Prototyping Virtual Reality Serious Games for Building Earthquake Preparedness: The Auckland City Hospital Case Study (1802.09119v1)

Abstract: Enhancing evacuee safety is a key factor in reducing the number of injuries and deaths that result from earthquakes. One way this can be achieved is by training occupants. Virtual Reality (VR) and Serious Games (SGs), represent novel techniques that may overcome the limitations of traditional training approaches. VR and SGs have been examined in the fire emergency context, however, their application to earthquake preparedness has not yet been extensively examined. We provide a theoretical discussion of the advantages and limitations of using VR SGs to investigate how building occupants behave during earthquake evacuations and to train building occupants to cope with such emergencies. We explore key design components for developing a VR SG framework: (a) what features constitute an earthquake event, (b) which building types can be selected and represented within the VR environment, (c) how damage to the building can be determined and represented, (d) how non-player characters (NPC) can be designed, and (e) what level of interaction there can be between NPC and the human participants. We illustrate the above by presenting the Auckland City Hospital, New Zealand as a case study, and propose a possible VR SG training tool to enhance earthquake preparedness in public buildings.

• The paper prototypes and tests virtual reality serious games at Auckland City Hospital, demonstrating their potential for improving earthquake preparedness training.
• Tests with 170 participants at ACH showed positive feedback on the VR environment's realism and earthquake simulation, indicating the potential for engaging training.
• VR serious games offer a controllable, cost-effective, and scalable alternative to traditional drills, capable of revolutionizing emergency preparedness training.

Insights on Virtual Reality Serious Games for Earthquake Preparedness: The Auckland City Hospital Case Study

This paper examines the utilization of Virtual Reality (VR) and Serious Games (SGs) as innovative tools to enhance earthquake preparedness, specifically focusing on evacuee behavior during such scenarios. With a case paper implementation at Auckland City Hospital (ACH), the research explores the untapped potential of VR SGs, offering insights into the behavioral paper and training framework needed for effective earthquake evacuation preparedness.

The paper delineates the considerable gaps that exist when using conventional drills for earthquake preparedness due to their lack of realism and feedback mechanisms. These deficiencies can be effectively addressed through VR and SGs, which can simulate various emergency scenarios, including building damage and the behavior of non-player characters (NPCs), under safe conditions without actual physical risks. This simulation approach seeks to bridge the experiential gap between traditional training exercises and real-life emergencies, particularly in earthquake-prone environments.

Key Components and Methodologies

The research details the design of two VR SG prototypes, intended for two core purposes: a Behavioral Prototype (BP) aimed at understanding human behavior during earthquakes, and a Training Prototype (TP) intended to inculcate best practices as per New Zealand Civil Defence guidelines. Key design aspects involved are:

• Earthquake Features: Simulating the earthquake’s main shock and after-effects through virtual shaking and visual cues in the environment.
• Building Representation: Utilizing Building Information Modeling (BIM) to accurately replicate sections of ACH, offering a high degree of engagement and familiarity for participants.
• NPC Design: Creatively scripting NPCs to represent realistic behaviors during emergency situations, thus enhancing the learning and behavioral outcomes for participants through social interaction.
• Participant Interaction: Facilitating the interface between human players and NPCs in a controlled virtual environment to accurately gather behavioral data in simulated emergencies.

Numerical Results and Insights

The paper conducted several tests involving staff and visitors at ACH, where 170 participants engaged with these VR prototypes. Feedback was collected using Likert-scale questionnaires, indicating positive reception towards the virtual environment’s realism, earthquake simulation, and NPC design, albeit with room for improvement, particularly in more dynamic NPC interactions. Achievement of high realism is critical as it influences both the perceived credibility of the virtual threat and the resultant participant engagement.

Implications and Future Directions

The implications of implementing VR SGs are multifaceted. Practically, they provide a controllable, cost-effective, and scalable solution to traditional earthquake preparedness training, potentially revolutionizing how public safety drills are conducted in diverse environments, particularly where conventional methods might pose challenges, such as in hospitals.

From a theoretical standpoint, VR SGs can significantly contribute to expanding the current understanding of human behavior in high-stakes emergency environments. Future research could explore enhanced NPC interaction to heighten realism, the long-term retention of knowledge acquired through VR training, and the psychological impacts of immersive emergency simulations. Additionally, addressing technological challenges such as motion sickness and integrating multisensory simulation will be crucial for future developments. Through continuous refinement, VR SGs hold promise for comprehensively transforming emergency preparedness protocols across the world.