows for a more thorough review process, catching potential errors in design or construction planning – before they become costly problems on-site,” said Cappilli.

This is relevant given the financial impacts of errors and rework. The numbers are stark. A KPMG study found that only 31% of projects came within 10% of their budgets. The Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) reported that rework accounts for 5-15% of total project costs. And a 2019 study found that rework costs the construction industry approximately $178 billion annually in the U.S. That’s especially notable because those numbers pre-date BIM-VR integration at any level of scale. There’s serious ground to be gained.

2. Streamlined Collaboration Across Teams

BIM and VR Integration Enables Remarkable Real-Time Collaborations

Integrating BIM with VR creates a shared virtual environment where any number of users can interact with 3D models of a project at the same time. Team members can all explore the virtual space, which ensures a diverse range of perspectives are incorporated. And they can interact with each other using voice or chat functions. And it doesn’t even matter where the users are. From Mozambique to Monaco to Manhattan – everybody’s in the same virtual space.

Virtual Walkthroughs Lead to Faster Approvals.

Any user in the virtual environment can suggest changes, not just by making a comment but by actually manipulating elements of the model. For example, an architect could suggest a structural change, which could then be visualized immediately for everyone. The end-client might want to see design changes. Again, they can be seen on-the-spot. This is all enormously helpful when it comes to getting the project elements right – and approved efficiently.

3. Accurate and Efficient Error Detection

Errors Can Come with Massive Costs. BIM-VR Integration Reduces Them.

Walking through a VR model of a building can help identify issues such as insufficient headroom, tight corridors, or inadequate space for furniture and equipment placement. These types of design errors can cost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars, depending on the scale of the project. In some cases, those numbers run into the millions.

This is one of the drivers of broader BIM-VR integration adoption. The bigger the project, the bigger the financial risk. That’s why companies like Balfour Beatty, an infrastructure group that specializes in construction, are embracing it. Balfour Beatty uses VR to reduce unnecessary costs on projects, collaborating with its clients in real-time, and eliminating conceptual project errors in the virtual space before they become built – and costly – real errors.

Adding VR to BIM Helps Reduce Construction Delays

The reality: the majority of construction projects are late. A survey by ReNew Canada found that an astonishing 77% of construction projects are delayed. These delays aren’t all driven by design flaws; in recent years, labor issues have become increasingly challenging. But that’s all the more reason to avoid delays at the design stage. Control what you can control.

By providing a realistic simulation of the construction process, VR helps in better planning and resource allocation. This ensures that materials and labor are available as needed, reducing the risk of delays due to shortages or logistical issues. VR also helps identify clashes between different building systems (e.g., when structural, mechanical and electrical elements interfere with each other) before construction ever starts. But that’s just the start.

“BIM-VR goes beyond just identifying physical clashes,” said Cappilli. “Imagine a virtual walk-through where you can check maintenance access for future repairs or ensure proper clearances for equipment installation. VR allows for a more intuitive understanding of spatial relationships, leading to a wider range of potential issues being caught early.”

4. Improved Training and Safety Protocols

Virtual Training Environments and Real World Safety Impacts

VR can replicate real-world construction sites with high fidelity, so workers can experience the structures they’ll eventually build as if they were physically present in them. They learn to navigate complex scenarios, such as working at heights which is difficult to simulate safely in the real world. They can also ‘virtually’ operate cranes, excavators, or forklifts. This all helps them upskill without the risk of damaging equipment or getting injured themselves.

In the UK, Multiplex has adopted VR to allow their workforce to experience high-risk scenarios safely. This technology has led to a reduction in on-site incidents, improved safety awareness among employees and greater overall engagement.

VR Helps Workers Prepare for Emergency Situations – Before There’s an Emergency

VR is also being used to simulate emergency situations and ensure workers know appropriate safety routes and protocols. This has broad relevance in construction, where risks can include everything from fires breaking out, to natural disasters, or issues with hazardous materials. Again, it’s about putting someone in a position to deal with these issues virtually, long before they’re ever faced with having to deal with real world pressure and consequences.

As a result of all of this, the global market for VR in construction is expanding rapidly. From a market size of 22.81 billion (USD) in 2024, it is expected to reach 131.93 billion by 2029, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 42.05% during this period.

5. Enhanced Client Engagement and Satisfaction

Interactive Client Walkthroughs Increase Transparency and Satisfaction.

Much of the focus of integrating BIM and VR is on the value it offers to the design team and builders. But clients see major benefits too. Clients understandably may have trouble visualizing a finished building or built space solely from blueprints or even 3D renderings. But when they put on a headset and walk through the virtual space, it comes fully to life for them. It also shines a light on design details and spatial issues they may not have considered. Getting client feedback through this process usually leads to increases in overall satisfaction with the final projects.

A report from TechViz revealed that BIM and VR technologies have led to a 25% increase in overall client satisfaction. As BIM and VR are further integrated and scaled across the industry, it’s reasonable to expect fewer projects will finish with unhappy clients.

Conclusion: Already Using BIM? It’s Time to Explore VR Integration

Sometimes, 2D streaming to a phone, iPad, or laptop is sufficient for a construction project. BIM and VR are not replacements for those experiences. But as projects grow in complexity, cost, and risk, more companies and clients will find themselves putting on headsets to walk through virtual representations of the buildings long before the first shovel ever hits the dirt.

The numbers make this close to inevitable. 17% of construction companies have used VR and 46% are interested in using it. According to Vection Technologies, projects using BIM and VR have realized 30% overall reductions in project costs.

In a time of inflation, labor shortages, and a push for efficiency across the full building lifecycle, firms need to understand the opportunity for BIM and VR integration and build it into their strategic plans. What once seemed like a year-3000 technology – walking through virtual buildings with people from around the world! – is becoming commonplace.

PureWeb: Your Partner for Integrating BIM with VR

Real-time streaming to VR headsets unlocks the potential of BIM and VR integration. PureWeb makes it possible for our clients and partners. With PureWeb Extended Reality™, secure, scalable, and simple VR streaming is now possible.

If you have questions about how to best leverage BIM and VR technologies in your construction business, contact us today.

Learn more about PureWeb Extended Reality, our high-performance VR streaming solution, here.

Sources:

[1] https://engagenr.com/nrvr/

[2] https://www.archpaper.com/2020/09/new-rochelle-virtual-reality-platform-to-visualize-planned-downtown-improvements/

[3] https://www.autodesk.com/blogs/construction/cost-overruns-construction/

[4] https://esub.com/blog/the-costs-of-rework-and-how-to-prevent-them/

[5] https://metamandrill.com/virtual-reality-construction/

[6] https://www.renewcanada.net/5000088747-2/

[7] https://www.abc.org/News-Media/News-Releases/construction-workforce-shortage-tops-half-a-million-in-2023-says-abc

[8] https://hsseworld.com/the-future-of-building-safely-vr-training-for-construction-sites/

[9] https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/virtual-reality-market