Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality - New Tools for Architectural Visualization and Design

This paper focuses on the use of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies aiming at innovating architectural design and architectural visualization through some reference projects and two pilot researches. The reference projects focus on the feasibilities in using AR and VR techniques in the architecture field, that generate the pilot researches based on testing them in both architecture design and architectural visualization. The first research presents the use of augmented reality in a three-dimensional model and illustrates how the technique works in the design process. To figure out a viable system in using VR technique, the second research experiments the VR technique in a properly said testing project. Thereby, after analyzing the potential of some existing applications of AR and VR technologies, and the use of these techniques in the experimental research, this paper aims to provide some guidelines and suggestions for their use in architectural design, architectural education, and other related fields.