Engagement with Regional School Students through Virtual Construction Site Tour ‐ an Immersive Experience

The aim of this project is to offer clear recommendations and hands‐on experience to promote the construction industry to high school ‐ in particular regional ‐ students and increase female participation in construction related careers. Thus, ultimately bridging the gender gap in the construction industry. Given this, student awareness and recognition of construction is essential to stimulate conversation and develop effective engagement strategies in construction with schools. This project is an innovative approach to engage with high‐school female students through a virtual experience that can mimic realistic building construction site – Virtual Construction Site (VCS) Tour. The VCS Tour takes students on a journey to showcase the diversity and integration between onsite professions on a real construction project. During the VCS Tour, students can look around in 360° while hearing the onsite professions as if spoken to on an actual construction site. This project is a proof-of-concept study, and the first step towards creating an innovative engagement tool in the form of a Virtual Construction Site.