Simulation of Fire in a Virtual Environment

A project is proposed to develop a virtual environment to provide an immersion fire fighting simulation. The temperature extremes fire fighters are exposed to, make fire fighter one of the most dangerous occupations in the world. A safe fire fighting simulation and training system would help fire fighters to better survive this hostile environment. The Phase I project will define the external sensory factors that must be reinforced to create a realistic fire fighting simulation. Actual fire fighter experienced sensory data will be obtained by using electronic/mechanical measuring devices. The sensory data to be gathered will include heat, humidity, and sounds experienced by fire fighters while wearing a "bunker suit". Human factors involved with wearing a bunker suit will also be collected. The collected data will be analyzed to determine which senses should be stimulated to what degree during an immersive virtual environment fire fighting simulation. Recommendations on how to construct sensors to simulate a fire in an immersive virtual environment will be developed.