Exploring Virtual Reality and Digital Twin Technologies for Sustainable Construction Training in Higher Education

The integration of Virtual Reality (VR) and Digital Twin (DT) technologies into construction training exemplifies a groundbreaking approach to teaching in sustainable building practices. Virtual reality (VR) and digital technology (DT) enhance student engagement, facilitate conceptual understanding, and enable the acquisition of practical skills in a safe virtual setting. These systems replicate actual building conditions and provide instantaneous feedback. This study evaluates the integration of these technologies into a sustainable construction curriculum at higher education institutions. A study was done on the learning outcomes of forty students participating in virtual reality and digital transformation simulations using a mixed-methods approach. The findings revealed that students’ comprehension of sustainability ideas had improved by 24%, and 87 percent of the participants reported an increase in their confidence in their ability to apply these concepts to situations that occur in the real world. The research highlights the potential of virtual reality (VR) and digital technology (DT) in bridging the gap between theoretical learning and hands-on experience. This has major implications for the advancement of construction education in the future. Key advantages include enhanced engagement, improved problem-solving abilities, and increased sustainability literacy. However, challenges such as hardware availability and the need for further training for faculty members are also highlighted.