An Architecture for Reviewing Conducted Collaborative Operational Strategies and Exploring Alternatives in Virtual Environments: The Case of Asphalt Compaction

This paper proposes a generalized architecture that suggests an approach to extend utilization of Virtual Environments (VEs) in Civil Engineering. The architecture allows to combine [a] approaches to visualize previously conducted construction activities that involved multiple construction machines and [b] methods that support demonstrating and evaluating alternative operational strategies. The proposed architecture was tested by developing and applying a specialized VE oriented to review asphalt compaction operational strategies and explore alternatives. To allow assessing the continuity and consistency of both real and demonstrated activities we outlined a set of special indicators characterize compaction processes. The VEs developed according to the proposed architecture ultimately aim to support communication and reflection amidst construction professionals who possess different sets of knowledge and experience. The VE-induced interactions are expected to stimulate knowledge integration, collaborative sense making, learning, and process improvement.