Ingenuity Summer 2019

12 Pond | www.pondco.com Virtual Reality M oore’s Law of technology tells us that every two years, the processing power of computers doubles. For a technology-driven firm like Pond, this means that if a company stands still, they get left in the dust. The ever-expanding Virtual & Augmented Reality (VR & AR) capabilities help Pond stay ahead of the curve and break the boundaries between concept and facility operation. Before Pond entered the VR space, they were already constructing interactive 3D models of designs through the Virtual Design & Construction (VDC) software. In these environments, the design team can see how their designs fit together – or don’t – long before construction begins. A firm can perform point-cloud laser scanning of existing conditions that provide 3D site models that are accurate to 1/16th of an inch. Within those models, architects & engineers can easily take measurements of any item in the building without incurring an expensive site visit. Best of all, Pond can share these models with clients so they can make sure their needs and expectations are being met at every turn. The successful & sustained use of VDC left Pond hungry for more. They envisioned an environment in which clients and designers could not only see the project coming together but experience the space before any ground is broken. In 2016, driven by a desire to stay ahead of the curve within the A|E|C industry, Pond created their burgeoning VDC & BIM department. Just one short year later, in the fall of 2017, that vision started to become a reality – a virtual reality. They had the models, they just needed a way to get inside them. Enter Virtual & Augmented Reality. What began as one VR system that was moved around Pond Headquarters for demonstrations has become a substantial effort across offices to integrate their VR capabilities into the Pond design process. Pond’s investment in Virtual Reality technology was a natural progression that stemmed from a clear commitment to quality, excellence and innovation. Utilizing these tools better equips the firm to maintain a client-centered approach by Seeing is Believing