Supporting constructability analysis meetings with Immersive Virtual Reality-based collaborative BIM 4D simulation

Immersive Virtual Reality-based collaborative BIM 4D simulation can offer a unique, supportive environment for conducting constructability analysis meetings in the construction industry. While many research works have addressed various aspects of VR-based 4D simulation, there is still no comprehensive and neutral framework to help both practitioners and experts to identify the main challenges to address. This paper proposes four main complementary steps with which to define the VR environment, to develop the 4D model, to prepare and transfer the model in the VR system and to conduct constructability analysis meeting. In the current state of the framework, the 4D-based constructability analysis is more about the collaborative use of 4D rather than the collaborative generation and interaction with the 4D model. Each step of the framework is supported by appropriate methods and tools. A collaborative personas-based case study helps to evaluate the framework and to show how it can be used. Compared to recent related works, the proposed framework is more structured and comprehensive, providing a structured approach using concepts from multiple scientific areas.