| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/K23669/01 |
| Title: |
MANIPULATION OF OBJECT HIERARCHY IN VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTS THROUGH INTERNAL & EXTERNAL APPLICATIONS |
| Principal Investigator: |
Alshawi, Professor M |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Department: |
Surveying |
| Organisation: |
University of Salford |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 February 1995 |
Ends: |
31 January 1997 |
Value (£): |
75,539
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Construction Ops & Management |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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A number of reports in recent years have stressed the importance of Information Technology to the Construction Industry. In particular the use of IT as an integrating mechanism for the large number of participants and the modelling of the processes by which construction is undertaken have been identified as key areas for development. The technology which has a major part to play in these developments is Virtual Reality (VR). This technology is largely concerned with the visualisation of objects in real time. However, it possesses very powerful functionalities that other visualisation techniques such as CAD tools and animation lack. These are: a) the ability to generate walk-throughs at run time and b) the ability to manipulate graphical objects at run time. If such functionalities are underpinned by integration and intelligence, powerful tools can be produced which could have a significant impact on the performance and the cost of future construction activities.Over the past years, many researchers and practitioners have recognised the importance of this issue (1,2,3,4,5). The technology available today allows us to embark on establishing principles for a low cost prototype for the industry to examine. However, Virtual Environments (VE) research still lacks two important elements: integration and intelligence. It is at Salford University that these two issues are being investigated in detail. It is anticipated that this research work will complement other research works at the Department of Surveying and ARRL which could contribute to the establishment of the principle for VR integration and intelligence for the Construction Industry.This research aims to establish a sound platform for which future integration with Virtual Environments (VE) can be conducted. The functionalities of the VR will be utilised to maximise the benefits from using such software. This research will attempt to introduce VE into applications other than design, such as the generation of interim valuation reports, and facilities management. The study will assess the efficiency of accessing sites and building data from external software packages such as databases, planning, and CAD packages, and integrating them with the VE object hierarchy. It is not yet understood whether integration, on which intelligence will follow, can best be carried out through the VE object hierarchy or an independent KBS which controls all the inputs and outputs to and from the VR package. Speed, and efficiency of information transfer as well as flexibility of the hierarchy to copy with users demands are the essential measures for such an assessment.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.salford.ac.uk |