On October 25, 2023, The ETSI School of Civil Engineering hosted the first pilot workshop developed under the VIR2ALL project. This workshop actively engaged students from the Bachelor in Civil Engineering in the develop of the early project’s phases, primarily focusing on identifying design criteria for modeling 3D immersive scenarios depicting strategic Land Use, Transportation, and Infrastructure (LUTI) situations. The workshop served as a condensed testbed for the research team’s methodology, which will be implemented in two phases. The first phase, as demonstrated in this workshop, involved collaboration with professionals from the urban planning sector, while the second phase will incorporate expertise from the 3D environment development field. This comprehensive approach spanned from scenario comprehension to 3D scene design and the mechanics of the VR experience.
Participants grasped the relevance of effective idea communication in urban planning and contributed to the development of immersive scenes. They virtually shaped the narrative proposed changes in infrastructure, transportation, and land use, aligning them with narrative-driven scenarios. Additionally, during the workshop, participants engaged in exploring the mechanics of a narrative conveyed in a virtual reality format. This exercise provided a hands-on experience of how storytelling in a VR context could enhance the comprehension and communication of intricate urban planning concepts and scenarios. The immersive nature of VR narratives presented a unique perspective on visualizing and conveying future urban developments.
