Building Information Modelling (BIM) software is used by firms across the Architecture/Engineering/Construction (AEC) industry to document, visualize, and develop the designs behind infrastructure. Several software packages are on the market to address the AEC industry’s needs. Last week, Paul Keskeys, Editor in Chief at Architizer, hosted a webinar on the art of architectural rendering with Roderick Bates, Head of Integrated Practice at Enscape, one of the companies offering software solutions. Listeners from around the world tuned in to hear their discussion, ‘How to Build inclusivity into the Design Process with Real-Time Visualization.’
“While it’s a fantastic tool for what it is, BIM is for trained professionals,” says Bates. “It’s not for the end user of the building.” Stakeholders – particularly client groups or the public – do not have the expertise to navigate BIM models nor interpret traditional building drawings. “If you try to communicate with BIM, you exclude stakeholders from having a full understanding of what that design is.”
Enscape’s real-time rendering software integrates into major CAD platforms. Bringing experience in architecture firms, and as a self-described “conduit for customer feedback,” Bates’ focus is ensuring that Enscape’s products align with the AEC industry’s needs. Enscape bridges the necessarily complex and perhaps abstract BIM/CAD interface and reality of a constructed project. This helps both designers and their clients to envision what a design will look like when built. Bates says, “To BIM data, we add key ingredients – motion, spatial exploration, and engagement – to allow for an inclusive, broad understanding of a building design.”
Presentation slide “Understanding virtual space” L) Front Elevation C) Side Elevation R) Visualized through motion, image by Enscape
To illustrate these three components, Bates cited a series of studies testing participants in VR environments.
Elevations or similar drawings are too far removed from reality for many to understand on a level sufficient to make rapid, informed design decisions. However, introducing motion helps– when you see something from multiple perspectives over a brief period of time, it becomes much easier to understand.
Presentation slide “Understanding virtual space” L) 2D condition C) 3D static condition R) 3D immersive condition, image by Enscape
Spatial exploration is also important to comprehension – it unlocks people’s capacity to navigate a space on their own and create mental maps. Bates cited a recent study where participants in teams of three were tasked with selecting an apartment based on digital representations. As one might expect, 3D virtual environments are more effective in supporting an understanding of space than 2D information presentations. Bates noted, however, that while 3D immersion is best for individual understanding, 3D static images are best for shared understanding and group decision-making.
To illustrate the third component, engagement, Bates referred to a VR user study that looked at the impact of visual complexity on users’ spatial orientation. When participants viewed 3D maps with varying levels of detail (building blocks, topography, etc.), the additional visual complexity made it easier to locate themselves and increased the environment’s general appeal.
Presentation slide “Levels of Detail,” image by Enscape
So, what does this mean in the context of design?
The tool provides a variety of ways in which information can be presented. Its ‘white mode’ (stripped-down model), for example, is helpful to focus attention on specific details, whereas greater detail is favourable to increase interest and engagement around a particular design.
In Enscape’s current offering, users can plant a flag and make comments, however, it has not had the kind of traction they had hoped for. Users want a more casual, more inclusive interface, like with a scratch pad, “something that is device agnostic, has an intuitive interface, and is easy to use,” says Bates.
Enscape is actively exploring a product concept called ‘Collaborative Annotation’ where users are equipped with a drawing pad and can sketch and comment directly on top of a drawing and share feedback across the entire design team. “It’s an accessible way in which to provide nuanced feedback on the design, overall increasing their level of engagement and agency.”
“Real-Time Feedback – Collaborative Annotation,” image by Enscape
Enscape’s product is constantly evolving, and the company looks to users to feed back on their needs of today and tomorrow, to ensure they make it into the product roadmap.
Audience questions involved software, augmented reality, and issues of scale, and different user types. One of the webinar’s polls asked, ‘What’s the biggest challenge when it comes to project communication with clients?’ to which the audience overwhelmingly responded: ‘Ensuring clients understand what is being proposed’, and ‘Visualizations take too long to create.’
One of the challenges designers face is that really realistic drawings early in the process tend to scare people off, as they feel the design is already finished. Echoing audience comments, Keskeys discussed the desire for RT renderings that look more like a sketch – less real, less permanent – inviting stakeholders to mark-up/cut/rearrange the way they would a scale model or a loose sketch. “It’s bridging a gap of physical model on the table which was such a go-to as part of an architect’s presentation and moving into the digital realm …creative ways to combine the two.” This too is something that Enscape is looking at.
These types of emerging technologies can bring stakeholders with no experience in ‘reading’ drawings to truly understand a design (at any phase) in such a way that they can have valuable input on the project itself.
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This story is not meant as an endorsement by UrbanToronto of this software solution over other possible solutions, and no promotional fee was transacted for its publication.
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