Michael C. Vorster
Business data unlike most scientific data are inherently multidimensional and are not ordered or continuous. With appropriate visual tools we can not only replace tables of statistical numbers with more informative graphics but with well designed graphics in a CAVE environment we can create instruments for reasoning about quantitative business data. Although it is possible to design some generic graphical tools to explore business data in general, this research will study how to link the desktop 3D graphical tools with graphical tools unique to a CAVE format for the analysis of data used to organize, plan, and implement a large construction project.
With the advent of computers, the construction industry has already shifted from drafting boards and pencils to CAD and scheduling software and has as a result created voluminous computer generated project reports between the various players involved in the construction project. A successful project is tantamount to effectively communicating information between all players involved in a large construction project. With access to a CAVE environment we can explore alternate graphical tools that could prove to be useful in communicating critical information between all players and suggest how these graphical tools could be extended back to the desktop environment which is the more common tool in the office and on site.