Maintenance and construction of buildings supported on interactive models

This paper describes two prototype applications based on Virtual Reality (VR) technology for use in construction and maintenance planning of buildings. The first, applied to construction, is an interactive virtual model designed to present plans three-dimensionally (3D), connecting them to construction planning schedules, resulting in a valuable asset to the monitoring of the development of construction activity. The 4D application considers the time factor showing the 3D geometry of the different steps of the construction activity, according to the plan established for the construction. A second VR model was created in order to help in the maintenance of exterior closures of walls in a building. It allows the visual and interactive transmission of information related to the physical behaviour of the elements. To this end, the basic knowledge of material most often used in façades, anomaly surveillance, techniques of rehabilitation, and inspection planning were studied. This information was included in a database that supports the periodic inspection needed in a program of preventive maintenance. This work brings an innovative contribution to the field of construction and maintenance supported by emergent technology. 1 Introduction The main aim of a research project, now in progress at the Department of Civil Engineering of the Technical University of Lisbon, is to develop virtual models as tools to support decision-making in the planning of construction management and maintenance, 1 " Virtual Reality technology applied as a support tool to the planning of construction maintenance ". A first prototype for the lighting system had already been completed. 2 A second prototype concerning construction planning is now complete 3 and the VR model concerning maintenance of the closure of exterior walls is also finished. 4 5 Another VR models, now in progress, will support the inspection activity of two other components of a building: the surface of floors and the roof. This paper describes these two later concluded models created as part of the overall research project. These interactive models integrate Virtual Reality (VR) technology and applications implemented in Visual Basic (VB) language. The models allow interaction with the 3D geometric model of a building, visualizing components for each construction. They are linked to databases of the corresponding technical information concerning construction planning and the maintenance of the materials used as exterior closures. The principal objective of the interactive VR prototypes is to support decision-making in the area of planning. Information technology, namely 4D modelling (3D + …