A new venture between the Canadian Construction Association, the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Engineering and EllisDon aims to spark ideas around innovation in construction among university students.

The project will see students propose solutions to real-life issues on the use of virtual reality (VR) in construction. Students working in teams will offer multiple solutions on predetermined VR problems as identified by EllisDon. Throughout the project, the student teams will be mentored by executives from EllisDon to highlight the issues and to advance the knowledge of students in the use of VR.

“This is a great opportunity for the industry to highlight the exciting innovations and latest technology used in construction,” said CCA President Mary Van Buren. “This project will no doubt spark interest and act as a magnet to attract a tech savvy, next generation workforce to construction.”

“EllisDon is excited to participate in this unique opportunity with uOttawa and CCA,” said Patrick Lalonde, EllisDon’s Director of Virtual Design & Construction for Eastern Canada. “Through this partnership, we are delighted to provide an opportunity for our future construction leaders to solve real challenges facing the industry today. Technology is a tool that is critical to the future of construction, but it has its own challenges to implement successfully. It is through the collective effort of industry and education that we can overcome these challenges to navigate the industry towards the digital era.”

At the end of the project each student team will produce a final prototype with a user manual and an independent panel will select the most suitable solution. The selected prototype from the successful team will be available to EllisDon for their use.

“The Centre of Entrepreneurship and Engineering Design (CEED) at the Faculty of Engineering at uOttawa is delighted to work with both CCA and EllisDon,” said Hanan Anis, professor and director of CEED at the University of Ottawa. “Client-based projects are key for an authentic learning environment. Our students work collaboratively and iteratively to solve a real need facing the industry. Such a partnership is win-win for both EllisDon and uOttawa.”

This initiative is part of CCA’s priority to initiate innovation and attract a younger workforce to the construction industry.