The VR Kiosk

Since 2013, the Carleton Immersive Media Studio (CIMS) has partnered with the Canadian government to document the West Block, East Block, and Centre Block of the Parliamentary Precinct. Using laser scanning, photogrammetry, and photography, an accurate recording of the current condition is created and translated into a building information model (BIM). This data will aid in the planning and management of a multi-year rehabilitation project that will close the Centre Block building. CIMS saw a need to take the existing content generated from the documentation work and BIM and find a way to disseminate it to the general public through digitally assisted storytelling, thus creating the project: The VR Kiosk. Beginning in May 2017, an installation containing five Virtual Reality (VR) stations was located in front of the Capital Information Kiosk, also known as the visitor’s centre, where tourists go before touring the Parliament buildings. Five short experiences were available that show, through 360-degree videos, aspects of the Centre Block building and rehabilitation project that are not accessible during the physical tour. Careful selection of the equipment, interface, and style of experience was made to ensure a smooth and quick event for the thousands of expected tourists who ranged in age, mobility, and technological knowledge. The content of The VR Kiosk leveraged existing gathered data from the documentation and BIM conducted by CIMS, through this new application, revisions to existing protocols improved the transition from data acquisition, building information model and digitally assisted storytelling through virtual reality.