The U.S. Army and the Department of Homeland Security plan to deploy the Enhanced Dynamic Geo-Social Environment simulation program for use in other federal agencies, GCN reported Wednesday.Patrick Marshall writes the joint project will be offered to other departments following feedback from police and firefighters who attended a live demonstration in November 2013.
During a demo in Sacramento, Calif., firefighters and first responders underwent EDGE simulation training with 3D scenarios and avatars that are designed to use the same type of equipment of that in real life.
“We can still take that hotel (scenario from Sacramento) and go to New York and allow New York firefighters and police to tackle the same problem using their own standard operating procedures,” said Matt Kaufman, chief of technology and innovation with the Army’s Training and Doctrine Command.
DHS commissioned TRADOC to develop the simulation game in 2012 in response to first responder requests for realistic and applicable training tools and programs, such as inter-agency coordination.
“We kept hearing over and over again from the emergency response community that what they needed was a good virtual training platform,” said John Verrico, chief of media relations at DHS’ science and technology directorate.
EDGE is built to use active shooter-based exercises to provide military and first responder training on resource management and allocation, communications and command accountability.
The program is based on game engine technology from Cary, N.C.-based Unreal Engine, Marshall reports.
