Virtual reality for immersive multi-user firefighter-training scenarios

Background

Virtual reality (VR) applications can be used to provide comprehensive training scenarios that are difficult or impossible to represent in physical configurations. This includes team training for emergency services such as firefighting. Creating a high level of immersion is essential for achieving effective virtual training. In this respect, motion-capture systems offer the possibility of creating highly immersive multi-user training experiences, including full-body avatars.

Methods

This study presents a preliminary prototype that helps extinguish a virtual fire on a container ship as a VR training scenario. The prototype provides a full-body and multi-user VR experience based on the synthesis of position data provided by the motion-capture system and orientation data from the VR headsets. Moreover, the prototype facilitates an initial evaluation of the results.

Results

The results confirm the value of using VR for training procedures that are difficult to implement in the real world. Furthermore, the results show that motion-capture-based VR technologies are particularly useful for firefighting training, in which participants can collaborate in difficult-to-access environments. However, this study also indicates that increasing the immersion in such training remains a challenge.

Conclusions

This study presents a prototypical VR application that enables the multi-user training of maritime firefighters. Future research should evaluate the initial results, provide more extensive training scenarios, and measure the training progress.