Hello - I'm a junior draftsman and I'm looking for a VR solution for our models

[dylanlester1]

Hello everyone,

 

First post. I've been looking for a couple of weeks now for a solution to show our clients some presentations in VR by using our Revit structural models. Now I say structural, because unlike Architectural, the focus is on core components like Hydraulics, Mechanicals and Structural elements and these buildings are high-rise. So 40+ storeys sometimes! I'm familiar with the Real-time work flow using Unreal engine - but unfortunately there's just too much data for it to handle and it really un-practical because of all the unwrapping required. It also means having to break down the building into levels and render level-by-level and also creating collisions. I've tried Dynamic lighting too for those of you who are familiar with the process.

 

So my next approach was to scrap real-time rendering and go for still shots by pre-rendering via Vray and displaying in VR - which means losing the ability to walk around but the realism goes up. Or another approach I've found is through the Iris plug-in for Revit which allows walking around and is surprisingly easy to use, there's not a lot of work as far as setting up for VR but it's not the appealing to the eye.

I've seen another program called "Yulio", but from what I can gather - it's just a cloud based storage system. Which I don't fully understand the benefit of, considering I could just send the VR image to a client.

 

So I guess my question is, is there any other familiar apps or plug-ins I could explore?

Edited September 20, 2016 by dylanlester1

[Scott Schroeder]

I think you may want to reconsider Iris VR. Yeah it's not great quality, but it gets you there and can quickly deal with iterations and getting into the VR ap.

 

Here is a good podcast about Iris VR, https://labs.chaosgroup.com/index.php/cg-garage-podcast/cg-garage-podcast-61-shane-scranton-irisvr/

 

You can choose 1 from the VR pipeline. Quality or Speed. You can't get both.

[nikanikitina]

I would HIGHLY suggest Fuzor for Revit. https://apps.autodesk.com/RVT/en/Detail/Index?id=342979380543012337&appLang=en&os=Win32_64

 

It really is the ultimate for real-time BIM viz. The arch firm I am with uses it often for QC between all the in-house A/E/I disciplines as well as communicating designs with the client. You can even run the model walk through on mobile. It is more plug and launch that any other programs I can think of and you are able to toggle assets on and off within the model when Fuzor is running. For instance, if I only wanted to see mechanical and electrical, I make sure their visibility is on and if I wanted to only see mechanical and architectural, that's easy as well. You can check for collisions in real time, for measurements and even do walkthroughs as various characters. As far as practicality goes, outside of eye candy, this will offer you everything you are asking for.

Edited September 19, 2016 by nikanikitina

[beestee]

A quick glance at the Fuzor autodesk app page in the link above the first thing I noticed was the price. Seems pretty expensive based on the description on that page. But I have more than a passing interest in VR so I went to their website...wow!

 

Seems much easier to justify that price after seeing all of the technical capabilities bundled in. I will probably be looking into this further for use where I work, thanks for pointing it out Nika.

[dylanlester1]

I would HIGHLY suggest Fuzor for Revit. https://apps.autodesk.com/RVT/en/Detail/Index?id=342979380543012337&appLang=en&os=Win32_64

 

It really is the ultimate for real-time BIM viz. The arch firm I am with uses it often for QC between all the in-house A/E/I disciplines as well as communicating designs with the client. You can even run the model walk through on mobile. It is more plug and launch that any other programs I can think of and you are able to toggle assets on and off within the model when Fuzor is running. For instance, if I only wanted to see mechanical and electrical, I make sure their visibility is on and if I wanted to only see mechanical and architectural, that's easy as well. You can check for collisions in real time, for measurements and even do walkthroughs as various characters. As far as practicality goes, outside of eye candy, this will offer you everything you are asking for.

 

 

Wow! Thanks Nika. That looks like a powerful plug-in. And a very expensive one at that! I'm going to have to sit down with our BIM leader and see if it's worth the cost because it has a lot of features that I'm not sure we'll need. If it had a basic option for VR without all the added features - I think we could justify it but it's an option nevertheless.

