Making VR simulations

[bernardo_faria]

Hi all. I've been working with AutoCAD and 3dStudio Max for years now, making static visualizations for architecture and landscape projects. Now my company wants to offer its clients the possibility of visualizing projects using VR (with head gear). I would like to know the best workflow within Autodesk products to achieve this and the best head gear in the market to work with, knowing that right now most of the simulations I do are of public space and landscape projects, so lots of 3d plants. Thank you.

[darawork]

Hi,

I would look into 3DVista, and Occulus (Meta Pro)

https://www.3dvista.com/en/
https://www.meta.com/ie/quest/quest-pro/

There are also a ton of videos on YouTube, for your chosen rendering engine and VR.
3DVista has a great YouTube Channel too.

Regards,

[bernardo_faria]

Thanks for your answer. The Autodesk site is pointing me to Unreal or Unity, so nothing within Autodesk products, is that right?

[darawork]

Hi,

If you have Autodesk Construction Cloud, or a Revit Subscription, you can try Twinmotion. That can create VR.
Twinmotion is basically a stripped down, easier to use version of Unreal.
You can also try an unlimited Trial, but exports are limited to 2K.
Or if you're a Student, educational licences are free.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvCjWUgqCXk

There is also Enscape for Revit, although I've no experience of using that.
3DSMax also used to have Max Interactive but that has been withdrawn since earlier this year.

You can render out 360 Panos with 3DSMax (Depending on the render engine) too.

Regards,

[CAMedeck]

There are various levels of VR, so you need to decide how advanced you want to go.  Several years ago my team was producing 360 degree renderings to be viewed with the Gear VR (Samsung phone in a headset).  I don't recall the software we used, but we could program hotspots that would allow the viewer to stare at a spot and the next image would load, creating a very simple 'walkthrough' of a space.  No interaction other than that, no animation.

We also did some full-blown interactive simulations using Unreal Engine and the HTC Vive headset with controllers.  This setup allowed you to walk around, sit down, jump, etc. as well as use controllers to pull up a HUD, access tools, navigate and such, all in a real time environment.  

As I said, this was several years ago and the technology has advanced since then.  My team now has been doing some testing with the Meta Quest 2 and Enscape out of Revit.  This has been working with some success, allowing a user to navigate a real time model export.  

Decide how serious you want to get with VR, and how much you're willing to spend.  The more advanced things get, the higher the price tag.