The FCR-VR is an immersive simulation training designed specifically for firefighters in a fire control room setting. serving as the critical hub in high-rise buildings, the fire control room necessitates prompt and adept responses from designated firefighter trainees. Proficiency in protocols, equipment operation, venting systems, and efficient communication with individuals trapped in elevators is paramount. There are 8 characters whose voices are what the trainee must carefully listen to and act correctly in life-saving seconds.20
This scenario is modeled after San Francisco Embarcadero’s fire control room.
FCR – Fire Control Room Midrise Structure Fire Training
VR Capture of FCR-VR Trainee’s Experience
I was granted a unique and exceptional opportunity by a San Francisco battalion chief and security system managers to capture video references of the interior of the Embarcadero 4 fire control room. The battalion chief guided me through the emergency protocols and distinctive fire safety systems, highlighting variations from one building to another. Utilizing the video references, I meticulously mapped out the room’s layout, consolidating it into a panoramic panel to serve as a reference for the virtual fire control room.
My meticulous approach extended to replicating the system in 3D, recognizing the critical nature of training on the current equipment. The graphics accurately portrayed the current fire control and venting systems, acknowledging the variability from one building to another. System upgrades, a necessity, occur at five-year intervals. The virtual training’s advantage lies in its adaptability – 3D assets can be swiftly updated as required
Fire Control Room Interaction Design
The interaction design is a comprehensive process, demanding various steps. Initial consultations with a subject matter expert (SME) were undertaken to create a challenging scenario involving a high-rise fire incident, encompassing the response to panicked or distressed individuals trapped in the building. A script was crafted initially, followed by the exploration of both desired and alternative actions a trainee might take within the training simulation. In case of an incorrect action, the trainee would receive a prompt in the form of a recorded directive.
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