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The Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) has received a simulation program for the training of dike runners, in which virtual reality glasses create the greatest possible practical relevance in the classroom. In the “Dike Defense Simulation” research project, the THW is investigating, among other things, whether and how operational civil protection can benefit from virtual reality and artificial intelligence.

THW dike runners check dike sections and mark and document damage in order to be able to specifically control the deployment of dike security forces. The virtual reality training system supports theoretical and practical training. The aspirants are assigned a virtual dike section, which they have to examine for various damages. Since the dike runners consist of teams of two people, two learners can also act in the simulation at the same time. The training staff can model or position various types of damage such as landslides, water leaks or cracks and simulate different flood levels. What is happening can also be observed from a training position.

Der virtuelle Deich wurde von Szenaris mit Unity3D realisiert und wird mit der Virtual-Reality-Brille HTC VivePro erfahrbar. Durch die Kombination aus dieser kabellosen Virtual-Reality-Brille und Sensoren, die im Raum installiert sind, ist es möglich, sich in der virtuellen Welt frei zu bewegen und den Deich „zu Fuß“ zu erkunden.

In addition to training, the simulator can also be used to prepare for a specific exam. The section that is to be checked is displayed. The dike runners can then familiarize themselves with the conditions in advance.

The virtual reality dike defense simulator is nominated for the delina Award 2021, which honors projects that combine modern technologies and media with everyday learning in an innovative way. The prize will be awarded at the leading European trade fair for digital education, Learntec, in June 2021 in Karlsruhe.

Gerhard Heiming