Biological Sampling Training Simulator
Citation:
Boe, T., W. Calfee, P. Lemieux, L. Mickelsen, E. Thomas-Shumaker, L. Blair, J. Graney, AND M. Tart. Biological Sampling Training Simulator. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/B-20/124, 2020.
Impact/Purpose:
A virtual reality-based platform for supporting biological surface sampling training.The Biological Sampling Training Simulator is made in the Unity 3D game engine and optimized for the Oculus Rift S Head Mounted Display (HMD). It is designed to be an introduction or refresher training application for biological surface sampling as well as a general feasibility test for the use of VR and photogrammetry technologies in supporting sampling activities.
Description:
This training platform seeks to reduce the burden associated with planning and conducting full-scale disaster exercises by creating an immersive experience that allows the user to explore and interact with their environment through the use of VR, while outside the potentially contaminated response environment. Furthermore, by integrating hand-tracking capabilities, a sample collection training module has been developed for training personnel on biological surface sampling techniques, and for assessing personnel’s progress. The importance of disaster response training and exercise activities on emergency personnel are well documented throughout the literature. However, these exercises, especially full-scale disaster exercises, are expensive, time consuming, difficult to organize, and are limited in scope. One technology solution capable of addressing this dilemma is virtual reality (VR). VR is a simulated, immersive environment that the user can explore and interact with through the use of a head-mounted display and optional handheld controllers.