Highlights from our VR Training Session
In preparation for our much awaited ‘Choose Your Future’ event on Thursday 22nd February – where industry related VR will be available to students – we hosted a virtual reality training session at the University of Wales Waterfront campus, for all staff and employers attending. Partnering with CWIC, the Construction Wales Innovation Centre at UWTSD, our staff and participating employers were given in-depth demonstrations, training and walk-throughs on the latest and greatest virtual reality technology available within the construction industry.
We were delighted to welcome a distinguished lineup of construction companies and esteemed training providers from the local regions. Among the notable attendees, who will be guiding students through their VR experiences, were Cyfle Building Skills, TAD Builders, Bouyges, TRJ Ltd., Castle Scaffolding, Tilbury, Lloyd & Gravell Ltd., Morganstone, PCR, and Andrew Scott.
The session brimmed with both educational value and excitement, offering access to a diverse range of virtual reality software specifically designed for the construction industry:
Virtual Construction
The Virtual Construction VR enables users to explore and experience the construction process, they are given an opportunity to choose from 3 different briefs to construct a building virtually, considering factors like building performance, comfort, sustainability, and cost measures.
Working at Heights
Focusing on a different area of construction, the Working at Heights VR provides users with a realistic experience of working at height on and around scaffolding. It gives users the opportunity to construct and inspect scaffolding components, while covering; health and safety, Scaffold Component Identification, Scaffold Assembly and Scaffold inspection and legal requirements.
Drone Piloting
Using the latest VR technology and industry-standard controllers, in the rotor pilot simulation, users can experience basic flight principles as well as undertake industry-related tasks, including basic flight training, requirements for safe operation and inspection of a heritage building.
Paint Sprayer
Simspray, the virtual spray paint learning system, allows users to paint on an industrial level. It offers systems including, the HVLP, Airless, Airmix, and electrostatic powder coating processes, as well as the additional options for sandblasting and edge blending. Simspray covers, adjusting air pressure and paint flow, control of coating thickness, master distance, speed and angles, and how to work on flat, round and complex surfaces!
Wood Ed
Wood Ed is a fantastic introduction to the world of carpentry and construction. In a no risk environment, users can use a band saw, rip saw, surface planer and spindle moulder! This helps build foundational knowledge and skills while building self-confidence when using real machines.
Tunnelling Skills
The new tunnelling software gives users the unique opportunity to go underground – safely! In an immersive experience, Tunnelling Skills covers, Shaft & Tunnel Construction, Accessing the Shafts & Tunnels and What to do in an emergency.
Attendees were given the chance to experience the innovative ‘Futurescape’ software. Utilizing VR headsets, staff and employers immersed themselves in a fantasy gameplay narrative, enabling them to not only explore a unique world but also apply industry skills through diverse construction-focused scenarios.
Demonstrating this software, was Cyfle Training Manager/ Shared Apprenticeship Coordinator, Euros Griffiths, who was heavily involved in providing industry specific knowledge and weekly feedback to Futurescape developers, so that the software could be as realistic and beneficial to students as possible!
Speaking on the session, our training manager, Lynette Daniels said,
“The training session was a big hit! It provided valuable insights for both our staff and the employers gearing up for the Choose Your Future event. Getting hands-on experience with the VR equipment allows us to offer quality guidance to the attending students, ensuring they have an enjoyable and educational experience.”
“With this cutting-edge technology at our disposal, it is going to revolutionise training in the sector, ultimately benefiting the future generation of the construction industry!”