The aim of the project is to enable virtual reality immersion in order to interact with a BIM-based digital model and the network of sensors and actuators installed in a given facility. For this, the researchers use the Controlled Environments for Living Lab Studies (CELLS), which is a research infrastructure consisting of two seemingly similar rooms that allow testing of different comfort and automation levels under real-life use conditions.

The project phases are:
1) to produce the facility’s architecture, mechanic and electricity BIMs;
2) to elaborate a digital inventory of sensors and actuators present in the space, which is stored on a database (BBData);
3) to define a complete protocol to exchange information between the system’s components (model, database, devices and VR interface);
4) set an IoT network, allowing the user a double-way control of objects and data within the VR environment.