FirstNet Authority, NIST Establish Public Safety Immersive Test Center With VR/AR Capabilities

Public Safety Immersive Test Center. Courtesy of First Responder Network Authority

By Paige Townley

 Since they were originally established, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have worked to equip first responders with life-saving technology. The two entities have taken that initiative a step further by partnering to form the newly opened Public Safety Immersive Test Center. 

Located in the FirstNet Authority building in Boulder, Colo., the Public Safety Immersive Test Center was designed to further the development of standards and technologies that improve public safety and equip first responders to save lives. To accomplish that goal, NIST’s Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) Division and FirstNet Authority have developed a plan that focuses specifically on research of technological advances of user interfaces such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) that historically have shown could play a significant role in improving public safety operations. A key benefit, according to a recent NIST press release, is that the facility allows for research and development, education, and training to occur all within one site.

Dereck Orr, director of NIST Public Safety Communications Research, talks to FirstNet board chair Stephen Benjamin while he tries out a virtual reality program for firefighters in the new immersive testing facility. Courtesy of NIST

“When seconds count, situational awareness can be a matter of life or death for first responders,” said FirstNet Authority chief network and technology officer Jeff Bratcher in the release. “We are proud to partner with NIST on this state-of-the-art facility and provide first responders with an immersive virtual experience to help them prepare for those critical moments.”

The 1,076-square-foot facility houses a range of specialized equipment, all of which will continually be enhanced and upgraded as technology and equipment advances. Currently, the facility includes a motion capture system, 42 high-speed optical tracking cameras, augmented and virtual reality headsets, and gear and fixtures that allow for a tactile component to simulations.

“This facility enables us to take our research to the next level by allowing natural interactions,” said Scott Ledgerwood, who leads NIST PSCR’s work on user experience and user interfaces, in the release. “Traditional virtual reality simulations required controllers for interaction, which didn’t translate well to real-life scenarios. In this new facility, users can walk or crawl through the space, physically touching walls and furniture, and pick up props like fire nozzles or dummies. This approach will improve measures and build confidence in the test results for translations of technologies to the real world.”

Public Safety Immersive Test Center. Courtesy of First Responder Network Authority

The facility is open free of charge to public safety agencies to practice realistic simulations – which include everything from search and rescue operations to terrorist attacks – as well as other organizations, including private sector and academic institutions, that support public safety response efforts. A highlight of the Public Safety Immersive Test Center is that it also provides technology developers with the unique ability to test their equipment in real-world scenarios alongside first responders, providing both parties with unique perspectives and knowledge of how public safety scenarios can be improved to save even more lives.

“The center is giving us a glimpse into the future,” said Longmont, Colo., Mountain View Fire and Rescue deputy chief Sterling Folden in the release. “It’s very promising to see the technology that is being invested in to augment whatever we do and the tools we’ll have in the future to make our citizens safer. All these forms of technology from the facility have the opportunity to be implemented in the field. Some lend themselves better to training like VR, but augmented reality can be implemented in the field sooner rather than later and make a big difference for people.”