The Impact of Isolated Visual Representation Of A 3D Model in the BIM Cave

The BIM CAVE (Computer Aided Virtual Environment for Building Information Modeling) system at Texas A&M University enables users to walk through Building Information Models (BIM) created using commercially available BIM software, such as Navisworks, in an immersive virtual reality environment. The current BIM CAVE system synchronizes the position and orientation of the camera within the building information model, and presents the sequence of building assembly process, which is also called 4D construction simulation. Construction industry professionals, who have tested the BIM CAVE system, expressed their wish to browse Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) components in the model without getting bothered by any obstructions in their line of sight. In order to address that particular issue, this research developed a new BIM CAVE plugin application that can hide some building components from the sight, or make those components transparent, so that users can see other building components of their interest without getting their view blocked. The new BIM CAVE plugin application was then tested for its effectiveness in improving user’s understanding of a 3D model. For this test, five construction industry professionals were invited to use the new function of the BIM CAVE and to address their opinions and views about this new function. This test proved that the new BIM CAVE application will have a positive impact in making timely decisions and in issue resolution which can save a lot of time and money