Crisis management training using discrete-event simulation and virtual reality techniques

Abstract Virtual reality (VR) refers to an immersive, interactive, multi-sensory, viewer-centered, three-dimensional (3D) computer generated environment and the combination of technologies required to build such an environment (Cruz-Neira, 1993). Related to problems of engineering design and manufacturing, this new technology offers engineers the ability to work with computer models in a three-dimensional, immersive environment. This paper describes a virtual reality application where the results of a discrete event simulation of a manufacturing cell are integrated with a virtual model of the cell to produce a virtual environment. The program described in this paper, the VR Factory, allows the user to investigate how various changes to the manufacturing cell affect part production. This investigation is performed while immersed in a computer generated three-dimensional representation of the cell. This paper describes the creation of the VR model of the manufacturing cell, the animation of the environment and the implementation of the results of the discrete event simulation.

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Hybrid Discrete Event Simulation and Virtual Reality Experimental Setup for Construction Management Research

Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering ◽

10.1061/(asce)cp.1943-5487.0000366 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 29 (1) ◽

pp. 04014029 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Rafael Sacks ◽

Ury Gurevich ◽

Biniamin Belaciano

Keyword(s):

Virtual Reality ◽

Discrete Event Simulation ◽

Construction Management ◽

Discrete Event ◽

Experimental Setup ◽

Management Research ◽

Event Simulation

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Discrete Event Simulation Implemented in a Virtual Environment

Journal of Mechanical Design ◽

10.1115/1.1587745 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 125 (3) ◽

pp. 428-433 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Jason Kelsick ◽

Judy M. Vance ◽

Lori Buhr ◽

Cheryl Moller

Keyword(s):

Virtual Reality ◽

Virtual Environment ◽

Discrete Event Simulation ◽

New Technology ◽

Discrete Event ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Computer Models ◽

Manufacturing Cell ◽

Event Simulation ◽

Projection Screen

Virtual reality (VR) technology provides a human-computer interface that allows participants to interact naturally with digital objects which are represented as three-dimensional images that occupy positions in a three-dimensional world. Related to problems of engineering design and manufacturing, this new technology offers engineers the ability to work with computer models in a three-dimensional, immersive environment. This paper describes a virtual reality application where the results of a discrete event simulation of a manufacturing cell are integrated with a virtual model of the cell to produce a virtual environment. The program described in this paper, the VRFactory, combines results from a commercial discrete event simulation program, SLAM II, with a virtual environment. This allows the user to investigate, using three-dimensional computer models, how various changes to the manufacturing cell affect part production. This investigation is performed while immersed in a computer-generated three-dimensional representation of the cell. Existing discrete event programming software allows only two-dimensional views of the factory as the parts progress through the simulation. Parts are shown only as primitive geometric shapes on the computer monitor and instantaneously move from one station to the next. The virtual environment implementation of the SLAM II results allows users to experience the simulation in a fully immersive three-dimensional digital environment. The virtual environment used here is a CAVE™-like projection screen-based facility called the C2, which is located at Iowa State University. This paper describes the creation of the VR model of the manufacturing cell, the animation of the environment and the implementation of the results of the discrete event simulation.

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