Building a new hospital building during COVID was a challenge in itself. On top of that, how could we orient staff to the space when it was still a construction site? We discovered ways to use what we already had around us to record and create a virtual environment for staff. We created isometric 3-D drawings of each floor, and embedded 360 images to create a virtual tour. We used an inexpensive VR platform and development tools to assemble virtual 360 tours for staff. We created “walkabout” videos to display the spaces. We assembled everything into a multi-media guide that let staff explore the areas they would be working in. It allowed them to use their imaginations to visualize how they would provide care in the new space a year or more before the building opened.

Ultimately, the success of the project came down to leveraging the technology we already had, and thinking BIGGER about how to create engaging and cost-effective virtual tours. 

In this session you will learn:

• About isometric maps
• How we created “walkabout” videos
• How to build VR experiences using low-cost platforms and 360 images/videos
• Open source tools for creating virtual environments