VR for Decision Support in Urban Planning

Abstract

Since the beginning of civilization, drawings or models have been produced to illustrate ideas of buildings and development plans. From small cabins to large urban areas architects and planners have used different tools to present and sell their ideas as convincingly as possible. One of the most widespread methods nowadays is the use of artistic posters and small precisely scaled wooden models with nice miniature trees and light arrangements. As beautiful as they may look, they are still downscaled and modelled representations of an idea that has to be interpreted in each spectator’s head. As technology develops and highly specialized visual presentation techniques become affordable, more and more politicians and professionals want to use these techniques for decision support.