Virtual building site work begins

Project leaders said it would prevent costly mistakes in the real world

Work starts later on what is believed to be the UK's first virtual reality training centre for trainees hoping to work in the building trade.

Future engineers and architects will get the chance to use software similar to flight simulators to work on "virtual" building sites.

The £8.7m centre, which is part of Coventry University's technology park, will open next year.

Project leaders said it would prevent costly mistakes in the real world.

Actors will also be used in training scenarios to teach students about how to react to other people also working on construction sites.

'Very exciting'

Managing director of ACT-UK Simulation Centre, which is running the project, Michiel Schrijver has previously set up a similar centre in The Netherlands.

He said: "Learning by using virtual reality technology is very exciting - it's really fun, but it's also a really good way of learning the real work.

"Projects in the construction industry usually involve very high budgets, so to make a mistake can be very costly.

"The simulations allow people to do the real job without that risk."

Funding for the centre, in Puma Way, has come from regional development agency Advantage West Midlands.