GB2474564A

GB2474564A - A real-time hazardous event simulator

Info

Publication number: GB2474564A
Application number: GB201017204A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Sanderson
Original assignee: MMI Engineering Ltd
Current assignee: MMI Engineering Ltd
Priority date: 2009-10-13
Filing date: 2010-10-13
Publication date: 2011-04-20
Anticipated expiration: 2030-10-13
Also published as: GB2474564B; GB201017204D0; GB0917893D0

Abstract

A training simulator 10 comprises an event evolution module 12 configured to control realistic modeling of a dynamic real-time evolution of a hazard event 44 (e.g. major accident, fire, flooding or the release of poisonous gases), a user input module 18 configured to enable a user of the simulator to control the actions of a virtual person 46 during said hazard event, an exposure module configured to determine the real-time exposure of said virtual person to the hazard as a result of the evolution of the hazard event and the actions of the virtual person, and an exposure-response module configured to determine a response of the virtual person in dependence upon the exposure of the virtual person to hazard. The simulator further comprises a user feedback module 22 for providing perceptible feedback to the user that is dependent upon the determined response received by the virtual person.

Description

I

TITLE

A training apparatus.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a training apparatus. In particular, they relate to a training apparatus that trains for hazard events such as, for example, major accident hazards.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Major accident hazards are defined in legislation as those hazards that have the potential to cause multiple serious injuries or fatalities.

1 5 People who work at hazardous facilities are aware that hazard events are possible, but may have little practical understanding of the size and severity of these hazard events and how they would manifest themselves at their facility.

Often, because of the scale of such facilities and the size and severity of these hazard events it is not possible to drill for such hazard events.

It would be desirable to use modern technology to provide effective training that increases understanding of a hazard event and how it would manifest at a facility. However, it is at present unclear how modern technology can be used to this end.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments of the invention there is provided an apparatus as claimed in claim 1. Some embodiments of the apparatus may selectively have one or more of the features defined in claim 2 to 14 and/or as described in the detailed description.

According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments of the invention there is provided an electronically implemented method as claimed in claim 15. Some embodiments of the electronically implemented method may selectively have one or more of the features defined in claim 16 to 24 and/or

as described in the detailed description.

According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments of the invention there is provided a system comprising: the training apparatus and one or more sensory stimulation devices for providing sensory stimulation to the user, wherein the output module of the apparatus provides command and control signals, dependent upon the biological response, to the one or more external sensory stimulation devices. The sensory stimu'ation devices provide sensory stimulation (e.g. touch, temperature) different to that provided by a standard computer (e.g. display and audio output).

Embodiments of the invention therefore use modern technological means to provide innovative solutions. The solution accurately and realistically models the evolution of the hazard event, accurately assesses the effect of an actor's actions and may provide perceptible feedback to the user concerning an accurate and realistic real-time biological response of the actor that is dependent upon the evolving hazard event and the users actions.

The term biological response' encompasses not only the response of a human body's individual part such as skeleton and tissue to a hazardous event but also the response of the human body's physiological systems such as, for example, respiration, circulation, endocrine systems etc. The accuracy and realism of the event evolution and biological response enables effective training to be provided using modern technology.

The accuracy and realism may be achieved by using an architecture having a distinct event evolution module, a distinct exposure module and a distinct exposure-response module. This architecture is efficient as it enables the evolution of the hazard event, the exposure of the actor to the evolving hazard event and the injury to the actor as a consequence of exposure to be separately determined.

The accuracy and realism may be achieved by using an architecture in which data sets each representing a possible evolution of the hazard event are predetermined and stored in the apparatus, and the event evolution module determines the actual evolution of the hazard event by selecting a data set for 1 0 use. The predetermination of the data sets enables accurate and computationally expensive facilities to be used to generate accurate data for modeling the evolution of the hazard event.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of various examples of embodiments of the present invention reference will now be made by way of example only to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 schematically illustrates one example of a training apparatus; Fig 2 schematically illustrates a method which may be electronically implemented by an apparatus; Fig 3 schematically illustrates a computer implementation of the training apparatus; and Fig 4 schematically illustrates a layout of a facility at which an actor, controlled by a user of the training apparatus, is exposed to an evolving hazard event.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS OF THE

INVENTION

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates one example of a training apparatus 10 for controlling an actor 46 within a facility 40 during the evolution of a hazard event 44 such as, for example, illustrated in Fig 4. The actor 46 is typically a visual representation of a person which the user can move and control to interact with items within the facility The apparatus 10 comprises: a) a user input module 18 for enabling a user of the apparatus to control actions of an actor 46 at a facility 40; b) an event evolution module 12 configured to control realistic modeling of the dynamic real-time evolution of a hazard event 44 at the facility 40; c) an exposure module 14 configured to determine the real-time exposure of the actor 46 at the facility 40 to hazard as a result of the dynamic real-time evolution of the hazard event 44 at the facility 40 and the actions of the actor 46; and d) an exposure-response module 16 for determining a biological response of the actor 46 in dependence upon the exposure of the actor 46 to hazard.

The training apparatus 10 comprises a number of different modules' which depending upon implementation may individually be hardware only or program instructions only or a mix of hardware and program instructions. The program instructions' may be firmware and/or software and/or instructions of the configuration of programmable gate arrays. The hardware may be a general purpose microprocessor, an application specific integrated circuit, a

field programmable gate array or similar.

Referring to the training apparatus 10 illustrated in Fig I in more detail, the training apparatus 10 comprises: a user input module 18; simulator module 20; event evolution module 12; exposure module 14; exposure-response module 16; output module 22 and facility module 24.

