The Oerol festival on the island of Terschelling has been completed again. As always, emergency services have prepared themselves thoroughly for this annual cultural festival. Safety region Fryslân has held an extensive wildfire drill using XVR On Scene.
Show moreIn the scenario, a major natural fire occurred during the Oerol festival. The drought causes the fire to spread rapidly and parts of the island need to be evacuated. Emergency services had to act from both Terschelling itself and from Harlingen. "During the exercise, additional emergency services were transferred to Terschelling, but it takes a while to get to the island," explains Christiaan Bruggen, exercise leader of Safety Region Friesland. "That is why all Frisian Waddenzee islands must be able to cope for themselves for the first few hours with the emergency services and materials that are already present on the island".
Watch this video for more information on the exercise at Terschelling.
XVR On Scene was used to assist the emergency services in the visualisation of the incident. At various locations, scaling up and escalations of the incident were started simultaneously in XVR On Scene.
Watch this video for more information on the exercise at Terschelling.
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The XVR Resource Management (RM) module is all about inter agency collaboration and managing a large scale crisis and the logistical issues that come with it.
During the first DRIVER+ trial, RM featured in a large, international collaboration of over 100 firefighters from three different countries, in which RM contributed to the visualisation of the crisis and the incident response efforts.
In the scenario, more than 2,5 million cubic meters of toxic waste has flooded into a European town. 15 people have died and 200 people suffer from severe toxic injuries. The toxic flood covers an area of 30 square kilometres. Chaos is spreading and dozens of buildings are on fire. Using RM, the crisis management centre must decide when and where to allocate resources.
Click here to see a video produced by Euronews on the trial.
The first DRIVER+ Trial has been completed. DRIVER+ is already ramping up to perform their second trial. Read more about DRIVER+ here.
In the scenario, more than 2,5 million cubic meters of toxic waste has flooded into a European town. 15 people have died and 200 people suffer from severe toxic injuries. The toxic flood covers an area of 30 square kilometres. Chaos is spreading and dozens of buildings are on fire. Using RM, the crisis management centre must decide when and where to allocate resources.
Click here to see a video produced by Euronews on the trial.
The first DRIVER+ Trial has been completed. DRIVER+ is already ramping up to perform their second trial. Read more about DRIVER+ here.
Global leader in virtual reality training software XVR Simulation B.V. has chosen maritime services provider Blue Orange Wave B.V. as preferred reseller for the maritime and offshore markets. In this role, Blue Orange Wave will be responsible for all global sales and support efforts of the XVR Platform in these designated markets.
XVR Simulation CEO Joost Beerthuis is excited about the newly formed partnership. “With Blue Orange Wave as our preferred reseller, we’re able to offer the maritime and offshore market the same personal and flexible approach as our users have come to know us by. The people behind Blue Orange Wave have years of experience in the maritime and offshore market, enabling them to offer sound advice and tailor made solutions to users.”
Tim Lodder, CEO of Blue Orange Wave, is looking forward to continue the maritime and offshore efforts of XVR Simulation. “Blue Orange Wave and XVR Simulation share a common mission to enhance the knowledge and expertise of maritime safety & security professionals to improve their preparedness for any incident or disaster. The XVR Platform has a proven track record and is already active in these industries. We are looking forward to extend our services to a wider group of users worldwide”.
XVR Simulation has chosen Blue Orange Wave as preferred reseller for the maritime market for their extensive range of services it provides. Tim Lodder: “Blue Orange Wave offers solutions specifically designed for maritime safety and security professionals. We’ll support them with software implementation, scenario development or advice.”
Joost Beerthuis is very confident about the partnership: “Combining the flexibility and user friendliness of the XVR Platform with the knowledge and experience of Blue Orange Wave results in the best possible solutions for existing challenges in the maritime and offshore markets, especially in the fields of Safety, Security and Environment.”
End of press release
About XVR Simulation
XVR Simulation is the world’s leading developer of simulation technology for the education, training and assessment of safety & security professionals. It is the mission of XVR Simulation to enhance the knowledge and expertise of these professionals, improving their preparedness for any incident or disaster. The XVR platform offers a set of modular solutions for all your training objectives, from operational to strategic command levels.
For more information please visit our website at www.xvrsim.com or contact Rindert Reitsma via marketing@xvrsim.com
About Blue Orange Wave
Blue Orange Wave is a globally operating maritime services and consultancy company. We provide an extensive range of innovative business solutions, hands-on advice, project management and support. Blue Orange Wave focusses on all kinds engaged to the maritime and offshore industry with a special focus on quality, health, safety, security, environment and training.
