Transforming the reality into virtual reality - The influence of computer simulation technologies on the built environment

Computer simulation technologies are already applied to study the built environment to better understand the prospective creation or changes before the physical implementation through various mechanisms. The lately developed virtual reality (VR) technology even provides promising characteristics such as immersivity, interactivity, and fidelity. This paper is aimed to explore the meaning of VR and its uses in the built environment. The built environment is gradually shaped by the implement of planning and design. The use of VR in designing programmable spaces will be beneficial for planners and designers. Currently, affordability and performance are the main concerns of using VR simulation. However, the potential uses of VR applications are growing, and the influence on the built environment will be visible.