Gaming scenarios and virtual environments have shown beneficial results in Engineering Education. Various activities conducted in different fields demonstrate that students reveal appraisal for the integration of innovative technologies such as Virtual or Augmented Reality in the learning process. In this paper, Virtual Reality (VR) applications developed by first year students during an introductory class of the Integrated Masters in Civil Engineering are described. Additionally, two trials concerning the application of VR and Augmented Reality (AR) to Civil Engineering held at a local school (K-12 students) are also detailed. After the tests, students were surveyed and data was collected. Results and considerations are revealed in the final sections of this paper.

Virtual Reality (VR) is gradually becoming a part of the life of the average person as hard-ware prices become more affordable for the end user. A growing variety of hardware allows users to engage in a series of immersive experiences for ludic, educational or even professional activities. In this regard, the diversity of affordable solutions could provide an alternative to highly immersive, but expensive environments such as, CAVE experiences [1]. The development of VR technologies is starting to spread its influence to the AECO (Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Operations) sector through the creation of new work methodologies and techniques, as well as original interfaces for communication. Creating new tools for the discussion of topics and providing collaborative work among participants with different backgrounds provides opportunities not only for the industry, but also for applications in education. The development of VR applications and its outcomes, regarding the acceptance (or lack of it) from the students will be the focus of this paper. The description of three case studies will be fully detailed, providing data analysis from each one of the tests conducted.

Purpose: The paper seeks to bridge the already familiar benefits of 3D printing (3DP) to the rehabilitation of cultural heritage, still based on the use of complex and expensive handcrafted techniques and scarce materials.Design/methodology/approach: A compilation of different information on frequent anomalies in cultural heritage buildings and commonly used materials is conducted; subsequently, some innovative techniques used in the construction sector (3DP and 3D scanning) are addressed, as well as some case studies related to the rehabilitation of cultural heritage building elements, leading to a reflection on the opportunities and challenges of this application within these types of buildings.Findings: The compilation of information summarised in the paper provided a clear reflection on the great potential of 3DP for cultural heritage rehabilitation, requiring the development of new mixtures (lime mortars, for example) compatible with the existing surface and, eventually, incorporating some residues that may improve interesting properties; the design of different extruders, compatible with the new mixtures developed and the articulation of 3D printers with the available mapping tools (photogrammetry and laser scanning) to reproduce the component as accurately as possible.Originality/value: This paper sets the path for a new application of 3DP in construction, namely in the field of cultural heritage rehabilitation, by identifying some key opportunities, challenges and for designing the process flow associated with the different technologies involved.

The development of printers and materials for 3D Printing Construction during the last two decades has allowed the construction of increasingly complex projects. Some of them have broken construction speed records due to the simplification of the construction process, particularly in non-standard geometries. However, for performance and security reasons the materials used had considerable amounts of Portland cement (PC), a constituent that increases the cost and environmental impact of 3D Printable Materials (3DPM). Supplementary Cement Materials (SCM), such as fly ash, silica fume and metakaolin, have been considered a good solution to partially replace PC. This work aims to study the inclusion of limestone filler, fly ash and metakaolin as SCM in 3DPM. Firstly, a brief literature review was made to understand how these SCM can improve the materials’ 3DP capacity, and which methods are used to evaluate them. Based on the literature review, a laboratory methodology is proposed to assess 3DP properties, where tests such as slump and flow table are suggested. The influence of each SCM is evaluated by performing all tests on mortars with different dosages of each SCM. Finally, a mechanical extruder is used to extrude the developed mortars, which allowed us to compare the results of slump and flow table tests with the quality of extruded samples.