Unreal Projects

Abstract

The technology of immersive visualization has progressed to where it can be employed to deliver experiences of environments that are otherwise difficult or impossible to encounter today. The chapter describes the work of an interdisciplinary team that used digital models of places remote in distance and/or time to enable students in core curriculum classes in the history and theory of architecture to enrich their understanding of said sites. Building information modeling (BIM) software enables the quick modeling of 3D architectural and urban spaces, combined with the ability to embed non-graphic metadata to enhance the visualization. The chapter describes a BIM CAVE developed at Texas A&M University and head-mounted 3D displays that enable small groups of students to navigate through the simulated world of visualizations. Titled Unreal Projects, the effort made by the group offers the potential for greater understanding of the spatial and visual qualities of environments than can be experienced through traditional analog and 2D media. These can become high-impact tools for teaching and learning about historical, contemporary, and future environments.