Page 14 - issue 23

14 In The News

Virtual

Reality is

convenient for

Engineering

Projects

n a virtual reality environment, a profession told the gathering that. “We done quicker and cheaper using the
user experiences immersion, or the believe Botswana engineers can also technology. Instead of the traditional
Ifeeling of being inside and a part of benefit from some of the innovations way of sending a couple of engineers to
that world. He is also able to interact available within the Botswana site to prepare as-build documentation
with his environment in meaningful construction sector. Virtual tours are an using normal cameras, tape measures
ways. The combination of a sense of ability to walk on a project as if you are and paperwork, and then come back
immersion and interactivity is called there. e. g a hospital project in Shakawe to office to reconstruct everything,
telepresence. Computer scientist can be scanned and an engineer in
Jonathan Steuer defined it as “the Gaborone can walk around the project
extent to which one feels present in the as if they are there. You can take photos,
mediated environment, rather than in measurements. see the project as it is
the immediate physical environment.” in real life. Virtual Tours also offers
In other words, an effective VR decision makers to make informed
experience causes you to become decisions especially when it comes to
unaware of your real surroundings approving payments and variations. We believe
and focus on your existence inside the Instead of driving all the way to access Botswana engineers
virtual environment. progress in Shakawe, the Director at can also benefit from
Government can virtually walk through
At the just ended Engineers Forum the project and see everything exactly some of the
held at Fairgrounds over 500 engineers as it is. Virtual tours offers quick and technologies that
got to feel the VR experience. This cheap way to evaluate progress. This is available locally
was courtesy of an innovation ICT can be done for roads, bridges, buildings in the construction
company - Axis 3D Virtual Tours which and all construction projects.” sector.
is dominating the VR space in Botswana
.The Managing Director Mr Tumi He went on to explain that as-build
Mogwe who is a quantity surveyor by documentation of a project can be

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