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Purpose It is possible for civil engineering (CE) students to graduate from a degree programme without gaining experience on a construction site. The implementation of virtual field trips using virtual reality (VR) in CE education is a development that can address this phenomenon and help facilitate the consolidation of abstract theories into tangible competences. This project aims to solve a fundamental CE education problem: once a structure has been completed, it is often impossible to see how it was built; hence, how can you demonstrate the construction process to a student? Design/methodology/approach This research used the opportunity of a new campus library development to record its construction sequence. This was achieved by visiting the site eight times to take panoramic stereoscopic photos of the construction process. By its nature, using VR as a didactic tool facilitates experiential learning, but this project also incorporates discovery learning and situated cognition to develop students’ understanding of the construction process. Findings The use of VR in education is becoming increasingly common, but the explicit pedagogy used in these environments is rarely obvious or stated. This project draws upon current VR education discussions and explores the development of a VR environment with a pedagogical context. Originality/value The development of the VR resource draws upon the pedagogical frameworks of discovery learning (Bruner, 1961) and situated cognition (Lave and Wenger, 1991). A further unique aspect of this research is the use of stereoscopic cameras to capture the library’s construction over time.

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How are driver assistance technologies available and priced across different vehicle models and trim levels? This study examines the availability of blind spot detection, automatic emergency braking, and forward collision warning on the top-selling passenger vehicles in the United States. We found that these technologies are not uniformly available and safety features are less likely to occur on base models or less-expensive trim packages, particularly of larger vehicles and among US versus international automakers. This represents a cause for concern due to the greater dangers posed by SUVs and light duty trucks and their popularity in the United States.