The Effect of Personal Characteristics on Spatial Perception in BIM-Based Virtual Environments: Age, Gender, Education, and Gaming Experience

Abstract

In the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry, virtual environments are being utilized to enhance communication among stakeholders and improve visual comprehension. However, stakeholders possess diverse personal characteristics which can affect their spatial recognition ability in virtual spaces. Despite the potential impact of these individual traits, related research still needs to be more comprehensive. Therefore, this study analyzed how each individual's characteristics influence spatial recognition in a Building Information Model (BIM)-based virtual environment. A quantitative methodology via a survey was employed to investigate the influence of personal factors such as age, gender, education level, and gaming experience on spatial recognition. In a 3D virtual corridor using BIM software, 76 participants were asked to navigate the corridor using a controller and count 23 sprinklers. Of the 76 participants, 30 responses were selected for the statistical analysis. The results demonstrate that age, gender, and education level did not significantly affect spatial recognition in the virtual environment. Conversely, participants with gaming experience tended to perceive spaces in the virtual environment more accurately and realistically, showing a statistically significant difference. This outcome suggests that gaming experience is crucial in enhancing spatial recognition ability in virtual environments. The findings from this study offer critical insights into the impact of individual characteristics on spatial recognition, providing valuable information for the future practical use of BIM-based virtual environments, and can subsequently assist in discovering efficient communication methods among stakeholders.