Title: UniSA Launches Advanced VR Platform to Modernise Construction Education
The University of South Australia has introduced an innovative virtual reality platform that is set to transform construction education. The newly developed programme, known as SiteSeer, offers architecture and construction students a safe, immersive method to explore building sites and integrate theoretical knowledge with practical application in a digital setting.
Created by UniSA academics, SiteSeer delivers a realistic, first-person simulation of construction sites that bears similarities to a video game environment. This platform enables students to engage in the complete fabrication process and to develop the skills required to convert two-dimensional plans into three-dimensional structures, effectively narrowing the divide between design concepts and real-world execution.
The gamified system was developed as a solution to the logistical difficulties often encountered when organising physical site visits, ensuring that each student can access a uniform and comprehensive experience. In 2015, a previous version known as OnSite introduced the programme. The latest version, SiteSeer, now encompasses over 70 distinct stages of the construction process for a modest double-story studio. It offers a high level of simulated realism, incorporating detailed elements such as bins, vegetation, and various tools.
Since the programme’s implementation, over 1,000 first-year students have participated in the platform as part of an introductory course on Australian construction practices. University officials stress that although tertiary education programs in architecture and building face challenges in delivering practical, hands-on experience due to time limitations, foundational knowledge of the construction process remains crucial.
The SiteSeer programme not only augments learning opportunities but also addresses concerns regarding safety and accessibility inherent to physical site visits. The platform allows for thoroughly exploring every aspect of the construction environment, offering in-depth insights into each stage of the building process within a unified digital framework.
As the field of construction education adapts to the digital age, innovations like SiteSeer are establishing a new standard for comprehensive, accessible, and engaging learning experiences for aspiring architects and construction professionals.
