A Multi-role, Multi-user, Multi-technology Virtual Reality-based Road Tunnel Fire Simulator for Training Purposes

The simulation of fire emergency scenarios in Virtual Reality (VR) for training purposes has a large number of advantages. A key benefit is the possibility to minimize the associated risks if compared with live fire training. Fire in road tunnels is among the most complex and hazardous events to be dealt with in this context, since the outcome of the incident depends on the actions of both the emergency operators and the involved civilians. This paper presents a VR-based road tunnel fire simulator designed to support multiple roles (firefighters, as well as occupants of both light and heavy vehicles) which can be played by multiple networked users leveraging a broad set of technologies and devices. The simulation tool - named FrejusVR - is developed as a serious game for training purposes, and includes functionalities to assess the users' actions which make it suited to a broad range of applications encompassing not only the training of operators, but also the study of human behavior during emergencies and the communication of safety prescriptions to tunnel users. The simulation uses data from a Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) to support a realistic visualization of smoke in VR, whereas for reproducing the spreading of fire a non-physically accurate, yet credible, simulation is adopted in order to guarantee interactivity.