Smart Simulation Training System for Disaster Preparedness

Yun-Chung Wang from ITRI,

Taiwan Smart City Project Office

According to United Nations, 55% of the population currently lives in urban areas globally. The number is predicted to increase to nearly 70% by 2050. Asia and Africa are expected to take nearly 90% of the urban population growth. The demand for living resources and building facilities from urban residents also increased, such as ensuring adequate housing, transport and infrastructure. Cities account for less than 2% of the world's total area. With limited space and land resources, more high-rise buildings, large-scale buildings as well as underground buildings are gradually needed. Diverse and complex building structure has also brought concerns for disaster relief. When an accident occurs, looking for complex evacuation route in unfamiliar environment might cause rescue/escape time longer, especially in a panic mood.

Taking Taiwan for instance, with urbanization rate of 80%, Taiwan is densely populated much higher than the world average. Living in the concrete jungle, it is important to find evacuation route and exit from the interior of buildings effectively. Holding disaster preparedness drills can not only enable citizens to quickly respond but also be prepared for emergencies. However, due to the lack of sense of presence in the drill, it is not easy to enhance learning willingness, and thus reduce training efficiency.

Big x Reality, a Taiwan company, has launched "AI CloudXR Smart Simulation Training System", which allows people to carry out immersive disaster preparedness drills in virtual reality(VR) with 3D images. By wearing VR helmet and holding VR integrated electronic hose nozzle or fire extinguisher, the immersive experiential training integrates learning by doing. Simulation training also applies to firefighters. The system can set different fire scenes, such as indoor firefighting (apartment residences, iron sheet buildings, factories), major accident scenes, and firefighting at port/vessel, etc. It can also set the fire spot with different number and location of people to be rescued. Firefighters can exercise jointly in different realistic situations, and can carry out intensive training for common mistakes. According to the data analysis after the training, it is found that the training efficiency has increased by more than 35%. AI CloudXR Smart Simulation Training System integrates software and hardware in a single suitcase, which saves room space and provide training in safe circumstances as well as reduces the requirement for human power and cost of management.

With supports from Taiwan Smart city project, Big x Reality has promoted AI CloudXR Smart Simulation Training System to the fire department of Hsinchu, Penghu and Lianjiang county. In addition to service in Taiwan, Big x Reality has also signed a memorandum of understanding with Malaysia, and has negotiated cooperation with Thailand, St. Lucia, Paraguay, Guatemala, Swatini and other countries. Look forward to expand Taiwan's experience of fire protection overseas as well as share the impact of Taiwan's smart city governance and technological innovation.

Picture: Join immersive simulation training with portable equipment

About Taiwan Smart City Project：

In order to lead industrial upgrade and digital transformation, Taiwan government promotes the Smart City Project in 22 counties and cities, developing innovative solutions in six major fields including "health", "governance/safety", "transportation", "agriculture", "education", and "tourism/retail". With about 300 companies participating and developing 223 smart services, benefiting 8.54 million people, the promotion of the project has achieved fruitful results.

About Big x Reality：

Big x Reality provides VR integration simulation training applications in the fields of military, police, airport security, etc., including occupational safety and health simulation training, simulators for airport airside driving, heavy machinery simulation training, large-scale shooting simulation training and other diversified products and services. By 2021, under the support of Taiwan Smart City Project, Big x Reality has extended to the field of fire prevention and promoted the AI CloudXR Smart Simulation Training System.

If you are interested in the project, please contact Mr. Yun-Chung Wang: ychwang@itri.org.tw