Snapshot
In the world of Architecture and Construction, capturing site progress has largely relied on 2D photography or in-person site visits. While these practices are good, they come with limitations—2D photos can't capture the full scope of a site, and physical visits are time-consuming and costly. However, with the technology of lightweight 360 cameras professionals are changing their ways of communicating the site progress to stakeholders.
Unlike traditional methods, 360 cameras offer a panoramic view that captures every angle and detail of a site in a single click. This not only saves time but also provides a more comprehensive understanding of the project's status. While there are web-based solutions that automate the 360 capture process, they often don’t support immersive viewing experiences on popular VR headsets like the Meta Quest.
In this blog, we'll explore how using 360 cameras can transform the way we document and share site progress, offering an immersive, efficient, and cost-effective solution that makes it possible to explore a site remotely as if you were physically present there.
Which 360 cameras to use?
Features | Ricoh Theta Z1 | Insta360 One R | Insta360 one X2 |
Sensor Size | Dual 1-inch sensors | large 1-inch sensor | 1/2.3-inch sensors |
Resolution | 23MP (6720x3360) photos | Up to 18MP photos | 18MP (6080x3040) photos |
Video Resolution | 4K (3840x1920) | Up to 5.7K (5760x2880) | 5.7K (5760x2880) |
Stabilization | Advanced | Flow State stabilization | Flow State stabilization |
Price Range | |||
Use Case | High-quality photography, professional VR content | Versatile use with interchangeable mods, action scenes | Outdoor and action scenes, vlogging |
What a typical 360 image looks like?
A typical 360 image, also known as a panoramic image, captures a full 360-degree view and every angle of the site in one shot. Here’s what a 360 image offers:
Spherical View: Unlike traditional flat images that capture a limited field of view, a 360 image captures every angle of the environment.
Interactive experience: When viewed on compatible platforms like Sentio VR or VR headsets, 360 images become interactive, creating an immersive experience as if you’re really there.
High resolution: For a 360 image to be immersive and detailed when viewed in VR it needs to be high resolution which ensures that when you zoom in or look around, the details are clear and the experience is engaging.
How to create a 360 tour using images?
Creating a 360 tour is a straightforward process. Here are the simple steps to create a 360 tour using a platform like Sentio VR:
Export your 360 images to your desktop
Drag and drop to your SENTIO VR account Click on "Create Tour", and add your panorama images in the right order to create a 360 virtual tour
3. Add hotspots, floor plans, notes, audio, and video Customize your virtual tour by adding floor plans, hotspots, notes, audio, and video to make an interactive experience.
4. Share your Panoramas with a shareable link and View in Web from any anywhere without the need for any special hardware requirements.
How to view a 360 tour in VR?
Imagine stepping inside your project, walking through the site, and experiencing the progress as if you were physically there. Viewing a 360 tour in virtual reality (VR) offers an immersive, interactive way to explore architectural designs, real estate properties, and construction sites from anywhere in the world. To view 360 tour in VR
Download the SENTIO VR App for Quest
Install the SENTIO VR App on Meta Quest headsets
Enter your unique 6-digit access code to view your panoramas in VR
Once the virtual tour is created, there is no need to connect the PC to the headset and the experience can be shared via cloud to any client or stakeholder.
Can multiple users collaborate within the same tour?
In construction and real estate, collaboration is key. Visiting job sites is essential but it can take a lot of time and cost a lot of money, especially if the sites are far away.
VR technology allows multiple users to join a virtual site walkthrough simultaneously, making it easy for teams to collaborate, discuss, and make decisions without the need for travel.
The host and guest enter directly into the first panorama of the tour. Every participant can look around in 360. The host can then guide the experience by clicking on hotspots, interactive elements and changing the image which automatically brings all participants to the new panorama.
Conclusion
In just a few steps, you can capture your real projects in 360 and share them with clients on any device, including VR headsets like Meta Quest. With simple software like Sentio, this process is not only accessible but also provides a versatile solution for Architects and Construction professionals to document and communicate site progress effectively.
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