Introduction
As educational institutions continue to evolve in the digital age, the need for enhanced accessibility and navigation within campuses has become increasingly important. Many prospective students and remote visitors face difficulties in making enrolment decisions due to limited experience of the campus environment. Similarly, international collaborations and exchange programs require better virtual engagement to bridge the gap between physical and digital interactions. Additionally, new students and visitors often struggle with campus navigation, as Google maps do not provide the level of detail expected in terms of classrooms, laboratories, and other facilities
Problem Statement
Limited Accessibility to Campus
- Prospective students and remote visitors cannot experience the campus physically before joining.
- Exchange students and international collaborations require better virtual engagement.
Challenges in Campus Navigation
- New students and visitors struggle to locate classrooms, labs, and facilities.
- Google maps and signboards are often insufficient for effective way finding
Aim
- Enable students to interact with campus spaces and facilities virtually.
- Showcase HITAM’s infrastructure in an innovative and interactive way.
- Streamline classroom allocation and campus management.
Solution
Developed Virtual Reality solution which:
- Provides real-time interaction with virtual spaces through VR headsets like Oculus Quest 2.
- Utilizes 3D modeling, rendering, and real-time rendering to replicate campus structures.
- Enhances gesture-based and controller-based navigation for immersive engagement.
Conclusion
Development of this VR solution enables virtual guided tours of campus with personalized experiences providing first hand experience for students and parents who are new to HITAM. The integration of Virtual Reality (VR) technology into campus accessibility and navigation marks a significant advancement in how students, visitors, and faculty engage with educational spaces. By addressing the challenges of limited physical accessibility and navigation difficulties, this project provides an innovative solution that enhances the campus experience for both prospective and current students.The scope is being further expanded to integrate with Augmented Reality (AR), Enable AR-VR hybrid experiences for immersive learning and Create interactive learning spaces for hands-on experiments in virtual labs
Learning Outcome
Students developed expertise in creating realistic digital environments using tools like Blender, Unity, or Unreal Engine. Understanding how users interact in a virtual space helped students refine VR navigation and improve UI/UX design. Through this project, students not only enhanced their technical proficiency in VR development but also gained valuable soft skills in teamwork, problem-solving, and innovation. Their ability to build, optimize, and implement immersive experiences prepares them for exciting career opportunities in virtual reality, augmented reality, and interactive technology fields
Team
