Collaborative Virtual Environments as Research and Teaching Instruments in the Field of Disaster Medicine: the "e-DISTRICT CiPro" Simulator

Abstract

The virtual reality simulator used in the e-DISTRICT CiPro Pilot-Project, in the context of the EUprogramme Leonardo da Vinci II, allows the realization of an Internet based Collaborative Virtual Environment and it can be used for Education and Training for Civil Protection Operators, and for Research purposes in new operational protocols and their effectiveness (which would be very expensive in case of real drills, and also very difficult to organize). In this article we focus on the goals of the e- District CiPro Project, and we present the virtual reality simulator. We also address the importance of the detail level of the scenarios and we consider their customization and their integration with other software that simulates the phase of treatment in hospital.