CONNECTIONS OF THE FUTURE

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Client

Cisco

Sector

City planning

Transport

Services

VR App

3D modeling

Technology

Oculus Rift

Unity 3D

Visual results video

Business value

Immersing the smart city concept in virtual reality

Thanks to the application we created, the client was able to present individual elements of the traffic infrastructure. Another goal we achieved was making the user aware of the ways in which the smart city concept can help improve urban transport.

Since the smart city is a relatively new idea, it was necessary to use modern presentation techniques to convince potential buyers that it is the right time to upgrade the current infrastructure. After all, virtual reality is already here and it provides a competitive advantage in many industries.

That is why IoT and smart city are as realistic and timely as possible, and we need to use them so that cities benefit as much as possible from this transformation.

There were three major outcomes of the project:

An immersive experience of driving through a city of the near future, which is filled with sensors that minimize traffic jams.
High emotional level. The tangible transfer of the concept helps the user identify with the situation, which raises strong positive connotations related to the idea of smart cities.
The innovative corporate image. Thanks to the use of virtual reality, the client presented themselves as a modern, cutting-edge company.

Challenge

Make transport in the city a pleasurable and exciting experience

The client wanted to show their best as an innovative company by presenting their Smart City concept for Manchester (UK) in a virtual world. The aim of VR traffic management was to show the benefits and operation of smart city infrastructure in a modern metropolis facing typical transport challenges of the contemporary world.

Our challenge was to create a simulation that would help users truly understand and experience the concept and its results. It was supposed to make it possible to convince customers to implement the innovative idea proposed by our client. The target group was high-level employees of the Roads & Transport Department of the Manchester City Council.

Process and project scope

Scope

The user sits in a car and drives through the city. During the journey, it is possible to see the moments when the car interacts with sensors placed all over the city that record details of the current traffic. The information they transmit triggers a relevant response in the traffic management system.

It was important for the car to be running smoothly through the city. The other crucial aspect was presenting the operation of our smart city VR traffic management solution in an understandable way.

Process

The client approached us as experts in the field of creating virtual reality apps with the intention to develop a VR traffic management application. The project was carried out in weekly sprints. We met at Cisco WebEx each week to present the results of our work and discuss the selection of subsequent elements and the form of their implementation.

Collaboration

We were responsible for the complete implementation of the project from start to finish. The client was heavily involved in the design process, having the know-how related to the target group and to the operation of the smart city VR traffic management.

Technology stack

App for urban road transport optimization

The app was developed entirely with Unity 3D engine.

The target platform was specifically Oculus Rift DK2 devices.

Tech stack for VR/AR project at 4Experience