It’s been a while since video game designers caught on to the value of virtual reality and augmented reality for Esports. For example, Linkcity signed for the development of the digital scene for its Parcs en Seine project at the end of 2020. An organised facility dedicated to extended realities, the objective was to create a unique space for the creation and distribution of digital innovation - and a kingdom of gamers. In recent years, however, the application of these technologies has flourished in certain industries, ranging from medicine to industrial maintenance. The construction sector is one of them. Virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality, particularly for BIM, are opening new doors for us.


Extended realities is the term used to cover the three technologies.
Virtual reality for building - and approving - before building!
The automotive and aeronautics sectors, for example, have already integrated these new technologies. So why not architecture? BIM already makes it possible to “build before building”, using 3D collaborative modelling. But virtual reality goes even further. Not only can you consult the model, but you can enter the digital simulation with a hard hat and move about in an immersive environment.
For example, using virtual reality, healthcare staff at Poissy-Saint-Germain hospital were able to immerse themselves in their future premises, interact with the models, and approve the technical layout. They were able to familiarise themselves with the volume and functionality of the spaces and explore the ergonomics of their positions at work. This was possible using the BIM model with FUZOR. This saved valuable time downstream: changes requested by users were applied before work began.

The Workplace team at Elan, our responsible property consulting branch, also offers this solution to clients during redevelopment missions. Virtual immersion allows users to imagine themselves in their future space, approve certain details, and even make modifications and additions. That’s how they worked on the project to create a co-working space for the Grand-Est region.
Bouygues Bâtiment Ile-de-France Habitat Résidentiel has also successfully used this method for other use cases. “We worked with the VirtualProd team of Bouygues Bâtiment International, to produce a virtual reality model with a selection of products and architectural features that we submitted to the client directly,” explains Emilie Constant, Innovation Officer in the Engineering Department at Habitat Résidentiel. "We worked the same way for one of our largest housing projects, offering a virtual reality model for approval. We also worked with Benjamin Nguyen, XR (extended reality) project manager in the Bouygues Construction’s R&D team, to organise more technical visits of housing projects using ENSCAPE virtual reality software.”
Teamwork with cross-functional expertise has great potential. By pooling the expertise of the Group’s different entities, we provide a wider panel of services to our clients.
Bouygues Bâtiment Ile-de-France Habitat Résidentiel has also successfully used this method for other use cases. “We worked with the VirtualProd team of Bouygues Bâtiment International, to produce a virtual reality model with a selection of products and architectural features that we submitted to the client directly,” explains Emilie Constant, Innovation Officer in the Engineering Department at Habitat Résidentiel. "We worked the same way for one of our largest housing projects, offering a virtual reality model for approval. We also worked with Benjamin Nguyen, XR (extended reality) project manager in the Bouygues Construction’s R&D team, to organise more technical visits of housing projects using ENSCAPE virtual reality software.”
Teamwork with cross-functional expertise has great potential. By pooling the expertise of the Group’s different entities, we provide a wider panel of services to our clients.


Customer use case on virtual witness
There are many advantages. Clients can visualise a more realistic and precise version of the final result of their project than traditional 3D models prepared on a computer. It’s easier to clearly identify our clients’ needs and quicker to reach project approval, which in turn means better client relations and higher client satisfaction.
“Apart from client approval, virtual reality also improves services to our clients’ clients - the end users!” explains Emilie Constant. “For example, end users can immerse themselves in their future home, which encourages them to make quicker decisions about architectural details and product choices. More importantly, they are reassured by the visualisation of the future building, which helps them make decisions.”
“Apart from client approval, virtual reality also improves services to our clients’ clients - the end users!” explains Emilie Constant. “For example, end users can immerse themselves in their future home, which encourages them to make quicker decisions about architectural details and product choices. More importantly, they are reassured by the visualisation of the future building, which helps them make decisions.”

Virtual tours for remote visits
These new technologies can also be used for existing buildings. Bouygues Construction also provides virtual visits to the Group’s sales teams. Not exactly virtual reality, these visits provide a sufficiently realistic representation of a project where users can virtually explore. These extremely detailed visits with high precision are possible with tools such as Matterport, which provides a 3D scan of a space. These technologies are particularly advantageous because they are inexpensive and quick to put in place for remote visits of existing buildings or sites. The solution has already demonstrated its advantages in several use cases. Examples include remote customer visits which, in some cases, led directly to approval. The pilot of 60 apartments for Bouygues Bâtiment Ile-de-France Habitat Social, office (BAGAD) and housing (UNIK) modules for the army, and technical installations for Bouygues Energies & Services are just several examples.
Want to know more about Matterport? Contact Benjamin Nguyen to put Matterport in place for your events or operations.

This type of solution does not provide total immersion in a digital mock-up, but it can be very effective depending on the circumstances. For example, during the Covid-19 pandemic, VSL International was looking for ways to carry on with site visits and maintain contact with their teams. This solution provided them with virtual site visits in real time via Teams! !
It has also been used for communicating about events such as the partnership with skipper Stéphane Lediraison and his Time for Oceans yacht, virtual visits of the group’s archives for Heritage Day, and the Inno’Cup 2018 competition.
It has also been used for communicating about events such as the partnership with skipper Stéphane Lediraison and his Time for Oceans yacht, virtual visits of the group’s archives for Heritage Day, and the Inno’Cup 2018 competition.