For more information please visit our website at www.blueorangewave.com or contact us at info@blueorangewave.com
The official opening of the new simulation centre at the Home Team Academy (HTA) in Singapore is headlining several Singaporean newspapers and newschannels. Home Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam of Singapore opened the new simulation centre on Monday (May 21).
Mr Shanmugam indicates at Channel News Asia: “The simulation will get the officers in-sync, and give them a hands-on feel as well as a relevance of command skills. We will need to strengthen Home Team integration, based on common values, a shared mission and the academy has a key role to play in that”.
During the past year XVR, together with the XVR Regional Support Centre operated by Coventry Enterprises Singapore, have worked hard to set up this state of the art simulation centre which brings together all XVR Simulation Platform modules into one single Simulation Suite. In the Simulation Suite, participants are confronted with 3D on scene images in the highly realistic virtual 3D environments.
In addition to the CCTV or on-scene views, trainees can use the XVR ‘Communications and Media’ module to view the internal and external information flow on websites, intranet, e-mail, Whatsapp and other communication means used during a real incident. The constructive simulation module XVR Resource Management provides the trainees and the exercise staff with a real-time overview of the location and activity status of all emergency resources in Singapore.
Newspaper The Straits Times also spoke with several participants who already trained in the new simulation centre. Staff Sergeant Siti Badariah of Tanglin Police Division says: “It’s as close to what we are going to experience on the ground. In real life, you won’t get a situation where just one thing is happening, especially if the area is big. The system gives us that option to try inject simultaneously”.
HTA has developed the system and scenario’s not only with the help of XVR Simulation but also aided by extensive police front-line experienced men like Deputy Superintendent Kenny Yeo. “As soon as the commander has decided how to deal with the first inject, we can prepare to release the second. We train a commander to multi-task.. how he can maintain an overview when two things are happening at the same time”.
A selection of 15 different scenarios has been prepared, all of which can be altered and intensified with the introduction of new elements, evolving based on the commanders’ decisions. Benefits of the simulator include manpower savings and increased training frequency, as it can mirror logistically intensive large-scale training exercises that come with deployment constraints.
During the past year XVR, together with the XVR Regional Support Centre operated by Coventry Enterprises Singapore, have worked hard to set up this state of the art simulation centre which brings together all XVR Simulation Platform modules into one single Simulation Suite. In the Simulation Suite, participants are confronted with 3D on scene images in the highly realistic virtual 3D environments.
In addition to the CCTV or on-scene views, trainees can use the XVR ‘Communications and Media’ module to view the internal and external information flow on websites, intranet, e-mail, Whatsapp and other communication means used during a real incident. The constructive simulation module XVR Resource Management provides the trainees and the exercise staff with a real-time overview of the location and activity status of all emergency resources in Singapore.
Newspaper The Straits Times also spoke with several participants who already trained in the new simulation centre. Staff Sergeant Siti Badariah of Tanglin Police Division says: “It’s as close to what we are going to experience on the ground. In real life, you won’t get a situation where just one thing is happening, especially if the area is big. The system gives us that option to try inject simultaneously”.
HTA has developed the system and scenario’s not only with the help of XVR Simulation but also aided by extensive police front-line experienced men like Deputy Superintendent Kenny Yeo. “As soon as the commander has decided how to deal with the first inject, we can prepare to release the second. We train a commander to multi-task.. how he can maintain an overview when two things are happening at the same time”.
A selection of 15 different scenarios has been prepared, all of which can be altered and intensified with the introduction of new elements, evolving based on the commanders’ decisions. Benefits of the simulator include manpower savings and increased training frequency, as it can mirror logistically intensive large-scale training exercises that come with deployment constraints.
We are in Austria, at the Österreichisches Rotes Kreuz Steiermark (ÖRKS, the Austrian Red Cross) to officially award the Centre of Excellence status to Mag. Dr. Werner Weinhofer, the president of ÖRK Steiermark.
Founder and COO of XVR Simulation Steven Lohman together with president of the ÖRKS Mag. Dr. Werner Weinhofer
ÖRKS has been using XVR since 2011 and is continuously looking for ways to further improve their training centre. To learn more about their training efforts, we’re meeting with Helmut Aschbacher.
Helmut is the deputy head of operations at the ÖRKS. “It’s really great that we’ve been awarded the Centre of Excellence status. With it, we would like to anchor XVR more strongly in Steiermark and Austria, and with the status of Centre of Excellence, our visibility is greatly increased.”
