Development of a virtual reality application for disaster preparedness training in St. Dominic College of Asia /
Paulin Arvian R. Hala.
- Manila : Technological University of the Philippines, 2020.
- x, 342 pages : color illustrations ; 29 cm. + 1 CDROM (4 3/4 in)
Master's thesis.
College of Industrial Technology. --
Includes bibliography.
The advent of the Virtual Reality (VR) technology opens doors not only to more immersive entertainment but also to better training opportunities strategies for disaster management. VR’s immersive experience offers the wearer a realistic experience and can, therefore, be used to better prepare an individual for situational hazard acclimatization compared to other conventional techniques such as a classroom or traditional methods of learning. Through projecting a digital world, VR can be utilized to simulate any type of scenario conveniently, thus reducing the cost, monetary or otherwise, of preparing a mock drill for disaster management training. This is most of the time not possible or feasible either because it is inherently unsafe, regulatory-wise disallowed, or because it involves significant individuals and assets. It also helps to bring down the anxiety for the target audience, depending on how realistic simulation is, thereby allowing for better thinking for self-safety during crucial moments. VR is now being used in a wide range of practical applications, including pilot flight simulation, medical preparedness for virtual surgery, and military training. This project study aimed to develop a mobile based VR application for Disaster Preparedness Training in St. Dominic College of Asia. It used the Unity realtime application for the VR simulation, Blender for creating 3D models and infrastructure, Photoshop CS6, and C# programming language. The systems proof of concept was shown through fire, earthquake, and typhoon scenarios, while at the same time suggesting at the end its hazards and mitigation strategies. The developed application was proven acceptable in terms of reliability, usability, and portability as it was rated “excellent” by the respondents composed of students, employees, IT experts, and representatives from the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office.