Potential of Deployment of Virtual and Augmented Reality in Emergency Management Training via an Exploratory Interview Study

Abstract

This article presents the outcome of an exploratory survey aimed to detecting the strengths and weaknesses and the degree of acceptance of the use of virtual and augmented reality in training of confined or suspected pollution environments workers. Forty-five Italian professionals (public and private) that work in health and safety in workplace, in different roles, have been involved in the survey (e.g. trainers, augmented and virtual reality specialists, researchers, health personnel). The analysis of the survey showed that the use of augmented and virtual reality allows several training sessions in safety, teach workers to perceive the risk and manage the negative emotions that hinder the success of the work. These reflections helped us to hypothesize a training proposal with the use of augmented and virtual reality.