In support of some recent research carried out by one of our clients, we developed and delivered a virtual environment to be used within our clients Driving Simulator. The research focused on how people react and behave when presented with different barrier configurations at Level Crossings. Therefore, the environment we delivered contained a small stretch of rural road that participants would drive along in the simulator containing various buildings, foliage, streetlights, footpaths and a Level Crossing with a nearby train station, platforms, fences and signage. The Level Crossings were configured so that our client would be able to control the animation of the barriers rising and lowering and have lights flashing.
Alongside the Driving Simulator environments, we also developed and delivered several Virtual Reality (VR) experiences based on the same environment in which participants would be immersed using a VR headset. Participants were asked to approach the Level Crossing as either a pedestrian or cyclist. As they approach the Level Crossings, the participants can hear birdsong and footsteps or cycling before the warning sounds of the Level Crossing are heard and the Level Crossing barriers lower. A built-in timer records the point at which the participant decides that it is no longer safe to continue crossing for a variety of different barrier types, enabling valuable research into the potential safety of different barriers. Once one or two trains have passed through, the barriers raise again, and the participant is able to continue.
It represents another really interesting and valuable piece of research that we were very happy to be a part of and support. It’s great to see how VR is being used as a tool to support and enhance this type of research.
This article has been written by Louis Drakes, Business Coordinator at Agility3. For more information, please contact info@agility3.co.uk or call on (+44) 01438 488066.