“During the last seven years we’ve fully integrated the XVR software in our curriculum. All officers are regularly trained and even examined with XVR.” Aschbacher says. “We’ve developed 3 different training procedures, the Training stage, Consolidation stage and the Expert stage.”
“In the Training stage, we instruct the participant to analyse the incident and initiate a discussion with the group on how to proceed. Step by step we go through any further possibilities and discuss and decide the course of action.”
Martin Reich showing several scenarios to Steven Lohman
Helmut Aschbacher continues: “The Consolidation stage is an individual training form. We’re using interactive inserts and learning objective bookmarks. The participant is able to repeat a certain aspect of the training by reloading the learning objective bookmark. The student is able to interact with the avatars. In this stage, the trainer also interacts with the participant through interactive inserts.”
“In the Expert phase, we try and be as realistic as possible. The scenario runs in real-time, without interruption. Communication via radio is transmitted via the real rescue control centre and instructors act interactively with the students in real time.” Aschbacher goes on: “We have developed around 10 scenarios, with each 3 to 4 variants, this way we’re always able to provide our students with a new experience.”
The Steiermark Red Cross has a permanent training team of six experienced officers, who all have at least 10 years’ experience. “We try to achieve a healthy growth in our team of trainers. Not only does our current team regularly attend internal and external trainings, each year we also take on one new trainer and train them in the concept and technology. This leads towards a sustainable personnel policy.”
“We’re also looking to improve the quality of future trainings” Aschbacher continues. “A thesis is being written at the Austria Institut of Technology on our methodology and didactics with VR trainings. With this theses we’re hoping to use XVR more effectively and train even more employees.”
Steiermark Red Cross is also working with the University of Graz. “We are accompanied by an occupational psychologist of the University to find out how the decision making process in crisis situations can be improved. We expect to incorporate the results in our XVR training to train even better officers.
Mag. Dr. Werner Weinhofer working with XVR
XVR Close Up is a new segment in which we will take a closer look at some of our users and their stories. To kick-off this new segment we’ve paid a visit to Giessen, Germany.
The Fire and Rescue service Giessen has been using XVR On Scene for over a year now. They have a fixed training centre with three training pods and provide exercises for all levels of emergency management. Nothing out of the ordinary so far, yet Giessen might serve as a perfect example to other districts in Germany.
We are sitting down with Kreisbrandmeister Wolfgang Then (the Districts Fire Chief). “We saw a clear need to train in a virtual environment. New incident commanders have little experience in the field, and may need to boost their confidence by experiencing situations first hand. Commanding officers needed to learn new procedures to be used in the field. Both can be easily taught and repeated during a virtual training. A colleague who previously worked for the professional firefighters of Frankfurt pointed out the advantages of XVR On Scene to us.”
Wolfgang Then goes on: “Seeing the need was one thing however. In order to get funding we needed to convince the other municipalities to join in. After careful consideration we invited XVR to give a demonstration during the annual meeting of the entire district. Eventually, all 18 municipalities agreed to start using XVR, to which every municipality contributes.”
The Giessen fire fighters are creating the scenarios, and lead all trainings on a voluntary basis. Supervision of the training quality and didactics development is supervised by the districts fire inspection. Wolfgang Then: “I believe Giessen is a very good example of how a district like ours can profit from the benefits of VR training.”
Landkreis Giessen has been using XVR for over a year now. “I think we can safely say that we can create every scenario imaginable. Training with XVR allows us to train all levels of command, as often as we want. In either an individual-, group- or hybrid form of training.”
“The Hybrid training is a perfect example of how we combine XVR with more traditional forms of training. The districts entire head of technical operations gets involved in the hybrid training. The commanding officer interacts with XVR displaying the incident. He reports his findings via radio to the Mobile Command Post outside the training facility, in which the head of operations team are performing their training simultaneously.”
We are sitting down with Kreisbrandmeister Wolfgang Then (the Districts Fire Chief). “We saw a clear need to train in a virtual environment. New incident commanders have little experience in the field, and may need to boost their confidence by experiencing situations first hand. Commanding officers needed to learn new procedures to be used in the field. Both can be easily taught and repeated during a virtual training. A colleague who previously worked for the professional firefighters of Frankfurt pointed out the advantages of XVR On Scene to us.”
Wolfgang Then goes on: “Seeing the need was one thing however. In order to get funding we needed to convince the other municipalities to join in. After careful consideration we invited XVR to give a demonstration during the annual meeting of the entire district. Eventually, all 18 municipalities agreed to start using XVR, to which every municipality contributes.”
