Recipient Organization
UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY
(N/A)
LOGAN,UT 84322
Performing Department
Landscape, Architecture, & Environmental Planning
Non Technical Summary
Virtual reality (VR) is an emerging technology that is seeing significant increases in usage amongst design professionals. VR has the potential to contribute to the design and planning of public spaces at multiple points along the design process, with designers, city officials, and the public. However, despite increasing interest and use, there has not been an accompanying increase in research to evaluate the value and impact of VR on design and public engagement processes. Better understanding the impacts of VR could lead to increased adoption and appropriate use by designers and city officials, which in turn may result in healthier and more aesthetic communities.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
100%
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
Objectives:1. Assess the ability of VR to facilitate improved planting design processes by helping designers to:2. Assess the impact that VR has on the ability of designers to design at a human scale by:3. Assess the impact of VR on public involvement in the community planning process by enabling city officials and members of the public to:Fall 2020 - Fall 2021VR Impact on planting designMLA thesis, 2 articles, 1 presentationSpring 2021 - Fall 2023VR impact on design decisionsMLA thesis, 2 articles, 2 presentationsSpring 2024 - Summer 2025VR impact on public processMLA thesis, 2 articles, 1 presentation, material for city staff
Project Methods
Planting Design Component: To assess the impact of VR on planting design, students in the LAEP program will complete a series of planting designs using traditional pen and paper, 3d modeling, and VR methods. Over the course of several months, students will complete three planting designs using each of these design methods (nine designs in total). Students will alternate between design methods, and 1/3 of students will begin with pen and paper, 1/3 using 3d modeling, an 1/3 using VR. Students will be given the same planting palette to work with for each design, which will consist of at least a hundred different plant species that represent a diversity of perennials, shrubs, and trees, as well as water-wise and non-water-wise planting material. Upon completion of all nine planting plans, the designs will be analyzed for a variety of factors to assess if the improved visual and spatial feedback that VR can provide impacted planting design decisions. Designs will be evaluated on a variety of metrics, such as variety and repetition in color, texture, form. In addition, external graders will be used to evaluate the compositional quality of the planting designs. The designs will also be evaluated regarding the incorporation of water-wise planting material and if VR impacted a designer's propensity to utilize water-wise plants. A survey will also be administered to students to gather perceptual information from the standpoint of the designer and to gather feedback on their experience designing with VR.Design Decisions Component: To assess the impact of VR on the design decisions made by designers, students in the LAEP program will complete a series of design vignettes both in and outside of VR to determine if substantially different design outcomes are reached through the use of VR. Students will complete the vignettes using pen and paper for half of the vignettes, and VR for the other half. The vignettes will include design problems that include sites at a variety of scales and settings in order to determine if these factors have additional impacts on the methods used. The sites used for the design vignettes used with pen and paper versus VR will be similar, but not the same, in order to minimize historic threats to validity. All students will have access to the same site information, regardless of design method. Analysis of the designs will be conducted based upon landscape visual assessment protocols to measure differences between the sites created using the different design methods. This research will specifically analyze the designs to assess the distribution of elements, spatial organization and complexity of elements, open land, and views. External graders will be used to evaluate the designs on aesthetic qualities such as scale, form, contrast, etc. Additionally, a survey will be distributed to the students to assess their perceptions of designing in VR. Because of the complexity involved in the design projects (different methods, site locations, site scale), a focus-group will also be held with students to discuss their experience.Public Engagement Component: To assess the impact of VR on the public engagement process, the researcher will collaborate with a local municipality to provide opportunities for the public to utilize VR during the public comments phase of projects put before the planning commission. This will entail the development of necessary models and programs to make proposed projects available to view on VR. In collaboration with city officials, VR headsets will then be made available for the public to use at the pertinent public meetings. Additionally, a link to an online VR experience will be included on material available for public review so that community members can access the information from home or elsewhere. After individuals utilize VR to view the proposed project, they will be asked to complete a survey designed to measure their understanding of the project and the visual and spatial impacts it may have on their community. Separate surveys will be distributed at public meetings where VR was not used to gather baseline data for how well the public understands the impacts of proposed development. City staff will also be interviewed regarding differences that they identified in talking with individuals who did or did not use VR to determine if they identified additional benefits to the use of VR in the process. Additionally, city staff will be asked to provide an evaluation of how effective they believe VR is in the public engagement process.