Towards real-time human participation in virtual evacuation through a validated simulation tool

2017 ◽  
Vol 232 (5) ◽  
pp. 476-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriele Montecchiari ◽  
Gabriele Bulian ◽  
Paolo Gallina
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Design Research ◽  
Simulation Tool ◽  
Immersive Virtual Reality ◽  
Social Force ◽  
Evacuation Simulation ◽  
Batch Mode ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Computer Controlled

The analysis of the ship layout from the point of view of safe and orderly evacuation represents an important step in ship design, which can be carried out through agent-based evacuation simulation tools, typically run in batch mode. Introducing the possibility for humans to interactively participate in a simulated evacuation process together with computer-controlled agents can open a series of interesting possibilities for design, research and development. To this aim, this article presents the development of a validated agent-based evacuation simulation tool which allows real-time human participation through immersive virtual reality. The main characteristics of the underlying social-force-based modelling technique are described. The tool is verified and validated by making reference to International Maritime Organization test cases, experimental data and FDS + Evac simulations. The first approach for supporting real-time human participation is then presented. An initial experiment embedding immersive virtual reality human participation is described, together with outcomes regarding comparisons between human-controlled avatars and computer-controlled agents. Results from this initial testing are encouraging in pursuing the use of virtual reality as a tool to obtain information on human behaviour during evacuation.

scholarly journals SURG-03. IMMERSIVE VIRTUAL REALITY APPLICATIONS IN NEUROSURGICAL ONCOLOGY

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. iii461-iii461
Author(s):  
Andrea Carai ◽  
Angela Mastronuzzi ◽  
Giovanna Stefania Colafati ◽  
Paul Voicu ◽  
Nicola Onorini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Real Time ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Young Patients ◽  
Spatial Relationship ◽  
3D Models ◽  
Immersive Virtual Reality ◽  
Global Improvement ◽  
3D Rendering ◽  
Before And After

Abstract Tridimensional (3D) rendering of volumetric neuroimaging is increasingly been used to assist surgical management of brain tumors. New technologies allowing immersive virtual reality (VR) visualization of obtained models offer the opportunity to appreciate neuroanatomical details and spatial relationship between the tumor and normal neuroanatomical structures to a level never seen before. We present our preliminary experience with the Surgical Theatre, a commercially available 3D VR system, in 60 consecutive neurosurgical oncology cases. 3D models were developed from volumetric CT scans and MR standard and advanced sequences. The system allows the loading of 6 different layers at the same time, with the possibility to modulate opacity and threshold in real time. Use of the 3D VR was used during preoperative planning allowing a better definition of surgical strategy. A tailored craniotomy and brain dissection can be simulated in advanced and precisely performed in the OR, connecting the system to intraoperative neuronavigation. Smaller blood vessels are generally not included in the 3D rendering, however, real-time intraoperative threshold modulation of the 3D model assisted in their identification improving surgical confidence and safety during the procedure. VR was also used offline, both before and after surgery, in the setting of case discussion within the neurosurgical team and during MDT discussion. Finally, 3D VR was used during informed consent, improving communication with families and young patients. 3D VR allows to tailor surgical strategies to the single patient, contributing to procedural safety and efficacy and to the global improvement of neurosurgical oncology care.

scholarly journals Real-time visualization and interaction with static and live optical coherence tomography volumes in immersive virtual reality

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 2825 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Draelos ◽  
Brenton Keller ◽  
Christian Viehland ◽  
Oscar M. Carrasco-Zevallos ◽  
Anthony Kuo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optical Coherence Tomography ◽  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Immersive Virtual Reality ◽  
Optical Coherence ◽  
Real Time Visualization

Networked, Real Time Translation of 3D Mesh Data to Immersive Virtual Reality Environments

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Lesniak ◽  
Conrad S. Tucker ◽  
Sven Bilen ◽  
Janis Terpenny ◽  
Chimay Anumba
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
3D Reconstruction ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Real World ◽  
Immersive Virtual Reality ◽  
Virtual Reality Environment ◽  
3D Mesh ◽  
The Real ◽  
Time Translation ◽  
Sensing Systems

Immersive virtual reality systems have the potential to transform the manner in which designers create prototypes and collaborate in teams. Using technologies such as the Oculus Rift or the HTC Vive, a designer can attain a sense of “presence” and “immersion” typically not experienced by traditional CAD-based platforms. However, one of the fundamental challenges of creating a high quality immersive virtual reality experience is actually creating the immersive virtual reality environment itself. Typically, designers spend a considerable amount of time manually designing virtual models that replicate physical, real world artifacts. While there exists the ability to import standard 3D models into these immersive virtual reality environments, these models are typically generic in nature and do not represent the designer’s intent. To mitigate these challenges, the authors of this work propose the real time translation of physical objects into an immersive virtual reality environment using readily available RGB-D sensing systems and standard networking connections. The emergence of commercial, off-the shelf RGB-D sensing systems such as the Microsoft Kinect, have enabled the rapid 3D reconstruction of physical environments. The authors present a methodology that employs 3D mesh reconstruction algorithms and real time rendering techniques to capture physical objects in the real world and represent their 3D reconstruction in an immersive virtual realilty environment with which the user can then interact. A case study involving a commodity RGB-D sensor and multiple computers connected through standard TCP internet connections is presented to demonstrate the viability of the proposed methodology.

scholarly journals Agent-Based Virtual Environments for Marketing

2011 ◽  
pp. 129-137
Author(s):  
Rui Wang ◽  
Xiangyu Wang
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Virtual Environment ◽  
Mixed Reality ◽  
Model System ◽  
Immersive Virtual Reality ◽  
Commercial Sector ◽  
System Framework ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Learning Agents ◽  
Marketing Process

This chapter investigates the use of SecondLife as a virtual environment to help the commercial sector in marketing process. It presents the use of Immersive Virtual Reality concept to design a distributed marketing system for commercial sector based on the Benford’s Mixed Reality boundaries theory and Motivated Learning Agents model. System framework has been proposed in this chapter and boundaries as well as agents factors in this framework have been discussed.

scholarly journals Gorilla: An Open Interface for Smart Agents and Real-Time Power Microgrid System Simulations

Inventions ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Vélez-Rivera ◽  
Fabio Andrade ◽  
Emmanuel Arzuaga-Cruz ◽  
Agustín Irizarry-Rivera
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
System Model ◽  
Simulation Tool ◽  
Electrical Model ◽  
Electrical System ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Simulated Environment ◽  
Time Simulation ◽  
Special Cases ◽  
External Interface

A recurring issue when studying agent-based algorithms and strategies for Power Microgrid Systems is having to construct an interface between the agent domain and the electrical model domain being simulated. Many different tools exist for such simulations, each with its own special external interface. Although many interfacing efforts have been published before, many of them support only special cases, while others are too complex and require a long learning curve to be used for even simple scenarios. This work presents a simple programming application interface (API) that aims to provide programming access to the electrical system model for any real-time simulation tool, from any agent-based platform, or programming language. The simplicity of the interface stems from the assumption that the simulation happens in real-time and the agent domain is not being simulated. We propose four basic operations for the API: read, write, call, and subscribe/call-back. We tested these by supporting two examples. In one of the examples, we present a creative way to have the model access libraries that are not available in the simulated environment.

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