An integration strategy between CAD floor plans and Virtual Reality: case study applied to electric power substations

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v10i14.21765

Keywords:

Integration; Computer-aided design; Virtual reality; Software architecture; 3D modeling

Abstract

Many sectors have benefited from Virtual Reality (VR) technology, such as industries in the application of engineering design review processes. It is widely used in operator training, architecture, engineering, education, simulation and prototyping, as it provides a high level of immersion and fidelity in the representation of information. The current context of the integration between Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and VR presents development and maintenance methods that are too complex, requiring manual interventions making the transfer of information difficult, expressing an immature state of technology. Given this scenario, this work proposes a methodology for integration of CAD and VR floor plans through a software architecture that makes it possible to process the union between the technologies automatically. An research was conducted for related works in order to obtain the state of the art and the technologies in current use, in addition to pointing out the contribution of the proposed methodology. A case study was applied to electric power substations in a Research and Development (R&D) project. Integration tests, Virtual Environment (AV) reconstruction and performance tests were executed. The methodology showed good results as with the integration of CAD floor plans and the Virtual Reality software. In this paper, it is demonstrated that it is possible to adapt the two-dimensional CAD space for representation in a three-dimensional AV, facilitating and improving the design process of virtual substations. Also, the reconstruction process showed a satisfactory performance, completing the tasks in shorter times without manual interventions.

Author Biographies

Camilo de Lellis Barreto Junior, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia

Doutorando pelo programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia Elétrica da Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (UFU) com ênfase em Realidade Virtual aplicada em Sistemas Críticos de energia elétrica, onde recebeu o título de Mestre em Ciências em 2016. Bacharel em Engenharia da Computação pela Universidade de Uberaba (UNIUBE), em 2014. Integrante do Grupo de Pesquisa em Realidade Virtual e Aumentada (GRVA - UFU). Tem experiência nas áreas de Engenharia da Computação e Computação Gráfica, atuando principalmente nos seguintes temas: Desenvolvimento de Software, Softwares Embarcados, Sistemas Microcontrolados, Ferramentas CAD (Inventor, AutoCAD, SolidWorks), Modelagem 3D, Game Design, Ambientes Virtuais Realísticos, Realidade Virtual e Aumentada. 

Paulo Camargos Silva, Federal University of Uberlândia

Graduated at the Federal University of Uberlândia in Biomedical Engineering. I am currently pursuing a Master's degree in Biomedical Engineering at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, also at the same institution in Computational Systems and Devices applied to Health. I am currently working with Virtual and Augmented Reality and Medical Imaging Processing at the Computer Graphics and Biomedical Engineering Laboratory.

Alexandre Carvalho Silva, Goiano Federal Institute

Effective Professor at the Federal Institute of Goiano - Morrinhos, Doctor and Master in Sciences, with an emphasis on Computer Graphics/Virtual Reality, by the Post-Graduate Program in Electrical Engineering at the Federal University of Uberlândia, Post-Graduate (Lato Sensu) in Systems Development Web and Mobile Devices by the Triângulo Mineiro Federal Institute. Graduated in Information Systems from the Lutheran Institute of Higher Education of Itumbiara - ILES/ULBRA. He is the leader of the NuPPGIN research group (Natural Interaction and Graphic Processing Research Center). He has experience in the field of Computer Science, with an emphasis on Computer Graphics, Virtual and Augmented Reality.

Edgard Afonso Lamounier Junior, Federal University of Uberlândia

Completed the basic cycle of Electrical Engineering at the Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU), from 1982 to 1984. Graduated in Mathematics (1986) and Master in Electrical Engineering (1989) by UFU. In 1996, he obtained a PhD degree from the University of Leeds, England, being recognized in Brazil with the title of Doctor in Electrical Engineering. He is currently a full professor at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at UFU. He was Coordinator of its Graduate Course in Biomedical Engineering from 2009 to 2013, Coordinator of its Graduate Program in Electrical Engineering from 2013 to 2015 and Coordinator of its Graduate Program in Biomedical Engineering from 2015 to 2019. From 2013 to 2017, he was the General Coordinator of a Brafitec Project (exchange between French and Brazilian students in the field of Engineering) with the Polytech network and currently coordinates another Brafitec project with the INSA network. He was also a Tutor of the Institutional PET of Biomedical Engineering from 2010 to 2017 and is currently a Tutor of the PET-MEC Engenharia Elétrica. He has experience in Engineering and Computer Science, with an emphasis on Computer Systems Architecture and Computer Graphics. He works mainly in the study of Virtual and Augmented Reality applications in Distance Education, Motor Rehabilitation and Engineering Systems. He is a full member of the Brazilian Computer Society (SBC) and the Brazilian Society of Biomedical Engineering (SBEB). In 2007, he completed an MBA in Business Administration and E-Commerce at Abet Open University, USA. He was President of the Special Committee on Virtual Reality of the Brazilian Computer Society (CE-RV / SBC), for the 2010-2012 term.

Alexandre Cardoso, Federal University of Uberlândia

Electrical Engineer from the Federal University of Uberlândia (1987), Master in Electrical Engineering from the Federal University of Uberlândia (1991) and Doctor in Electrical Engineering (Digital Systems Engineering) from the Polytechnic School of the University of São Paulo (2002). He is a Full Professor at the Federal University of Uberlândia, he was Coordinator of the Postgraduate Program in Electrical Engineering (2008 to 2013 and 2017-2018). He served as Coordinator of the Graduate Course in Electrical Engineering (1995-1997). He has experience in the areas of Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering, with an emphasis on Software Engineering and Computer Graphics, working mainly on the following topics: Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Education, Virtual Environments, Human Computer Interfaces and Information Visualization. He served as Coordinator of the Special Committee on Virtual Reality-CERV, of the Brazilian Computer Society-SBC and has been a member of the same since its creation.

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Published

31/10/2021

How to Cite

BARRETO JUNIOR, C. de L.; SILVA, P. C.; SILVA, A. C.; LAMOUNIER JUNIOR, E. A. .; CARDOSO, A. An integration strategy between CAD floor plans and Virtual Reality: case study applied to electric power substations. Research, Society and Development, [S. l.], v. 10, n. 14, p. e221101421765, 2021. DOI: 10.33448/rsd-v10i14.21765. Disponível em: https://www.rsdjournal.org/index.php/rsd/article/view/21765. Acesso em: 18 apr. 2024.

Issue

Section

Engineerings