What is Lean Construction, and why is it important?
The term “Lean Construction” (LC) was coined almost 24 years ago, but now − with the development of powerful mobile devices which support Virtual Reality − a new chapter has been opened.
Formally, Koskela et al. define Lean Construction as “a way to design production systems to minimize waste of materials, time, and effort in order to generate the maximum possible amount of value”. The term itself was coined by the International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC) during their first meeting in 1993, and their approach to improving construction processes has since then been implemented by big players like Google, Walt Disney Imagineering, Skanska and others.
Although the methodology of Lean Construction focuses on the entire construction industry − including, for example, design, maintenance and recycling − this article is about illustrating how Virtual Reality (VR) will impact the way information is shared and how this will improve Lean Construction as we know it now.
A large number of studies has shown that people perceive reality differently. A study by psychologist Richard Gregory shows that people are trying to make sense of their environment based on their expectations, their beliefs, and their prior knowledge, as well as their past experiences. Consequently, two people looking at the same project may assess and evaluate it completely differently from each other. The medium which is used to experience the environment − like a TV or a photograph − further influences how we look at a project.
Due to the complex nature of construction projects and the high amount of people involved, it is important to provide the necessary information in a concise way. Bringing everyone’s expectations and knowledge in line with each other, even before the first brick has been laid, is the aim of tools like Building Information Modeling (BIM) and the Last Planner® system. A case study from 2011 has shown that avoiding potential collisions or clashes between structural and mechanical systems within a building by comparing several resulted in a cost avoidance of $ 5,000,000 (Ghanem, A. A., Wilson, N., 2011). And yet, Shim et al. (2016) have shown that many RFIs are created well into the actual construction process — with the peak being almost 200 RFIs created 240 days after construction started. Clearly, the information is there — but it is hard to find the right information at the right time due to the massive amount of sources.
The Possibilities through Virtual Reality
Enabling everyone involved to share a unified and valuable perspective of a construction project is at the heart of HoloBuilder. Through the use of 360° images, HoloBuilder brings the construction site to the office.
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Source: Medium