The Giessen fire fighters are creating the scenarios, and lead all trainings on a voluntary basis. Supervision of the training quality and didactics development is supervised by the districts fire inspection. Wolfgang Then: “I believe Giessen is a very good example of how a district like ours can profit from the benefits of VR training.”
Landkreis Giessen has been using XVR for over a year now. “I think we can safely say that we can create every scenario imaginable. Training with XVR allows us to train all levels of command, as often as we want. In either an individual-, group- or hybrid form of training.”
“The Hybrid training is a perfect example of how we combine XVR with more traditional forms of training. The districts entire head of technical operations gets involved in the hybrid training. The commanding officer interacts with XVR displaying the incident. He reports his findings via radio to the Mobile Command Post outside the training facility, in which the head of operations team are performing their training simultaneously.”
Wolfgang Then is very pleased to be using XVR: “Training with VR is an active, realistic and captivating way to train. The trainee is fully immersed in the scenario, much more than traditional table top training. We’ve been training more and are able to assess situations better. I’m really happy that we have been able to implement XVR with the support of the entire district.”
Two years ago, Smit Salvage established a partnership with XVR Simulation to innovate and enhance their Managing Marine Emergencies (MME) training course.
After thorough testing and implementation, Smit Salvage now has a modern and future proof training program with both XVR On Scene and Crisis Media.
Smit Salvage, part of Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V., organised the first official training with the XVR Platform in the headquarters of Boskalis in Papendrecht on 23 November. A total of 21 participants were trained in managing communication channels during a crisis at sea. The participants were divided into 4 groups, who were simultaneously trying to manage an emergency in which a multi-purpose cargo vessel got grounded and had to be salvaged.
Using a live video feed, each separate group was closely monitored during the one and a half hour training by an operator who ensured the progress of the training. The outcome of the training was different for each group but basically ended in one of two ways, either with the ship being successfully salvaged, or the ship breaking apart and the group being sued.
After the training, a central evaluation was carried out. Operators and scenario leaders assessed which team communicated best, and participants could explain the decisions they made during the training. Participants considered the training very useful and realistic. Smit Salvage is very enthusiastic about the implementation of the XVR Platform and is looking at possibilities to deploy it more widely and frequently. More information on the MME course here.
Smit Salvage, part of Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V., organised the first official training with the XVR Platform in the headquarters of Boskalis in Papendrecht on 23 November. A total of 21 participants were trained in managing communication channels during a crisis at sea. The participants were divided into 4 groups, who were simultaneously trying to manage an emergency in which a multi-purpose cargo vessel got grounded and had to be salvaged.
Using a live video feed, each separate group was closely monitored during the one and a half hour training by an operator who ensured the progress of the training. The outcome of the training was different for each group but basically ended in one of two ways, either with the ship being successfully salvaged, or the ship breaking apart and the group being sued.
After the training, a central evaluation was carried out. Operators and scenario leaders assessed which team communicated best, and participants could explain the decisions they made during the training. Participants considered the training very useful and realistic. Smit Salvage is very enthusiastic about the implementation of the XVR Platform and is looking at possibilities to deploy it more widely and frequently. More information on the MME course here.
Fire brigades from all over Switzerland are now able to train with XVR Simulation as a result of a very new and ingenious training concept.
CoNet GmbH, one of the leading providers of firefighting software in Switzerland, has developed a hybrid of a mobile and fixed XVR Simulation Centre. In a bus!
The bus was first presented at the Suissepublic firefighting trade fair in June this year and was welcomed with a lot of interest. Some fire brigades were so eager that they have already been trained by the XVR Simulation Centre Bus. Several other fire brigades have expressed their interest in booking for 2018.
Prior to the actual training in the mobile suite, a preliminary meeting is scheduled in which the time schedule and group formation are determined. From a catalogue of approx. 20 different scenarios, variating from a "small kitchen fire" to a "major chemical event", the customer or trainer can select the exercises that are suitable for his organisation.
It’s possible to organize both individual and group trainings with the bus. It’s equipped with three workplaces, each with a large screen monitor, joystick and video recording. It’s also possible to expand the bus with an outer tent, allowing for an extra workplace. During a team training each participant has his or her own role in the incident. Just like normal XVR exercises, everything is being supervised by an instructor who also has a designated workplace in the bus. The participants communicate via their radios and thus issue their orders or report the situation at the front.
More information at www.conet.ch
The bus was first presented at the Suissepublic firefighting trade fair in June this year and was welcomed with a lot of interest. Some fire brigades were so eager that they have already been trained by the XVR Simulation Centre Bus. Several other fire brigades have expressed their interest in booking for 2018.
