Bringing construction to life

Bringing construction to life

RMIT students are getting a sneak peek inside one of Melbourne’s most transformative construction projects, thanks to the magic of virtual reality.

As part of a new collaboration between RMIT, Melbourne Metro Interface Team (MMIT) and Cross Yarra Partnership Design and Construction (CYP D&C), students from the School of Property, Construction and Project Management had the chance to learn hands-on about the construction of Melbourne’s Metro Tunnel project.

As students were not permitted to physically enter the tunnel construction sites, they were given access to a virtual reality (VR) tour, giving them an idea of what it would be like on the real-life job site.

The tour included the new State Library station, located at the northern-end of Swanston Street, which will improve access to some of Melbourne’s most popular destinations, including RMIT.

RMIT New Developments and MMIT Project Director Murray Walls said the Metro Tunnel Project was a significant transport project for Melbourne and Victoria.

“Having the project delivered right on our doorstep means it gives our students visibility into the project construction,” Walls said.

Already used by CYP D&C as part of their induction process to train new workers, the VR tour uses 3-D generated images to immerse the user into a simulated construction environment.

It is aimed to help reinforce procedures and strict safety requirements before entering the physical underground space.

CYP D&C Workforce Development and Training Manager Jacinta Lanigan said the project is of personal interest to the students and exposes them to the growing industry.

“It’s important for them to have these experiences because they can grow and develop with the technology, and their careers can do the same,” Lanigan said.

Based on the success of the virtual tour, there are plans for the program to continue to be available for students.

VR technology is increasingly being used by companies for training purposes. It helps inexperienced workers understand the risks of their role, by placing them in a high-risk virtual environment - training employees in a safer, more cost-efficient way.

The School of Accounting is developing its own VR training solution.

Bogart Technologies, slated for release in late 2019, is a game designed to train accountants to help them adapt to the revised International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants.  

 

Story: Jasmijn van Houten

16 September 2019

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16 September 2019

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  • Science and technology
  • Student experience
  • Property & Construction
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