ERVE is a virtual environment that provides emergency first-responders, response planners, and managers with situational awareness as well as training and support at the
national, state and local levels. The system enables interactive 3D visualization of critical facilities in the Hampton Roads area, including the terrain around the facility, the building
exterior and interiors, and panoramic digital photography in an easy to use Web-based interface.
The system provides assistance and guidance for the user in the context of emergency response operations, for example:
- Allow the user to walk through the virtual building, familiarize him/her with the layout and with key areas, and plan evacuations.
- Guide the emergency first responder to critical areas in the facility such as locations of hazardous chemicals, water and gas shut-off valves, fire suppressant equipment, and electrical panels.
- Provides 3D visualization of up-to-date building floor plans, structures, exterior, aerial and surrounding structures.
- The system has a wide range of applications for critical facilities such as schools, ports, military facilities commercial centers, government buildings, utilities installations, bridges, tunnels, etc.
Using this system, it is now possible to address emergency responders' needs with a seamlessly integrated and fully interactive intelligent and visually compelling solution.
The solution provides renewable on-demand facility knowledge and can be deployed across PC or portable devices via the Internet. The seamless integration of modeling and simulation, virtual reality, knowledge management and intelligent agent technologies have the potential to dramatically improve how we prepare for and respond to disaster across federal, state, and local lines.
- Emergency responders can be trained in a safe and highly accessible virtual environment that visually represents critical facilities. Emergency responders can become familiar with the facility and know what to expect in an emergency situation without disrupting day-to-day operations of the actual facility.
- Intelligent agents in the virtual environment can help emergency responders rapidly gain knowledge about the facility, locate key areas and systems and point out locations of potential problems.
- Changes to the facility can be easily updated in the system so that the facility knowledge is always up to date.