Build, demonstrate, and evaluate in classroom settings of hazvr, a hazmat training project

The Department of Commerce National Institute of Standards and Technology awarded Nextgen Interactions LLC $199,903.22 through the Science, Technology, Business and/or Education Outreach federal grant program (CFDA 11.620) to build, demonstrate, and evaluate the HAZVR virtual reality air monitoring training module. The project will develop the module in collaboration with hazmat specialists, validate its effectiveness, and test it in classroom settings with hazmat trainees. Upon completion, the module is expected to reach technology readiness level 7. The training is intended to allow trainees to safely practice responding to low frequency, high risk hazmat incidents using VR instruments in full hazardous environments, an experience not currently possible without risking exposure. No subrecipients are involved in the project.

Purpose

The purpose of this project is to build, demonstrate, and evaluate in classroom settings of hazvr, a hazmat training project.

Activities

This project will build, demonstrate, and evaluate in classroom settings of hazvr. Hazvr will be a hazmat air-monitoring training module that reinforces concepts taught in classrooms using virtual reality (VR)1 air monitor instruments within the context of low-frequency high-risk hazmat incidents.

Expected outcomes

The project expects to bring hazvr to a technology readiness level (TRL) 7 by: 1) building the hazvr training module in collaboration with hazmat specialists. (2) validate the training module.

Intended beneficiaries

Hazmat trainees are the intended beneficiaries as they will be able to practice, learn, discuss, and reflect upon working in the full context of high-risk low-frequency situations so that they can safely obtain more experiential training of incidents, which is not currently possible without working in actual hazardous environments.

Subrecipient activities

There are no subrecipients for this project.