Architectural Visualization Using Virtual Reality: A User Experience in Simulating Buildings of a Community College in Bukidnon, Philippines
Author: Grepon, Benzar Glen S.
Date: 2021-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Foreign Countries,Computer Simulation,Community Colleges,School Buildings,Campuses,Architecture,Building Design,High School Seniors,Grade 12,Visual Aids,Computer Software,Program Development,Educational Technology,Technology Uses in Education

Purpose: The study aims to design and develop a virtual structural design that simulates the campus and its buildings of a community college in Bukidnon, Philippines through Virtual Reality. With the immersion of technology, this project represents the architectural design of the establishment with the use of Virtual Reality Technology. Method: The project uses a modified Iterative Development Model which is a guide for the design and development of the 3D Models and VR Application. TinkerCAD which is a web-based application has been used to design buildings on the other hand Unity is used to develop the structural designs of the buildings. Results: The respondents of this study are the Grade 12 Senior High students from the 4 schools which are geographically near to the college. With this study, the researchers were able to showcase its VR Application to the students and later evaluated using a System Usability Scale, a 10 item questionnaire measuring usability with an overall average of 90% or Point Score of 4.5 which is interpreted as excellent in a Likert table for descriptive interpretation. With the use of the VR application potential students of the college will be able to visualize and experience the present structures of the college without being physically present in the area. Conclusion: In this paper, the buildings and structures of NBCC were designed and developed through a Virtual Reality Platform allowing students from different secondary schools that are geographically near to the college to experience the feeling to be in the school without being able to set a step in physically. Using VR Gadgets in navigating buildings is still new from the community which makes the VR application a hit to those who use it. The Application was evaluated personally by every student from different schools and rated excellent. With this advancement of technologies, VR plays a vital part in allowing people to see what's inside the building and navigate around it without being physically present in the place. Recommendations: This study is limited only to simulating the architectural buildings of a community college in northern Bukidnon Philippines and currently has no controllers used and no sound effects. The researchers recommend continuing to improve and developing the project since the school buildings expand every year, adding details to every room, including furniture, add doors to the rooms, landscapes, mini-map UI and improve the landform to be more realistic. Research Implications: The study enabled viewing and designing of school structures using the technology of Virtual Reality. With this study, future development of the college in terms of structural design will be easier to visualize.