VR Planning Consultation in Public Libraries

📐 Methodology

🔗 Website

RealSim

RealSim specializes in system simulation and decision-support models for complex systems such as cities, infrastructure networks, and energy systems. Their tools allow organizations to test policies and strategies in virtual environments, supporting long-term planning and risk-aware decision-making.

Context and problem statement

An online 3D viewer opens consultation to anyone with a device and an internet connection, but not everyone has one, and many people are unfamiliar with immersive technology. Planning drawings, meanwhile, rarely convey what a new space will feel like to stand in. Councils need a way to offer immersive access to everyone, with help on hand.

Solution overview

Fingal County Council installed VR headsets loaded with RealSim’s digital twins of the Balbriggan and Swords public realm schemes in its branch libraries. Residents can walk through a proposed development at full scale, with a 360-degree view at street level, and a trained VR Champion at each library helps visitors put on the headset and find their way around.

The approach extends the always-on web viewer with a supported, in-person option, completing a hybrid consultation model. Full-scale walkthroughs are delivered on 11 Meta Quest 2 and 3 headsets across five branch libraries — Swords, Malahide, Donabate, Blanchardstown and Balbriggan. The VR for Libraries strand won the Education Award at the 2024 Ireland eGovernment Awards.

Residents exploring the Fingal digital twin on VR headsets at a Fingal County Council community event. Photo: Fingal County Council.

Functional Scope and Features

– Full-scale, 360-degree VR walkthroughs of proposed schemes
– 11 Meta Quest 2 and 3 headsets across five branch libraries
– A trained VR Champion at each site to support visitors
– Access for residents without suitable devices or immersive experience
– Complements always-on public access through the 3D web viewer

Use Cases and Deployments

Fingal County Council, Ireland — public libraries (since June 2023). Fingal runs VR planning consultation in five branch libraries: Swords, Malahide, Donabate, Blanchardstown and Balbriggan. Eleven Meta Quest 2 and 3 headsets carry RealSim’s digital twins of Balbriggan Quay Street and Harbour and the Swords Cultural Quarter, and a trained VR Champion at each library helps visitors who have never used a headset.

Community events. The same headsets travel to Council stands at local events, taking consultation to residents who would not visit a library or attend a formal meeting.

Both form part of the 3D Web and Virtual Reality Planning Consultation in Fingal pilot, where VR complements the always-on public web viewer.