Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality in Civil Engineering

Given the media coverage and consumer demand for devices like the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift the revolution of virtual reality is clear. This technology has the ability to affect every aspect of our lives. From building a house to how the members of that house are entertained. The effectiveness of VR in the construction industry may be surprising but in fact this sector is one of the areas where technology is making the biggest changes. Along with its relatives AR and MR VR has become an integral part of the construction process from the architectural office to job creation sites. Construction is a risky job and it is very important for those who work in this field to follow safety principles. According to OSHA 7 million people work in construction environments every day and the number of fatal accidents in the construction industry is higher than in any other occupation. Therefore effective safety training is vitally important. The more training employees have in controlled environments the more safety will be improved in this area. However at the same time it is difficult to create an effective simulation in the physical world.