Gaming technology and
animation software are transforming the way contractors perform training and
simulation.
The
idea of construction workers playing video games on the jobsite would make most
construction professionals cringe. Most construction executives who walked on a
jobsite and saw workers playing video games would likely fire those workers
immediately. But what if those employees were looking at a video game showing
an instructional video on window flashing, a jobsite safety animation or a
demonstration of how to best access a site for a large delivery?
All
of these applications for video games (and many more) are coming to the construction
industry quicker than you can say “Pac-Man.”
Most
people who work in construction are aware that the generation that will be
taking over the industry grew up on computers and video games. If you look at
your staff, the people under the age of 35 probably have at least 25 years of
experience in a video game and technological world. As this group enters the
most productive years of their careers, they expect technology to be a part of
their lives. This generation is familiar with user graphical interface and
comfortable with maneuvering through virtual environments. Interacting with a
gaming interface for visualization or for instructional purposes is second
nature to this and subsequent generations. This generation also expects data at
their fingertips.
During
the last 14 years, we have seen the design and construction industry transition
from the 2D plan to the 3D-modeled world. This 3D technology has been a
valuable visualization tool for owners, designers and the construction
industry. The development of this 3D modeling technology and the creation of
low-cost, accessible “game engine” software has created the perfect opportunity
to combine visualization and education. The combination of these technologies
has made experimenting with game development technology for construction
applications accessible. The traditional 3D fly-through architectural animation
presents a predetermined fixed route selected by the creator. By contrast, a
game engine gives the user a first-person walk-through experience. Through the
use of a mouse, touch pad and keyboard, users can actually control the movement
of the camera as though they are walking through the environment. This allows
users to focus on what they are interested in seeing from multiple angles, if
necessary. They can select the elements of the physical building they want to
see in the model, as opposed to being limited to seeing a determined animation.
This can be a useful tool for visualization, but the following examples depict
a much deeper benefit of this application.
Example 1:
Recently,
a design-build client came to us with a common site planning issue. They were
designing a parking lot for a commercial building renovation. The dilemma was
providing enough parking while allowing semi-trailer trucks access to the back
of the building. This procedure required the truck to make multiple turns while
backing up, complicating the approach. Clearly, this would be an expensive
issue to fix if the company constructed the parking lot only to find that the
trucks were unable to navigate it. To ensure they provided sufficient parking
and circulation space, we needed to find a way to simulate a truck driving
through the lot with a realistic turning radius. Rather than picking a point of
view, putting in a camera and setting it to render, we used gaming technology
to create simulations. We were able to clearly show the owner, engineer and
project manager the tight spots so adjustments could be made. In the old days,
this was done with a radius chart, but the chart did not always show the
technical hitches of backing up a truck. In order to save time testing multiple
options, we showed them this simulation in a game engine application. This
allowed the project stakeholders to mimic the truck backing up through various
scenarios while viewing the process from the driver’s seat, the loading dock or
the parking lot. They were also able to control the playback of the simulation
with the arrow keys on their computer’s keyboard and then use the mouse to
rotate the camera around the vehicle to get the point of view that most clearly
showed the problem areas. This simple application allowed the engineer to avoid
spending time on redesigning. The owner was able to understand the issue and
the implications, and the contractor was able to build the parking lot
correctly the first time.
Example 2:
We
are currently working with a company that builds partially prefabricated
agricultural buildings. Initially, they asked us to create animations from
their construction manual. The intention was that these animations would more
clearly illustrate to their field crews how to build one of their buildings.
This has now expanded into running these animations in a game engine
application. Beyond the visualization, we are now making the animations
interactive instructional videos. The application allows users to step through
the construction process at their speed and to review prior steps if necessary.
The user has the ability to maneuver the camera around the action in each step
to see how the more complicated assemblies are completed.
The
next step in the process is to embed a series of questions into the “video
game” that tests people to see how well they understood what they have just
watched. Once the users have finished watching the instructional component,
they can either review the instructional component or take the test. The test
takes them back through the assembly instructions, requiring them to answer
questions relevant to each step in order to progress to the following step. A
user’s score can then be tracked and saved in a database, allowing the company
to track progress and document training.
Example 3:
Another application is the video
game for jobsite safety instruction and testing. Many scientists agree that the
majority of people are visual learners. When dealing with something as
important as safety, training materials must be presented in the best possible
way. Implementing the safety training application in a video game format allows
the user to interact with the instructional information. This visual
interaction can boost the user’s
ability to retain instructions.
We
are currently working with a general contractor in the Midwest to animate some
of their most critical safety applications such as fall protection. In this
application, users can move through the instructions at a pace that is
comfortable for them. Additionally, the ability to control the position of the
camera allows the user to watch the animation from any conceivable angle. This
ensures that the animation will be as clear as possible for each user. Once
again, the testing module has been added to help the contractor evaluate the
employee’s comprehension and retention. These instructional videos also can be
made multilingual with the click of a mouse, a critical requirement in today’s
world. Finally, since new safety regulations are continually implemented, the
game engine can provide immediate updates to the latest adaptations or changes
to safety instructions via the web.
What is next?
With
new hardware technologies such as gesture reading devices that allow users to
control computer interface interaction with simple hand movements, smartphones
more powerful than computers of just a few years ago, and the development of
virtual reality headsets, access to these video game applications is becoming
easier by the day. The potential for using video game technology for
construction simulation is continuing to reach new heights, and we can expect
to see exciting applications of the technology in the near future.
These technologies are valuable
tools in the world of construction, providing information and simulations that
help construction professionals avoid costly mistakes and oversights. The world
of the video game in the family room 20 years ago was the nucleus of the
transition of this technology from simple games to better communication and
training on our jobsites. Construction might not be the first thing that comes
to mind when you think about video games. But gaming technology, with its
interactive simulations and detailed information, is a tool you cannot afford
to ignore.
Written by:
Michael Whaley
and Kirk Mullis