Extended Reality from BIM Models Applied to Port Facilities

This project verses on the development of an innovative work methodology in BIM (Building Information Modelling) applied to port facilities. This methodology consists on developing a software application for mobile devices that allows the user to access the geometry and information of the BIM model, in an easy and intuitive way. It is based on trending technologies such as Extended Reality (XR), Virtual Reality (VR), Mixed Reality (MR) and Augmented Reality (AR). It uses tablets and other mobile Android devices for exploring and interacting with several BIM models of civil infrastructures. The present article describes this mobile application software applied for a new loading dock, promoted by a Spanish administration entity. The software application allows the user to check the geometry and data from the BIM models, by means of two different options: from a remote location or from the actual site. The VR option in the application allows the user to visualize the environment from a remote locating, being able to look through the model of the civil infrastructure. This alternative is very useful when the access to the real infrastructures is limited, due to security hazards or geographical distance. Likewise, by using the second option, based on AR, the user can visualize the virtual scene overlapping the real environment in the construction site. In conclusion, both visualizing options allow choosing the visible elements in the scene, as well as checking the data associated with the 3D models (e.g., property sets). These options let the user interact with the models, incorporating the MR technologies in the application.