[klonk]

As impressive as Fuzor is at some things, Enscape 3D really blows it out of the water. First solution I've seen that is serious competition for traditional rendering.

 

http://enscape3d.com/videotutorials/

[Francisco Penaloza]

As impressive as Fuzor and Enscape 3D looks,

Stingray is the best solution EVER !!!! ha ha, well not really, actually we are living in a time where you have so many good options that it is ridiculous.

Each software has it heights and lows, and that just make our life easier.. pretty cool.

IRIS VR work like champ for us and some clients love it, when we get picky people then we spend time in other solutions.

[dylanlester1]

As impressive as Fuzor is at some things, Enscape 3D really blows it out of the water. First solution I've seen that is serious competition for traditional rendering.

 

http://enscape3d.com/videotutorials/

 

Hi and thanks Klonk! I actually remember seeing this years ago when I first learnt Revit. This is actually what I'm looking for. It seems very basic and very powerful and I don't need to load the mesh into any other program... this could be a winner!

[dylanlester1]

As impressive as Fuzor and Enscape 3D looks,

Stingray is the best solution EVER !!!! ha ha, well not really, actually we are living in a time where you have so many good options that it is ridiculous.

Each software has it heights and lows, and that just make our life easier.. pretty cool.

IRIS VR work like champ for us and some clients love it, when we get picky people then we spend time in other solutions.

 

Hi Francisco! I've checked out Stingray. This is nearly identical to Unreal though as far as I can tell. It's still a real-time engine, is it not? Meaning I'd have to unwrap for lightmaps etc; I'm steering away from real-time for now. Our meshes have soooooooo many components. 40 storeys worth. And our leader wants to show all the Hydraulic, Electrics and mechanicals aswell as the Structural components... So you can see the amount of time this would consume...

[dylanlester1]

As impressive as Fuzor is at some things, Enscape 3D really blows it out of the water. First solution I've seen that is serious competition for traditional rendering.

 

http://enscape3d.com/videotutorials/

 

I remember seeing this years ago. I think this is our winner! Simple to use and very powerful. And I don't even need to leave Revit!

[innerdream]

Hi Francisco! I've checked out Stingray. This is nearly identical to Unreal though as far as I can tell. It's still a real-time engine, is it not? Meaning I'd have to unwrap for lightmaps etc; I'm steering away from real-time for now. Our meshes have soooooooo many components. 40 storeys worth. And our leader wants to show all the Hydraulic, Electrics and mechanicals aswell as the Structural components... So you can see the amount of time this would consume...

 

Yeah, forget Unreal for that, you'll be dead before the project is done.

[Francisco Penaloza]

Hi Francisco! I've checked out Stingray. This is nearly identical to Unreal though as far as I can tell. It's still a real-time engine, is it not? Meaning I'd have to unwrap for lightmaps etc; I'm steering away from real-time for now. Our meshes have soooooooo many components. 40 storeys worth. And our leader wants to show all the Hydraulic, Electrics and mechanicals aswell as the Structural components... So you can see the amount of time this would consume...

 

Well yes, it is similar to Unreal, or Unity, but the workflow seems more straightforward for simple functions, for more complex stuff you'll have to learn some of their scripting language. I am not a programmer, but I've learned some stuff and seems fun to use.

I am mostly using it for Steam VR presentations.

 

Having said this, since it is an Autodesk product, there is a more tight integration between Stingray, 3D Max and REVIT.

Yes you still need to unwrap for light maps, but the software can do it for you too, and it work actually pretty good.

You also have the option to not bake lighting, it will require more juice of your GPU to display, but it is possible.

Sometimes if the geometries are too complex or too large it get a little funky, but over all auto baking it works fine.

I also work in large projects, and so far I am kind of impressed with the performance of the software.

But of course your millage will vary

Good thing we have more choices now.

[nikanikitina]

I remember seeing this years ago. I think this is our winner! Simple to use and very powerful. And I don't even need to leave Revit!

 

So I went ahead and downloaded it. For intermediary design process viz, WOW. I've never seen old school architects so excited about using a new product. Thanks so much for the link! Looks like they now have a new customer in us.