Home -> Research Groups -> Human Factors and Ergonomics -> Projects -> Spatial Training Research In Virtual Environmnets

Project
Spatial Training Research In Virtual Environmnets


In Collaboration with:
Mississippi State University Police Department
Starkville Police Department

PI: Daniel Carruth
Team Members: Mark Thomas, John McGinley, Teena Garrison, Chris Blackledge, Aaron Autin, Dylan Anderson

Capabilities: 8 Camera Video Recording System

Description:

Law enforcement is increasingly called upon to effectively respond to active shooter events. Many of these events are infrequent, difficult or impossible to predict, and can result in significant loss of life. Officers must attempt to train to act under uncertainty in locations with which they have limited or no familiarity. When possible, SWAT teams will practice their tactics on-site at locations that are deemed to be high-risk such as schools or government buildings. However, the nature of these locations and other public locations necessarily limits the possibility for on-site SWAT and emergency responder training.

A major benefit of these on-site training sessions is exposure to the spatial layout and architecture of the location - exposure that cannot be matched by browsing maps or blueprints. It may be possible to use video game technology to expose law enforcement officers (and other emergency responders) to the spatial layout and architecture of many normally inaccessible locations.

We have recreated a Starkville building within commercial-off-the-shelf software. We are currently testing the impact of interactive computer-based training on performance during a simulated active shooter event at the real-world site.