Participatory projects in BIM using AR and VR

The architectural and urban development are characterized by a very wide process that foresees various decision-making moments along the way. In these decision-making moments results necessary the involvement for all the actors of the project (professionals and investors, clients, partners of a company, etc) and an extended public participation (inhabitants of the neighborhood, associations, interest groups, etc). Evaluations of design alternatives are often based on photorealistic visual images, technical drawings, design sketches, etc. The passage towards the visualization of three-dimensional objects and models paved the way towards the use of real-time visualizers as a communication tool during all the design phases. Being able to visualize virtual models, interact and navigate through these architectural products in a digital way results very important as our senses and our perception can help us to choose the best solution already in the conceptual phase of the project. The development of Building Information Modeling (BIM) has been flanked by many software solutions and related tools dedicated to Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR). The use of virtual BIM models using AR and AV tools results very important as the model contains a lot of information that can be viewed, queried and modified in real time. Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality presents valid methods for simulation and complete immersion in virtual projects. The possibility of navigating in photorealistic environments in real time guarantees an extended public participation to completely view the entire virtual model. We have the possibility to visualize data and 3D models already in the design phase and so we are able to “see” the transformation of the city of the future. This mode changes and transforms also the concept of design, in this case the project is not just in the mind of the creator-designer who makes the first sketches but is shared with others right away. In this case, even the designer himself can transform his initial project again or modify it with other solutions.