Beyond Game Play, Simulation Can Save Lives

(ARA) - Since Sept. 11, 2001, U.S. cities big and small are trying to come to grips with their ability to safely and effectively manage a large-scale emergency situation. As city managers and emergency preparedness officials look at possible scenarios, one of the most effective tools they will have to make accurate evaluations is simulation.

Simulation, an outgrowth of the field of computer graphics, creates real-time simulated environments that are, in essence, interactive three-dimensional representations of people, places or objects.

Arup, the international consulting and engineering firm, employs simulation in much of its analysis work, including fire and life safety analysis. According to Toby White, a fire protection engineer in the firm's San Francisco office, simulation is particularly effective for judging the outcomes of emergency response and "allows engineers to explore different scenarios and their potential outcomes." For example, he says, "in the case of an explosion occurring in an urban area, simulation can help us estimate the fire and rescue response time, as well as evacuation time for large masses of people. It also helps piece together a timeline of events throughout the emergency scenario."
Simulations have many different uses, though, besides the field of emergency response. According to Christian Greuel, an instructor at The Art Institute of California - San Francisco, "In the fullest sense, simulation strives to create a perceived reality where interaction can take place just as it does in real life, and in real-time." The aerospace industry, architecture, museums and schools, as well as manufacturing, government and defense, healthcare and science all use simulation.

At the San Mateo, Calif.-based firm Forterra Systems Inc., vice president of studios Laura Kusumoto believes the applications for simulation are endless. An emerging area that she finds particularly relevant is military conflict on foreign soil.

"We are working on simulations that allow people to act out their cultural characteristics as 'avatars,'" says Kusumoto. Avatars are another name for a character in a simulation. "If we can successfully capture the subtle cultural differences of people, then we can create a more realistic environment where the military can better prepare for operations involving human contact, such as peacekeeping, relief and reconstruction," she adds.

The Art Institute of California - San Francisco recently launched a bachelor's degree program in "Simulation & Virtual Environments." Mary Clarke-Miller, academic director for the program, believes that "simulation focuses on the student's ability to combine science, mathematics and programming in order to create 3-D real-time animation."

In terms of a career choice, simulation is a growing field. Says Clarke-Miller, "Given the market growth and demand for visual simulations, we believe that developing students' artistic talent, combined with the knowledge and skills of simulation, real-time three-dimensional model making and programming, our graduates will have an edge on finding a range of employment opportunities in a number of fields."

The "Simulation & Virtual Environments" program is currently available at The Art Institute of California - San Francisco. Plans are under way to roll out the program to additional Art Institutes campuses in the near future. For more information, visit www.artinstitutes.edu/nz.

Courtesy of ARA Content

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