Prior to the actual training in the mobile suite, a preliminary meeting is scheduled in which the time schedule and group formation are determined. From a catalogue of approx. 20 different scenarios, variating from a "small kitchen fire" to a "major chemical event", the customer or trainer can select the exercises that are suitable for his organisation.
It’s possible to organize both individual and group trainings with the bus. It’s equipped with three workplaces, each with a large screen monitor, joystick and video recording. It’s also possible to expand the bus with an outer tent, allowing for an extra workplace. During a team training each participant has his or her own role in the incident. Just like normal XVR exercises, everything is being supervised by an instructor who also has a designated workplace in the bus. The participants communicate via their radios and thus issue their orders or report the situation at the front.
More information at www.conet.ch
MASA and XVR Simulation (XVR) are ready to collaborate and benefit from each other’s expertise in order to further develop their own products and markets.
Paris, Delft, 27 November 2017 – The strategic relationship between MASA Group (“MASA”), a leading developer of Artificial Intelligence-based simulation software, and XVR Simulation B.V (“XVR”), a global leader in virtual reality training software, will be reinforced this month following the signing of both a partnership and a reseller agreement. These agreements will confirm the partnership between the two companies to develop and sell their products (MASA SWORD & XVR Platform) in their respective domains.
MASA products are successfully in use worldwide, including the French, Brazilian, New Zealand, Swiss, Bangladesh and Colombian Armies. XVR is used to train emergency personnel in over 250 simulation centres in 36 countries including almost all European countries, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Australia, United Arab Emirates and The United States.
Over the last year, MASA and XVR have already partnered up by integrating DirectAI (the AI engine used in SWORD) into the XVR Platform for the safety and security users in Singapore.
XVR will appoint MASA as its exclusive reseller to its customers in France and French territories. MASA will also take care of all existing French speaking XVR users and will provide them with services based on the XVR products.
The companies identified an opportunity to bring their complementary expertise and technologies together. A complete offer including both MASA SWORD and the XVR Platform will provide an environment capable of training staff on the ground in a 3D environment up to high-level decision makers in a 2D environment. “We are delighted to further strengthen our cooperation with MASA Group. The integration of our two leading technologies has proven its success in Singapore, together we’ll be able to help our current and future French users more efficiently” said Joost Beerthuis, Chief Executive Officer of XVR Simulation.
MASA Group will be exhibiting at I/ITSEC from 27 November to 1 December, Orange County Convention Center, Orlando. Please visit MASA on stand 2227.
Click here to see the full press release.
MASA products are successfully in use worldwide, including the French, Brazilian, New Zealand, Swiss, Bangladesh and Colombian Armies. XVR is used to train emergency personnel in over 250 simulation centres in 36 countries including almost all European countries, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Australia, United Arab Emirates and The United States.
Over the last year, MASA and XVR have already partnered up by integrating DirectAI (the AI engine used in SWORD) into the XVR Platform for the safety and security users in Singapore.
XVR will appoint MASA as its exclusive reseller to its customers in France and French territories. MASA will also take care of all existing French speaking XVR users and will provide them with services based on the XVR products.
The companies identified an opportunity to bring their complementary expertise and technologies together. A complete offer including both MASA SWORD and the XVR Platform will provide an environment capable of training staff on the ground in a 3D environment up to high-level decision makers in a 2D environment. “We are delighted to further strengthen our cooperation with MASA Group. The integration of our two leading technologies has proven its success in Singapore, together we’ll be able to help our current and future French users more efficiently” said Joost Beerthuis, Chief Executive Officer of XVR Simulation.
MASA Group will be exhibiting at I/ITSEC from 27 November to 1 December, Orange County Convention Center, Orlando. Please visit MASA on stand 2227.
Click here to see the full press release.
This October, the Twente Fire Services’ training days for operational officers focussed on the fight against terrorism. Over 20 officers of the Fire Service Twente were trained during two meetings with the help of XVR On Scene.
XVR On Scene was used during the training days to help the officers visualise and assess the severity of the incident. The police were also involved in the training. One of the training objectives was to let the authorities jointly consider the different action perspectives in the event of a terror attack.
Two scenarios were prepared for the training. The first scenario took place in the inner city of Enschede. In order to increase familiarity and immersion for the participant, an existing environment was converted into a recognisable location in Enschede. The other scenario took place at a train station in Twente. This too has been replicated in the virtual environment as realistically as possible.
The training with XVR was received positively. It is seen as a nice addition to current training methods, and will be used more often and more extensively in the future.
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