Practical skills training in enclosure fires: An experimental study with cadets and firefighters using CAVE and HMD-based virtual training simulators

Abstract

Training in enclosure fires is essential because it is one of the most dangerous tasks for firefighters. The training simulators should consider the specificity of the tasks performed to achieve the best training outcomes. Additionally, the end-users may not accept even the best technical solutions. Due to the availability of many different interfaces and methods (e.g., for image presentation), end-users' opinions are essential in choosing the best possible technologies. In this research, the aim is to create and compare two realistic virtual training systems for fighting enclosure fires, CAVE (Cave Automated Virtual Environment) with projectors and VR (Virtual Reality) with HMD (Head Mounted Display). Both focused on nozzle person training to fill the gap between theoretical training and real-life training with fires (e.g., drills with class A fuels). Efforts were made to minimize the disadvantages of training simulators while maintaining high simulation realism and low simulator cost. The study was conducted with the participation of 67 cadets and seven active firefighters. The method of reducing the limitations of VR training simulators while maintaining relatively low costs is discussed. The simulator enables multisensory experience with passive haptic and multi-user interaction considering the sense of touch. The VR simulator was rated better than the CAVE simulator, but both were accepted and rated as very useful. The paper also discusses the issues of simulation sickness symptoms, simulation realism (spatial presence), usability, acceptance of technology, and stress associated with using a training simulator.