Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Virtual Reality (VR) in the Practice of Architectural Design

Abstract

This work explores the integration of technologies in the practice of architectural design in Brazil. The objective is to contribute to the debate on the use of these resources in architectural offices, investigating the perception of professionals and end users regarding the adoption of these technologies. An experiment was conducted using digital technologies, BIM and Virtual Reality, during the creation of an architectural project for a single-family residence to evaluate the collaboration between the disciplines involved and, simultaneously, the construction monitoring. The experiment was carried out by the researchers themselves in the laboratories of the School of Engineering and the School of Architecture at the Federal University of Minas Gerais, UFMG, in a controlled environment for both the development of the architectural project stages using BIM technologies and the immersion in the virtual reality environment. The results indicate how the use of these technologies can assist architects, engineers, and users in making better design decisions and contribute to the implementation of digital technologies in professional environments.