Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality as Communication and Verification Tools in a Digitized Design and File-To-Factory Process for Temporary Housing in CFS

This work presents a research project in which Cold-Formed Steel building components for temporary post-emergency housing are developed and realized with a digitalized workflow. This starts from early design ideas (peacetime), includes file-to-factory production and assembly processes (emergency relief/early recovery) and leads to the disassembly of building components and their reuse (reconstruction). The key element of the entire process is the Information Model. This is the place of the interoperability that, during the different stages, interfaces with different devices including Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality tools as well as file-to-factory processes for the industrial production. Aim of the paper is to show how visualization tools (like interactive Whiteboard, Tablet, Cardboard, Oculus Rift, Hololens 2, and Cave) can be used not only to realistically and immersively represent the project, but also to optimize design, production and construction processes. Indeed, these devices can also be used to improve the communication between the involved stakeholders, to enhance participatory processes, to help in decision-making, to verify a digitalized design and manufacturing process and to train workers. To achieve this goal, the innovative workflow is presented in chronological order, highlighting the purposes for which the selected tools were applied, analyzing their characteristics, potential, limits, software, interfaces, involved users and costs. The results comprise not only the application itself, but in particular the advantages and challenges evaluation of the use of the selected tools in a design project in order to improve future applications.