Incident Command Virtual Reality ICVR Immersive Training System
Authors: Abu Haleeqa Abdulla , McIntyre Simon , Al Afifi Sultan , Taqi Fawad , Butt Bilal , Simmons Rodney , Rodrigues Clarence 
Published: November 2018

This paper discusses utilizing virtual reality simulation enhancement to Incident Command (IC) training. The objectives of this Project are to: Improve the understanding of incident management procedures within the organization.Increase the competence and confidence of personnel when dealing with an emergency.Test, enhance and deliver the facility response plans currently in place.Develop new visually credible scenarios to ensure preparedness measures are adequate.Provide a structured modern solution for training and assessment of emergency personnel performing critical roles.

Emergency Response is one of the toughest tasks that come mostly unannounced, especially due to the limitations of knowns during the occurrence and short time to react decisively towards damage control. Professionals in incident command are required to prioritize their response strategy to mitigate the consequences according to the usual hierarchy (People, Environment, Assets, and Reputation). This makes communication and swift decision-making crucial to control the risk. In this project, the platform maps an existing facility into a virtual environment to train and assess Incident Management Team (IMT) members according to their specific roles against identified credible scenarios.

Virtual reality simulation will not replace, rather compliment, actual physical emergency response training by focusing on the minds of those who have to make decisions at critical times, while embedding the fundamentals of incident management.

The training and assessment take into consideration the following: Trainees' situational awareness and judgment under pressure.Ability of the trainees to dynamically assess risk for any given situation.Effectiveness of communication made by the trainees throughout the incident.Suitability of the Facility Response Plan (FRP).

The results of the project exceeded expectations, leading to an efficient unified approach in incident management. Subject trainees gained a greater understanding of the mind set required and procedures involved. This was achieved through self-evaluation, instructor feedback, peer guidance/constructive criticism based on their performance and the incident outcome.

The training is primarily focused on frontline Incident Management team members and highlights gaps in people's performance, it opens the door for further enhancement/refreshment and the potential to train towards improvement in a team member's current role or towards the next level of incident management, which is more tactically=based within the Incident Command Center (ICC) for those who show potential and seek career enhancement.

Virtual simulation training has been utilized in many industries and businesses to train and assess professionals in their jobs such as aviation, plant operations, sophisticated military control systems, welding, medical professions (especially surgeons), and rehabilitation centers. Even emergency response training centers utilized generic virtual environments for that purpose.

Below is a link to a short video about the project https://www.dropbox.com/s/rsegrywi1didaz2/Asab%20ICVR%20100%25HSE%20%281%29.p4?dl=0