Guests will be shown to the company’s VROOM where they will be given a short tutorial before leaving reality and entering Aarsleff’s ‘virtual’ one.

Equipped with a state-of-the-art VR headset, user’s will be taken through a 6-minute guided tour around the ‘Aarsleff World’, exploring some of the company’s core specialist ground engineering techniques – both above and below ground. Traversing through Rail, Commercial, Residential, Mining and Industrial zones, the user will be able to take a closer look at rigs and machinery by leading innovators Junttan, Klemm and Movax and experience the ground engineering techniques that the Aarsleff organisation deliver on site every day.

Aarsleff teamed up with leading UK 3D technology and software development studio Luminous Group back in October 2018 to develop the virtual reality application, and have since developed a close working relationship with the organisation for the development of future digital initiatives.

The experience has been created using the latest Unity games engine and HTC Vive Pro headset providing full natural interaction with six degrees of freedom and high-quality visuals. Users can view a mini table top view of the Aarsleff world or fly down to see interactive cut always of the ground below. Games engines with their real time rendering capabilities and ability to port content to multiple devices and platforms are becoming the preferred choice for creating interactive computer graphics, VR experiences and visual effects.

Jessica Banham, Aarsleff’s marketing and communications manager, said: “Finding ways to visualise and engage with ground engineering techniques can be challenging – everything our specialist industry does is underground or soon covered up. The new virtual reality application makes it possible for our users to experience ground engineering techniques in a more dynamic and accessible way than ever before, and this is what makes it really unique.”

With half a million workers set to retire over the next 10 years, the application has primarily been designed to address the growing skills shortage in the construction sector with a view to help attract the next generation of digitally native gamers into the industry. The application has been designed to both appeal to a new entrant into the field of construction, and an already established geotechnical engineer who would like to understand more about Aarsleff’s products and services including Drilling and Grouting, Soil Nails, Driven Piling, Mini Piling and Sheet Piling.

Managing director Kevin Hague said: “In embracing VR, we also hope to tackle the challenge that ‘young people are not interested in construction’ by rolling out the virtual application at careers fairs and university shows. Students and aspiring engineers will be able to walk around on an Aarsleff site, helping them to understand several ground engineering disciplines and learn about the machinery operated on site - all whilst in a safe and engaging way.”