It is part of the joint VSimulators facility co-located between the Universities of Bath and Exeter (please see separate equipment page for VSimulators at Exeter) aimed at exploring human response to vibrations and environmental effects.
VSimulators is designed to support fundamental and applied research in human tolerance and performance within the built environment. VSimulators at Bath consists of a room which physically replicates large amplitude sway motion and which has a controllable internal environment (light, sound, temperature and humidity) coupled with virtual reality to simulate internal and external surroundings.
The facility enables multi-disciplinary research in a range of fields including structural engineering, building physics, physiology, health, psychology, defence and movement science, as well as supporting applied research in structural design of tall buildings in particular.
VSimulators at Bath is able to provide an immersive experience in a virtual building environment, such as at an office, apartment or hospital which, coupled with motion and/or environmental stimuli, will help researchers to understand how people’s comfort, health and productivity are affected by the buildings they live and work in. This will lead to evidence for the development of rational design criteria for both tall structures and building environments and allows industry and clients to directly judge vibration and environmental performance as part of a user-centred design process.
The facility was launched in 2019.
| Who can use the facility | Functions/facilities available |
|---|---|
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VSimulators equipment |
| Industry (applied research and consultancy) | Equipment, use of meeting facilities |
| PhD students | Equipment, workspace |
Facility highlights
Environmental control of:
Find out more
Contact Dr Antony Darby
Watch the VSimulators presentation or download the slides as a PDF.