Challenge

Fire departments, emergency medical services, and other agencies and organizations responsible for public safety must prepare for a variety of emergency situations. This requires training opportunities that enable joint exercises and the testing of realistic scenarios. IN.SiTu demonstrates how virtual reality (VR) can specifically improve the training of emergency responders. In collaboration with emergency responders and training instructors, the requirements for such an environment are identified and directly implemented in realistic virtual training scenarios.

Objectives & Method

As part of the project, an Immersive Training Center (ITZ) is being established in Siegen at the former Bruchwerk Theater. Up to 16 people can work through the various training scenarios there together while wearing VR headsets. The participants’ virtual positions correspond exactly to their actual positions in the room. Control is achieved exclusively using their own hands. Additionally, the project is investigating how real, tangible objects can be integrated into the virtual world.

The scenarios are developed using Unity and refined in co-design workshops together with the participating associate partners. Training instructors and administrators can monitor the simulation and evaluate its progress in real time. The project is divided into four work packages. Implementation will take place in stages and in close collaboration with the partners. Empirical studies are planned after each stage to evaluate the developed approaches.

Expected Impact / Transfer

IN.SiTu is developing and investigating a VR training environment that enables collaborative training and the systematic evaluation of scenarios. After the 24-month project period—through June 2028—the ITZ will also be open for other applications and for teaching. This will create a long-term infrastructure in Siegen that can be used beyond the training scenarios developed in the project.

The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space.

The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR).

Key partners in the project include the University of Siegen, as well as associated industry partners: the Siegen-Wittgenstein District and the Siegen-Wittgenstein District Branch of the German Red Cross (DRK-Kreisverband Siegen-Wittgenstein e.V.).