Reflections on Using a Game Engine to Develop a Virtual Training System for Construction Excavator Operators

Virtual Reality (VR) technology can facilitate training in construction equipment operations, as the cost for virtual training is lower and the practical hazard is eliminated. This paper presents a virtual training system (VTS) for construction excavator operators based on a game engine tool. The focus of this paper is not to present a simulator that replaces those existing tools on the market, but to describe the development of a prototype for testing skill acquisition and transfer. The study reflects the experience of using a game engine to develop a VTS for an earthmoving excavator in a construction site. The development was initiated after exploring critical aspects of training. This paper also elaborates the principles of constructing a virtual excavator simulator based on the Unity3D game development engine.