Enhancing Firefighter Training through Virtual Reality: Evaluating Performance Gains, User Acceptance, and the Impact of Prior Experience
Enhancing Firefighter Training through Virtual Reality: Evaluating Performance Gains, User Acceptance, and the Impact of Prior Experience
Author(s): Lucas O. P. S. Gomes, Pedro L. Oliveira, Péricles S. B. Mattos, Marcelo SacksSubject(s): Education and training, ICT Information and Communications Technologies
Published by: UIKTEN - Association for Information Communication Technology Education and Science
Keywords: Virtual Reality training; firefighter training; immersive simulation; industrial safety; human performance
Summary/Abstract: This study evaluated Virtual Reality (VR) impact on firefighter training performance and acceptance among 96 industrial professionals and 30 university volunteers. Using Flaim simulators, participants underwent scenario-based sessions and assessments. Results indicated high acceptance and realism ratings from professionals. Volunteers exposed to VR achieved markedly higher success in extinguishing tasks than classroom-only controls. Notably, neither prior gaming habits nor tenure influenced outcomes, indicating that adaptation relies on domain-specific skills. Consequently, VR proves to be an effective, scalable adjunct to traditional live-fire exercises for safety-critical training, warranting further cost-benefit studies.
Journal: TEM Journal
- Issue Year: 15/2026
- Issue No: 2
- Page Range: 1189-1199
- Page Count: 11
- Language: English
