As the Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Operator (AECO) industries continue to react to changing client expectations, consumer demand, and market conditions, the way in which they work has adapted. 

One of the technologies that is becoming increasingly important, or in the words of a senior member of AtkinsRéalis, a necessity, is immersive technology – in particular, shared immersive technology. 

As we’ve seen shared immersive grow, its use cases for AECO industries have increased exponentially. And in turn, the capability of the technology has grown with it, both on the software and hardware side. 

Now, we’re seeing shared immersive technology provide value across all AECO industries, from shaping one of the largest infrastructure projects in history to walking clients through prospective design reviews, showing there are benefits of all kinds waiting to be unearthed by those in AECO. 

So, if you’re looking to see how AECO is deploying shared immersive and the technology that's making it possible, read on to find out more. 

Shaping one of the largest infrastructure projects in human history

The Mukaab skyscraper, currently under construction in Saudi Arabia in the New Murabba district, is one of the largest pieces of infrastructure development in all of human history. 

To help deliver this vast infrastructure project, the New Murabba Development Company (NMDC), owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), has specially appointed AtkinsRéalis to aid in the design of the New Murabba district and the vast Mukaab skyscraper.  

And, in turn, AtkinsRéalis has continued its extensive use of Igloo Vision shared immersive spaces to give its design and delivery teams the tools necessary to complete a project of this scale, allowing them to: 

• Host collaborative client design review sessions with instant feedback, quicker decision making, and a more effective, face-to-face consultation process  

• Project a myriad of data points and project information across all walls for a more thorough analysis of data sets and sources 

• Elevate existing external tools that are critical to the project, such as Autodesk, Revizto, and Rhino 3D.

High footfall training that won’t shut your site down

At a critical juncture in the building of a complex drilling platform, AtkinsRéalis needed to onboard a large number of employees safely and effectively to work at height. 

With an Igloo Core Engine-powered cylinder and a digital twin of the platform created in Unity, AtkinsRéalis managed to onboard over 900 employees in just two weeks, completely avoiding site closures to deliver on time and on budget.

Closing massive real estate deals without laying a brick

Hudson Pacific Properties is a visionary real estate company that builds, transforms and operates Class A properties for Fortune 500 companies, disruptive start-ups and premier growth companies across the West Coast. Leaders in the real estate market it is quick to adopt new technology - like online virtual tours, 360° VR, and more. 

As it showcased its latest Hollywood development, EPIC, it turned to shared immersive experiences to take key stakeholders through its luxurious designs. So enamoured by the experience of being placed in the design of the building, Netflix agreed to lease the entire property ahead of completion. 

The EPIC development in Hollywood, picture courtesy of Hudson Pacific Properties

Next generation AECO education

The School of Engineering at the University of the West of England uses an Igloo CAVE at the centre of UWE’s Digital Engineering Gallery, a state-of-the-art facility which uses the latest simulation and digital engineering technologies for teaching, outreach and research, as part of a government program to improve digital engineering skills in the Southwest of England.

The CAVE is used in sophisticated ways to visualise different types of data across a range of subjects:

• Civil Engineering students use the CAVE to review digital models built in Autodesk

• Building Surveying students are using the CAVE to visualise LiDAR data, carry out digital surveys and adjust buildings in real time

• The CAVE is also used as a tool in History and Architectural History to view LiDAR scans of historical sites imported into Revit, Unity or Unreal Engine and reconstructed to represent their original form

• Working with the Heritage in the Crossfire research project, the CAVE has been used to visualise photogrammetry models of historic buildings impacted by conflict in Libya

• The CAVE is also used for outreach and the Digital Engineering Gallery team has been running continual professional development (CPD) courses for local organisations, including the Ministry of Defence, NHS, GKN Aerospace, Airbus and Rolls Royce, as well as local schools and colleges.

Huge financial savings with innovative training methods

Lanes Group PLC is the UK's largest drainage and utilities specialist. A key provider of wastewater services for Thames Water, Southern Water, Yorkshire Water, and Scottish Water, safety and efficiency are of paramount importance to its function. 

To aid in better training and onboarding its staff without shutting down sections of the wastewater network, Lanes Group turned to Igloo for a 7-metre cylinder to immerse employees in digital twins and training scenarios. 

As a result of using Igloo alongside its other Health and Safety initiatives, Lanes reported: 

• 57% reduction in employee attrition 

• 9% reduction in employee feelings of unhappiness 

• $1.25m reduction in recruitment and training costs 

Collaborative design reviews and deepened client engagement

Located in the heart of SHoP Architects' New York office is a 360° Igloo immersive cylinder. Named “Tranquillity” after an observation deck on the International Space Station, it acts as a multi-purpose space for client engagement, design reviews, and employee training. 

Transforming SHoP’s approach to both design review and client engagement, SHoP can present more dynamic and layered visuals than traditional slide decks, allowing for a holistic view of their projects in progress. It also enables stakeholders to assess the spatial scale, make design choices confidently, and engage in collaborative decision-making, leading to accelerated decision-making. 

A state-of-the-art visualisation tool for improved project planning and prototyping

Headquartered in Seattle, NBBJ is an ideas-driven global architectural and design firm that helps clients design a range of project types, including corporate, education, commercial and cultural, and experience design practices. 

At its New York office, NBBJ has invested in immersive visualisation with the installation of a 270° six-meter cylinder Igloo immersive space, leading to benefits such as: 

• Enhanced client engagement by placing them inside the design 

• Improved internal workflows with a digital bulletin board and interactive hub 

• Efficient and interactive project planning and prototyping 

• Flexible presentation capabilities, both in-person and remote 

• Event space and showcasing 

What powers it all? 

Igloo Core Engine

Powering every Igloo space is Igloo Core Engine, our software platform for immersive spaces. Built from the ground up with accessibility in mind, Igloo Core Engine has been specially designed to work with all the existing tools you use in your daily AECO workflows. 

Equipped with an industry-leading number of external software integrations, Igloo Core Engine works natively with specialist programs like VCOG, Autodesk, Rhino 3D, Revizto, Unity, Unreal Engine, Matterport, and more. 

It also provides value in other areas of your business function, with compatibility for typical office tools such as Miro, Zoom and Teams, Microsoft 365, and Google Drive, to ensure that you get maximum cross-functionality, organisational buy-in, and return on your investment. 

And what’s more, you can mix and match content types across your canvas to create impactful and productive mixed-media sessions using a variety of tools. 

All Igloo immersive spaces feature out-of-the-box support for intuitive control via a range of devices. These include game controllers, which are natural devices suited to navigating 3D environments, mobile devices for quick functionality on the fly, and head-tracking for the most realistic interpretation of viewing a space. 

If you require a space that is more specialised or comes with additional functionality, we have plenty of supplementary equipment available to suit your use case. 

Perhaps you want the highest fidelity touch screen possible through Igloo Laser Touch, to take advantage of specialist head-tracking technology with depth cameras, or bring in sensory machines for heightened immersion. We can spec the right tools for the job. 

The Igloo opinion

As more and more AECO companies adopt immersive technologies of all types, the need to take advantage of its benefits becomes increasingly paramount.  

From stakeholder engagement to materials tests, remote site operation, and safe onboarding and training right down to simple elevation of existing everyday tools, Igloo immersive technology has been built from the ground-up to deliver real value for organisations across AECO. 

But to truly achieve these goals, you need a technology that works with the tools and programs you use already, fitting into your corporate envelope and providing maximal return right from the off. 

So, if you’re in the industry and want to join the growing number of companies who are transforming training processes, enhancing engagement and client reviews, improving health and safety, and saving money along the way, get in touch today. 

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