Research trends of virtual human applications in architecture, engineering and construction

Human tasks that require interaction with the physical world are often constrained by time, location, and safety factors, precluding their feasibility of execution. Virtual reality has provided an opportunity for humans to experience similar interaction but with a virtual representation of the real world. In such virtual environment, virtual humans have been used as computer-generated entities that replicate or emulate the human physique and provide a vehicle to interact with other real or virtual objects, humans, or systems. Virtual humans offer a platform which escapes the physical, spatial, and temporal limitations tied to human corporeal interactions. This study discusses the current trends in virtual human applications in AEC, specifically focusing on avatar and virtual agent utilization as the two major types of virtual humans. An avatar is a virtual human controlled by a live user that allows the translation of real world actions, intentions, and thoughts into the virtual world. And a virtual agent is a virtual human created and controlled by computer programs, operating to support the interactions of the real users with the virtual environment. This research follows a systematic literature assessment methodology to summarize the results of 54 research articles over the last ten years, and outlines the research trends for applying virtual humans in AEC.

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