Integration of Immersive Walking to Analyse Urban Daylighting Ambiences

2022

IJGI

Self Cite

Wind can influence people’s behavior and their way of inhabiting an architectural or urban space. Furthermore, virtual reality (VR) enables the simulation of different physical and sensitive phenomena such as the wind. We aim to analyze the effects of different wind representations in terms of perception of its properties and sense of presence in VR. We carry out two within-subject studies aiming at evaluating different wind representation suggestions (including audiovisual and tactile stimuli) to identify their effects on wind properties’ perception and sense of presence in the VR scene. Our analysis showed significant effects of tactile restitution over the visual effects used in the study, both for understanding wind properties and for increasing the sense of presence in the VR scene. The tactile condition (T) reduced the estimation error of wind direction by 27% compared to the visual condition (V). The wind force error was reduced by 9.8% using (T) with (V). (T) increased the sense of presence by 12.2% compared to (V). Our second experiment showed an overestimation of the wind force perceived compared to the reference value of the Beaufort scale. For the maximum force value evaluated, the average result was 91% higher than the reference value, while for the lower, the average answer was 77% higher than the reference value. Previous studies have evaluated wind rendering in virtual reality, and others have studied the visualization of wind simulation results. To our knowledge, our study is the first to compare the perception of these two types of representations as well as the effects of wind on elements of the context. We also compared the wind perception to a reference-based method, the Beaufort scale.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Towards a Sensitive Urban Wind Representation in Virtual Reality

Giraldo

Servières

2022

IJGI

Self Cite

“…Beyond aesthetic aspects, VR has the potential to represent both physical and sensitive phenomena; in previous studies, Vigier et al [43] have shown how to suggest different climatic behaviors using color and contrast changes. Tahrani and Moreau [40] studied the relationship between daylight, space, and human cognition in a VR scene compared to the real world. In this study, we are interested in the representation of the wind which plays an important role in terms of health, thermal, and mechanical comfort of users of the urban space [15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perception of Multisensory Wind Representation in Virtual Reality

Giraldo

Servières

2020 IEEE International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality (ISMAR)

2020

Self Cite

The set of physical and sensitive phenomena that interacts with the urban morphology acts on the resulting perception from the users of a place. Its study and representation provides elements beyond the aesthetics aspects that can allow a better understanding of the space and future urban projects. We aim to analyze the effects of three different wind representations in terms of perception and sense of presence in virtual reality (VR). We focus on the following conditions: (R) reference scene with the audiovisual representation of the mechanical effects of the wind on the elements of the context, (V) reference scene plus the visualization of the wind flow, present (among others) in the architecture field, (T) reference scene plus tactile restitution of wind and eventually (V+T) assembling all previous conditions. For the experiment, we present to the participants (R), then (V) followed by (T), and finish with (V+T). 37 participants evaluated 12 different stop points (divided into four routes in the same simulated street), where they had to determine the perceived wind force and direction concerning the four different conditions (each one corresponding to one route). At the end of each route, participants evaluated their sense of presence in the VR scene. Our analysis showed significant effects of tactile restitution over the visual effects used in the study, both for understanding wind properties and for increasing the sense of presence in the VR scene. In terms of wind direction, (T) reduced the estimation error by 27% compared to (V). Concerning wind force, the reduction was 9.8%. As far as presence was concerned, (T) increased the sense of presence by 12.2% compared to (V).

“…These transitory effects bring into play all senses and are very seldom integrated in virtual evaluation. Except in Tahrani & Moreau's work ( [7]), changes of the environmental ambiances are not modeled. Urban ambiances are unstable and physiological and psychological adaptations are essential in urban experience whether it is pleasant or not.…”

Section: Related Work and Problematicmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus, virtual evaluation focuses on something else than the visual aesthetics of buildings or the spatial configuration of the area. Tahrani Usage, Usability, and Utility of 3D City Models & Moreau ( [7]) propose a virtual evaluation of light in an urban walkthrough. However, as in the work of Bishop et al perceptual biases are also problematic because they partly alter the assessment.…”

Section: Related Work and Problematicmentioning

confidence: 99%

A new concept of perceptual fidelity to augment virtual urban environments with microclimatic ambiances

Vigier

Usage, Usability, and Utility of 3D City Models – European COST Action TU0801

Siret

et al. 2012

Abstract. Whereas virtual reality has proven some potential for visual urban landscape assessment, we raise similar questions about multisensory evaluation. Urban perception is complex and putting aside sensory interactions biases the evaluation of future projects. We attempt more particularly to propose several solutions to integrate microclimatic ambiances in virtual environment evaluations. These propositions rely on a new concept of realism: perceptual fidelity. It consists in provoking the same perceptual effect as in reality without try to reproduce physical causes.