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This foresight enables real-time adjustments, preventing costly changes in later stages. Construction visualisation techniques have evolved from basic layouts and sketches to sophisticated digital renderings, evolving alongside rapid technological advancements 1. While these technologies currently benefit clients, they're simultaneously driving the adoption of sustainable construction practices in the property development industry. These practices are not only cost-effective and efficient but also environmentally friendly, reshaping the future landscape of construction.
The rapid advancement of technology in the last 30-years has exceptionally revolutionised the construction and real estate industry, and by leveraging this technology the construction industry can strive towards sustainability. Prior to this era, hand-crafted models and geometric extensive sketches were used by architects and engineers to explore 3D spaces and observe how their designs would fare. When International Business Machines (IBM) created the first Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software in the 1960s, it set in motion an industrial revolution as many understood CAD’s ability to be cost-effective and soon adopted it as a standard practice 2.
The introduction of CAD and its usage proved to be indispensable in the pre-construction stage as it brought accuracy through computer calculations, diminished the need for extensive sketching via rendering and allowed real-time modifications, minimising waste and overuse of resources. The resource intensive and pollutive nature of construction is widely recognized and is documented with the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform (ECESP), stating that the construction sector has a substantial environmental impact due to its generation of sizeable amounts of pollution, waste and CO2 emissions whilst consuming of large quantities of water and natural resources 4.
Visualisation technologies in construction are integral for the shift towards sustainability, especially in real estate and architecture. Embracing circular construction, aimed at reducing resource wastage and prolonging building lifespan pre-construction, relies on holistic methods 3. Practitioners benefit from construction visualisation tools, empowering engineers, architects, interior designers, and construction experts to digitally explore diverse designs and layouts. This proactive approach fosters sustainability and energy efficiency in property development.
These groundbreaking advancements in digital technology aren't just revolutionising property construction and renovation; they're also optimising procedures and reshaping the industry's operations. This transformation is making processes faster, smarter, and more sustainable. Unique construction visualisation technologies bring forth various benefits to key stakeholders and developers during the pre-construction stage, such as streamlined collaboration, making real time changes and updates to minimise any surprises that could negatively impact the energy and resources consumed after only able to view floorplans in its 2D form, reducing waste from paper or material used, therefore, bringing a sustainable approach.
Augmented Reality (AR) services have also fast become a transformative technology tool that is being incorporated into the pre-construction stage to bridge the imagination gap for interior designers and architects in matters concerning visualising preferred design choices as it offers real-time insights 3. These AR tools take visualisation to the next level, allowing clients to get a tangible sense of size, scale and design connections, whether it is colourless virtual experiences, coloured virtual experiences or photo realistic virtual experiences.
Various companies have begun implementing innovative visualisation technologies such as advanced, state-of-the-art integration projection technologies that allow real time walkthroughs of floorplans by projecting blueprints and floor plans in a real life 1:1 scale for a seamless visualisation experience for architects, interior designers, property developers, prospective homeowners and key stakeholders during the pre-construction stage. Real estate developers can also opt for companies that provide a seamless combination of construction visualisation technologies and augmented/virtual reality tools, as an alternative to investing in constructing showcase villas, apartments, or offices for the purpose of showcasing their off-plan visions. One such company making a difference in the ever-evolving field of technology is Lifesize Plans, an Australian-based company providing real scale advanced walkthrough technology that enlarges floor plans for residential, commercial and industrial properties to help clients visualise their projects in a 1:1 scale. Aside from this, the company also provides interactive Augmented and Virtual Reality services for an immersive experience.
In conclusion, the evolution of construction visualisation technologies has propelled the property development industry into incorporating unique technology to develop a more sustainable future. The ability to visualise architecture, real estate, off-plan and interior design projects using innovative visualisation technology and AR tools, not only benefits the key stakeholders but also enables to minimise the wastage of time, risks, variation costs and resources to ensure that properties are successfully built with no errors to look back on, overall, fostering an energy-efficient approach.
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