Employing virtual reality to support decision making in emergency management

Abstract Virtual reality is a popular term that refers to a variety of computer-generated and synthetic experiences. The core of virtual reality is an advanced interface to a human-machine simulation system, in which the system amplifies human intelligence rather than replacing it. Virtual reality consists of virtual sensations, visions, sounds, and other kinds of perceptual input. Technical components used in virtual reality range from mouse and voice input devices to motion detection systems and artificial skin. The user lives and acts in Cyberspace — the virtual world can be connected to the real world through teleoperation. The field of virtual reality is still in its infancy. Moving, feeling, and acting in Cyberspace is still a primitive technology. However, it is in this early stage of development that potential applications in emergency management should be investigated. The potential applications include training of emergency responders, virtual world navigation, tele-virtual conferencing, teleoperation, and telepresence. The purpose of this paper is twofold: (1) to provide the emergency management community with a pragmatic overview of virtual reality technology; and (2) to propose where the technology, as it emerges, could support problem solving and decision making in emergency management from prevention and mitigation to response and recovery.

[1]  J R Wilson,et al.  Navigation in hypertext through virtual environments. , 1993, Applied ergonomics.

[2]  Harrick M. Vin,et al.  Integrating virtual reality, tele-conferencing, and entertainment into multimedia home computers , 1992 .

[3]  David Zeltzer,et al.  Autonomy, Interaction, and Presence , 1992, Presence: Teleoperators & Virtual Environments.

[4]  Warren Robinson,et al.  Synthetic Experience: A Proposed Taxonomy , 1992, Presence Teleoperators Virtual Environ..

[5]  Steven L. Tanimoto.  The elements of artificial intelligence , 1800 .

[6]  Howard Rheingold,et al.  Virtual Reality , 1991 .

[7]  Robert L. Shrader,et al.  Electronic communication. , 1971, South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde.

[8]  Thomas B. Sheridan,et al.  Defining Our Terms , 1992, Presence: Teleoperators & Virtual Environments.

[9]  Warren Robinett,et al.  Synthetic experience , 1994 .

[10]  William A. Wallace,et al.  A prototype decision support system in hypermedia for operational control of hazardous material shipments , 1994, Decis. Support Syst..