# Assessment of AEC Students' Performance Using BIM-into-VR
## 2 Theoretical Background
### The Evolution of BIM in AEC Industry
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c} \hline \hline
**No** & **Application Area** & **References** \\ \hline
1 & Analyze, review, and evaluate the impact of various design options & [20; 21; 22] \\
2 & Spend more time on design instead of contract documentation & [23; 24] \\
4 & Enable documentation automation (better accuracy) & [25; 26] \\
5 & Enable quicker reviews for permits and approvals & [19; 27] \\
6 & Coordinate Design & [28; 29; 30] \\
7 & Encourage energy conservation for sustainable building systems & [31; 32] \\
8 & Plan risk scenario & [33; 34] \\
9 & 4D model of construction process & [35; 36; 37] \\
10 & Quantity takeoff and cost planning with 5D simulation & [38; 39; 40] \\
11 & Coordinate and Clash detection & [28; 41] \\
12 & Reduce in RFi’s, change orders, claims, and conflicts & [42; 43] \\
13 & Reduce in construction and production costs & [44; 45] \\
14 & Reduction in project delivery duration & [19; 45] \\
15 & Facilitate modular construction & [46; 47] \\
16 & Increase prefabrication & [48; 49; 50] \\
17 & Reduce in site materials waste & [51; 52; 53] \\
18 & Improve construction safety & [54; 55] \\
20 & Increase client engagement & [31; 56] \\
21 & Increase productivity, efficiency, and quality of project & [57; 58] \\
24 & Encourage use of other technologies & [15; 19] \\
26 & Improve collaboration and communication between disciplines & [15; 59] \\
27 & Allow for long-term data assessment & [19; 60] \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular} Note: 5D = five dimensional; VR = virtual reality; AR = augmented reality; MR = mixed reality; GIS = geographic information system.  
\end{table} 
Table 1: A selection of the most widespread Building information modeling (BIM) advantages based on academic publications. experience to be considered a success. It must be believable, interactive, explorable, and immersive. VR is a simulation and immersive environment projected through a wearable headset that places the curated world in the user's sight. The main incentive for using a VR application is that it provides the possibility to test with those circumstances that \"cannot be accessed physically,\" \"expensive be accessed physically,\" or \"dangerous be accessed physically\" [61]. With the continuous development of technology, VR technologies have attracted the increasing attention of a broad area of applications [62], such as architecture, cinema and entertainment, risks identification, medical science, video games, engineering, urban design, education and training, and so on. Research on VR technology applications in various stages of AEC projects has shown the benefits these applications can bring to all projects [63]. VR technology has been effective in project schedule control [64] and construction safety training [65]. It can also identify design issues [61] to help users comprehend a project complexity, make better design decisions, and improve collaborative decision-making [3]. VR technology provides environments for greater collaboration among project participants [66] and enables a better understanding of complex designs [67]. There are some VR software applications developed by gaming engine (e.g., Unity, and Unreal) which allow the users to have the interactive simulated feelings. In addition, the applications like IrisVR and Resolve provide the multiusers meetings built for instant collaboration in the VR environment. All stakeholders can benefit from VR at various project design phases--namely, schematic design, detailed design, construction detailing, and maintenance [68]. Architects and designers can use VR technology from beginning design mock-ups to project collaboration to the end of the project. VR has the potential to sell an idea stronger and better than other applications. Jumping into VR during the concept and layout process allows the designer to justify a proof of concept. VR enables users to see and interact with the actual design. A virtual walkthrough experience is superior to the already-great experience of seeing the project in 3D or 4D on a large screen or a projector [69].