Vukelic, G.; Ogrizovic, D.; Bernecic, D.; Glujic, D.; Vizentin, G. Application of VR Technology for Maritime Firefighting and Evacuation Training—A Review. J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2023, 11, 1732. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse11091732

Abstract: Firefighting and evacuation training are important tasks in maritime education and training, especially for crews working on large passenger ships, to ensure the safety of the vessel, cargo and passengers. With the evolution of virtual reality (VR) technology and the introduction of wearable hardware, a change in paradigm has happened in firefighting and evacuation training where these new technologies are being introduced. This paper serves as a review on the use of VR technology in maritime firefighting and evacuation training, trying to answer the following questions: what is the current state of using VR technology, and what are the research gaps that need to be addressed to further accelerate the implementation of VR? Research shows that other industries have adopted the use of VR technology relatively quickly, but the maritime industry still seems reluctant. As for the research gaps, the physics-based modelling of fire spread is discussed along with two other topics: the lack of immersive solutions for evacuation and the potential for developing search and rescue scenarios onboard a ship.

Keywords: virtual reality; firefighting; evacuation; maritime education and training; passenger ship

Goran Vizentin; Darko Glujic; Goran Vukelic; Dean Bernecic; Dario Ogrizovic. Coupling CFD and VR for Advanced Fire Training in Ship Engine Room. Proceedings of the International Association of Maritime Universities (IAMU) Conference. https://aga23.samk.fi/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/IAMU_Proceedings2023_Finalized.pdf

Abstract: Fire hazards on marine structures and vessels affect significantly the structural design, engineering decision making and crew training procedures. An on-board fire is extremely dynamic and case dependent phenomenon. New technologies, such as virtual reality (VR) offer a valid alternative for training in such dangerous situations. Fire and smoke exhibit fluid like behavior so computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling approach is necessary to ensure the realism of fire models in VR. A CFD and VR integration methodology for development of improved fire hazard marine training, comprising of ship engine room vector and bitmap model generation, CFD fire behavior analysis, results validation and
CFD/VR integration, is presented here. SMARTFIRE, an advanced CFD software package, is used to calculate fire parameters, analyze its development and spreading. Heat and smoke progression in a ship engine room environment are visualized in a VR system based on Unreal Engine. The evaluated model is
then transferred to the VR environment by linking the fire visualization parameters to the CFD analysis
data. In this first phase of the research the CFD-VR integration is done on case to case scenario basis, using the CFD time dependent results with the goal is to produce an interactive dynamical VR simulator realistic fire training environment.

Keywords: marine fire training; CFD fire modeling; VR engine room

Vukelic Goran, VR fire in ship engine room – case studies, YouTube videos, 2023. Videos are showing progress in developing an improved model of fire spread in the virtual reality (VR) of a ship engine room (ER). Fire spread is modeled on evidence-based research, using CFD tools, making the VR experience more accurate and realistic. This helps in fire and escape training process. ER is two storey, 16×20 m enclosed space, with two main and two backup engines, two generators and various auxiliary equipment. All the models and solutions have been made by the team of the Faculty of Maritime Studies Rijeka, Croatia.

Darko Glujic, Goran Vukelic, Dean Bernecic, Goran Vizentin, Dario Ogrizovic , Coupling CFD and VR for advanced firefighting training in a virtual ship engine room , Results in Engineering Volume 24, December 2024, 103025.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rineng.2024.103025

Abstract

Firefighting training using virtual reality (VR) technology has still not been used extensively in the maritime industry. One of the reasons lies in the inability of VR to accurately replicate the true dynamics of a fire. However, this shortfall can be effectively addressed by integrating computational fluid dynamics-based (CFD) models of fire spread into VR training simulations, thereby significantly enhancing the realism and educational value of these scenarios. In this study, a scenario of a fire spread inside the ship engine room has been developed. First, as a CFD analysis, whose results were then transferred to the VR environment. That approach has been tested with users who have noted that CFD-based fire gives a more realistic appearance than the generic modelled solely using the game engine.

Keywords: Computational fluid dynamics, virtual reality, Fire, Ship, Engine room, Firefighting training, Maritime firefighting

 David Bačnar , Demir Barić , Dario Ogrizović , Exploring the Perceived Ease of Use of an Immersive VR Engine Room Simulator among Maritime Students: A Segmentation Approach

Published in: MDPI, Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(18), 8208; 

https://doi.org/10.3390/app14188208

Abstract

The integration of innovative technologies, such as Virtual Reality (VR), into maritime education presents a substantial challenge but also offers significant potential for enhancing training and knowledge transmission. This study aims to contribute to the existing body of knowledge by providing segmented insights into maritime students’ Perceived Ease of Use (PEU) of an immersive engine room VR simulator. The study analysed a sample of 58 students from the Faculty of Maritime Studies at the University of Rijeka, covering undergraduate, graduate, and specialized maritime education programs. Through hierarchical and non-hierarchical cluster analyses, two distinct segments were identified and named Proactivists and Moderates. The findings reveal significant differences between extracted sub-groups regarding (i) perceived benefits of using the VR engine room simulator in learning and education, (ii) future intention to use the technology, and (iii) overall experience. Study insights can directly aid educators and software developers in enhancing the further implementation of VR technology in maritime education.

Keywords: virtual reality; engine room simulator; segmentation; maritime education; serious game; perceived ease of use