Developing engineering students' capabilities through game-based virtual reality technology for building utility inspection

Abstract

PurposeThe construction site operates under a hazardous environment that requires a high level of understanding in building systems to minimise accidents. However, the current building education generally adopts paper-based learning approaches that lack hands-on experiences. Furthermore, to achieve Industrial Revolution 4.0 in line with any unforeseen pandemic, the most optimum solution is to transition from physical to technological-based building education. This paper aims to address the problems by proposing a game-based virtual reality (GBVR) for building utility inspection training.Design/methodology/approachThe feasibility of the GBVR for building the utility inspection training approach is validated on a sample of undergraduate engineering students through user experience (survey) and performance-based comparisons against traditional paper-based training method.FindingsThe results show that the developed GBVR training has higher system usability in terms of visual output and knowledge retention than paper-based training due to visualisation technologies. The GBVR training method has also higher user-friendliness because of the higher motivational and engagement factors through the adoption of virtual reality and game-based learning.Research limitations/implicationsGBVR training required a longer training duration and achieved a lower performance score (effectiveness) but can be improved by transitioning into hands-on tasks. This study has the potentials to be extended to vocational training platforms for competency development in the construction workforce by using cutting-edge extended reality technologies.Originality/valueThis paper portrays the benefits of integrating virtual reality technology in building education to overcome the low practicality and engagement of paper-based training.

Implementation of virtual reality in construction education: a content-analysis based literature review

“…Motivational and engagement factors of a prototype immersive learning environment are also recognized in Beh et al (2021), who asked students to navigate through the VR environment in the first person by using a VR headset and a multiple-choice assessment was used to achieve learning outcomes in the domain of building utility inspection. Mastli and Zhang (2017) explored the use of construction simulation in facilitating students' understanding of construction processes and highlighted how, based on data collected, such simulation helps students to plan construction.…”

“…Most of the implementation papers (i.e., 19) focus on the impact of VR on learning. In some cases, this interest is made explicit in the goal to analyze the impact of VR in spatial visualisation (Ceylan, 2020;Bartosh and Anzalone, 2019), tacit knowledge acquisition (Wu et al, 2019a), knowledge transfer, knowledge retention (Eiris et al, 2021;Beh et al, 2021) as well as in allowing students to live a realistic experience (Sulbaran and Jones, 2012).…”

“…Though examples of haptic VR for training use cases exist (e.g., Gallegos Nieto et al, 2017;Hilfert and König, 2016;Abidi et al, 2015), visual modality alone dominates across the 68 studies. Audio-based interaction is included in 6 studies as a way to recreate a realistic job-site experience in virtual field visits, for the analysis of construction sequences, or to engage and motivate students by means of a virtual inspector that provides them instructions to proceed (Eiris et al, 2021;Beh et al, 2021;Try et al, 2021;Wang et al, 2020). In one instance, audio has been used for acoustic feedback in the application of VR for architectural design (Bartosh and Anzalone, 2019).…”

“…For example, it emerges that significant time and resource investments are needed in order to get an impact on learning by using VR (Eiris et al, 2021). VR implementation, in fact, requires longer learning time and higher performance scores (i.e., effectiveness) are not guaranteed (Beh et al, 2021).…”

Integration of deep learning and extended reality technologies in construction engineering and management: a mixed review method

“…Meanwhile, video input obtained from CCTV is popularly used to analyse damage in sewerage systems, such as cracks, protrusion, joint faulty and holes (Cheng and Wang, 2018; Hassan et al , 2019; Kumar et al , 2018; Li et al , 2019; Shiv et al , 2020; Yin et al , 2020). Several VR-based training simulations were also developed to educate learners on the inspection process, improving inspectors’ quality in identifying defects (Albeaino et al , 2021; Beh et al , 2021; Shi et al , 2020).…”