XR, as a reality simulator, can be used to place users in a scenario that depicts potentially real events, but in a controlled setting. The use of XR alleviates hazardous consequences, and can reduce the time and cost burden that real-life drills can place on participating organizations.

Additionally, XR-based training can aid in acquiring spatial knowledge of a terrain and can be repeated unlimited times with positive effects on task performances and enabling the learning situation to be experienced as a real context.

For these reasons BRIDGES has developed a “Firefighting simulation”: one of the main training scenarios at airports may involve an emergency situation with a plane, either after a take-off or landing accident or during the refueling process. Standard procedure implies to send a first response team to evaluate the situation and coordinate further actions. In the XR, the trainer can set up the virtual session by choosing certain criteria: airplane size; level of fire; density of smoke; amount, type and place of passengers and injured persons.

Moreover, levels of difficulty can be adjusted individually for different teams and their skills. The trainer observes the simulation via a monitor and a “virtual” radio connection. S/he can interfere and trigger special occurrences or even record and remark specific situations for later debriefing. 

BIRDGES scenarios were extensively piloted in real-world conditions at the international airports of Berlin and Athens.