Professional Documents
Culture Documents
2 0 17
A RC H I T E CT U R A L V I S UA L I Z AT ION T E C H NOL OGY R E PORT
CONTE NTS
2017 ARCHITECTURAL VISUALIZATION TECHNOLOGY REPORT
Executive summary 3
Survey participants 4
Virtual reality 12
Cloud rendering 17
Report summary 23
2
Executive summary
In September 2017, global computer graphics technology firm Chaos
Group conducted an online survey of architecture and architectural
visualization professionals. The questionnaire asked about the types of
technology in use at their firms, the challenges of their workplace, and their
attitudes and expectations towards the future of the industry.
Key findings
• Fast changing technologies, including the widespread adoption of BIM
and VR, are having a profound impact on the industry
• A majority of architecture and architectural visualization firms will use
VR in 2018
• Cloud rendering usage expected to triple in 2018
Peninsula Place by Calatrava © Uniform
3
S U RV E Y PA RT IC I PA N TS
4
Survey participants
Freelancer 56%
1 - 10 30%
11 - 100 10%
101 - 1000 3%
1000+ 1%
5
Survey participants
Job positions
Job positions Percent
Architect 35%
Visualization Specialist
23%
Interior Designer
11%
Director of Design Technology
6%
Intern Architect
6%
IT Director
2%
BIM Specialist
2%
BIM Manager
2%
Other
13%
6
25%
16%
Survey participants 16%
14%
29%
V-Ray
55%
SketchUp
51%
3ds Max
50%
AutoCAD
47%
Adobe CC
37%
Revit
31%
Rhino
21%
Renderer other than V-Ray
17%
Maya
10%
Grasshopper
9%
ArchiCAD
9%
Dynamo
5%
BIM 360
3%
Vectorworks
3%
FormIt
1%
Other
6%
7
I NDUSTRY CHA NGE S &
CHA LLE NGE S
8
Industry changes & challenges
9
Industry changes & challenges
While tight deadlines and limited budgets are always top concerns, 43% of respondents noted that the increased
demand for high-end and photorealistic content is also a major challenge.
Importance of 3D rendering
for winning projects Percent
Very important
49%
Critical
36%
Somewhat important
7%
Depends on project
7%
Not important
1%
10
Industry changes & challenges
85% of respondents
85% of respondents state that 3D rendered imagery is “very important”
state that 3D
to
“critical” for winning projects. rendered imagery
is “Very important”
to “Critical” for
winning projects.
11
V I RTUA L R E A L IT Y
12
Virtual reality
Yes
28%
Not yet. Currently experimenting.
28%
Not yet. Plan to in next 6 months.
8%
Not yet. Plan to in 7–12 months.
4%
Not yet. Expect to in a year or more.
13%
No. No plans to use VR.
10%
Not sure
9%
13
Virtual reality
Number of
VR projects completed Percent
1
20%
2–3
36%
4–5
14%
5+
30%
80% of VR adopters are using it on multiple projects. Architecture is fundamentally spatial, and
Of those already using virtual reality, 80% have used it on multiple all its visualizations, from facade plans to
projects, suggesting that VR is beginning to play a more significant role in animations, have been two-dimensional so
architectural design and visualization workflows.
far. VR is the first medium that can transmit
the spatial qualities of a building. Now
the industry must figure out the means of
communication in a new medium which is a
dimension bigger than familiar platforms or
products.”
Attila Cselovszki,
Brick Visual CTO
14
Virtual reality
Yes
62%
Not yet. Currently experimenting.
21%
Not yet. Plan to in next 6 months.
3%
Not yet. Plan to in 7–12 months.
2%
Not yet. Expect to in a year or more.
5%
No. No plans to use VR.
4%
Not sure
3%
15
Virtual reality
Most large architectural firms are already using VR.
Large architecture firms have embraced VR at a much higher rate than
smaller firms and freelancers. 62% of large firms are currently using VR,
Popular software for VR content creation
and more than half of those have already used VR on five or more projects. Software used to create VR Percent
V-Ray 59%
Number of
Unreal 27%
VR projects completed Percent large firms (100+ architects) Unity 18%
Lumion 15%
1
5% Enscape
IrisVR
9%
6%
2–3
23% LumenRT 1%
1%
14%
Revizto
4–5
Other 11%
5+
58%
Large architecture firms are using VR on multiple projects. According to the survey, V-Ray is the most used software for VR
95% of the large firms using VR have used it on multiple projects. creation in architecture and architectural visualization, followed by
Unreal and Unity.
16
CLOUD RE NDE R I NG
17
76%
17%
Cloud rendering 17%
6%
A majority of rendering remains in-house.
Although the current industry standard is to render using an internal render
Cloud rendering usage is on the rise
farm, a combined 34% of respondents use external render farms and cloud
services to complete their projects. Cloud rendering adoption Percent
18
Cloud rendering
85% of respondents
Cloud rendering usage could triple in 2018. state that 3D
rendered imagery
According to the survey, cloud rendering demand could increase significantly in 2018, with the potential for 233% growth by mid-year, and up to
is “Very important”
367% growth by the end of 2018. These numbers could grow even further if any undecided respondents try cloud rendering in 2018.
to “Critical” for
winning projects.
19
12%
39%
28%
Cloud rendering
20
Cloud rendering
21
Cloud rendering
22
R E PORT SUM M A RY
23
Report summary
24
Report summary
25
Report summary
26
About V-Ray About Chaos Group
From architecture and design to visual effects in film and television, V-Ray Chaos Group is a worldwide leader in computer graphics technology,
is the most widely used rendering solution in the world. Whether used to helping designers and artists create photorealistic imagery and animation
showcase products at IKEA or bring the “Game of Thrones” dragons to life, for architecture, design and visual effects. Chaos Group’s award-winning
V-Ray has helped artists and designers visualize their best work for over 20 physically-based rendering and simulation software is used daily by
years, pushing the boundaries of imagery, animation, and virtual reality. In top design studios, architectural firms, advertising agencies and visual
2017, V-Ray was honored with an Academy Award for helping to facilitate effects companies around the globe. Today, the company’s research and
the widespread adoption of fully ray-traced rendering in motion pictures. development in cloud rendering, material scanning and virtual reality is
shaping the future of creative storytelling and digital design. Founded in
For a free trial of V-Ray visit chaosgroup.com/download-free-trials 1997, Chaos Group is privately owned with offices in Sofia, Los Angeles,
Seoul and Tokyo.
Press contact:
David Tracy
david.tracy@chaosgroup.com