The training apparatus 10 may be part of a system 11 comprising the training apparatus 10 and a separate physics simulator 30.

The facility module 24 provides data 29 to the simulator module 20 and data 33 to a physics simulator 30.

The user input module 18 is configured to provide input commands 19 to the simulator module 20. The facility module 24, which may be updatable, is configured to provide input data to the simulator module 20.

The event evolution module 12 controls realistic modeling of the dynamic real-time evolution of a hazard event 44 at the facility 40. This modeling may take 1 0 into account the actions of the actor 46. The event evolution module 12 receives simulation data 31 from a physics simulator 30 In this example the physics simulator 30 is distinct and external to the apparatus 10 and the simulation data 31 is predetermined and stored in the event evolution module 12.. The predetermined simulation data 31 may 1 5 comprise a plurality of data sets each of which represents a possible evolution of the hazard event. The event evolution module 12 may use an input 21 received from the simulator module 20 relating to actions of the actor 46 to determine an actual evolution of the hazard event and then select the appropriate one of the data sets that represents the actual evolution of the hazard event. The selected data set may be provided as an output 13 to the exposure module 14.

In other implementations the physics simulator 30 may be part of the apparatus 10.

The exposure module 14 determines the real-time exposure of the actor 46 at the facility 40 to hazard as a result of the dynamic real-time evolution of the hazard event 44 at the facility 40. This determination typically takes into account the actions of the actor 46 such as the actors position within the facility and the actions of the actor 46. The exposure module 14 may receive none, one or more inputs 23, 25 from the simulator module 20 and provides an output 15 to the exposure-response module 16.

The exposure-response module 16 determines a biological response e.g. injury of the actor 46 in dependence upon the exposure of the actor 46 to hazard and provides an indication 27 of the injury as an input to the simulator module 20.

The simulator module 20 uses the input 29 to create a visual representation of the facility, the input 19 to control the actions of an actor within the facility and the input 27to determine the injury state of the actor. The actor is typically a 1 0 visual representation of a person which the user using the user input module 18 can move and can control to interact with items within the facility.

The physics simulator 30 typically uses computational fluid dynamics to generate simulation data 31 which is used to pre-configure the event evolution 1 5 module 12. The simulation data 31 typically comprises sets of spatial and temporal distributions of hazard intensity data, where each set represents one possible evolution of the hazard event.

The physics simulator 30 is hazard event dependent. It simulates the dynamic real-time development of a hazard event. A hazard event may involve a release of hazardous energy which may be in the form of a combustion of flammable substance, whether explosive or not, also the release of a toxin or radioactive substance. A hazard event may include, for example, one or more of: dispersion of toxins; thermal threat, blast loading; flooding, radiation etc. The simulation depends upon the type of hazard event and also the scale of the hazard event.

A thermal threat may, for example, arise from explosive combustion of flammable fluid (natural gas or condensate, crude oil distillate or crude oil distillate vapors or mists, hydrogen, ceUulosic fire or combustion of any other combustible material).

A toxic threat may, for example, arise from the dispersion of chemicals or particulates such as chlorine, hydrogen suiphide, carbon nionoxide,toxic methyl isocyanate or smoke.

The physics simulator 30 may also take into account environmental factors such as, for example, wind direction.

A non-exhaustive list of hazard events may include for example: * Jetfires * Pool Fires * Vapour Cloud Explosion * Toxic Gas Release * Cryogenic Release * Platform collapse (extreme weather or ship impact) At the present time because of the computational complexity of the physics simulation particularly that using computational fluid dynamics, the physics simulator is distinct from the apparatus 10 and performs the physics simulation in advance of the simulation of the event evolution by the apparatus 2. The physics simulator 30 typically preprocesses the evolution of the hazard event taking into account different evolution scenarios. For example, each possible opportunity for a user to interact with the event and influence its evolution creates a different evolution scenario. The physics simulator creates data sets of temporal and spatial data that represent all possible evolutions of the hazard event. The event evolution module 12 determines which of the predetermined possible event evolutions is the actual event evolution.

In this implementation, the event evolution module 12 in the apparatus 10 determines the current scenario by detecting user action and then uses the appropriate data set. The event evolution module 12 need not compute the evolution of the hazard event but may manage the evolution of the hazard event by selecting, in real time, which one of the pre-stored data sets supplied by the physics simulator 30 representing the possible event evolutions should be used as the actual event evolution.

For example, the physics simulator 30 may calculate the distribution of thermal radiation associated with a fire coming from a certain pump and also predict two decay curves -one where the shutdown system operates correctly and one where it doesn't. The event evolution module 12 switches between these two data sets according to what occurs during the overall simulation.

In some implementations it may be possible for the event evolution module 12 to perform some simple simulation in real time (e.g. for events that can be 1 5 characterized using analytic expressions which are limited to simple fires, explosions) but for complex events the computational fluid dynamics is computationally very expensive and is not typically done in real time.

The simulation is facility dependent. For example, the flow of expanding gases may be channeled or blocked by different structures within a facility.

The facility information 33 required for the simulation is provided by the facility module 24.

The training apparatus 10 may be configured or reconfigured for use with different hazard events and different facilities. The facility used for the simulation and training may be changed by updating the facility module 24.

This may occur by replacing the facility module or editing the module. The hazard event used for the simulation and training may be changed by updating the event evolution module 12 such that it is loaded with and stores different simu'ation data 31. This may occur by replacing the event evolution module 12 or editing the module.

The interface between the facility module 24 and the simulator 20 may be standardized so that the simulator 20 can interface with different facility modules 24.

The interfaces between the event evolution module 12 and the simulator 20 and exposure module 14 may be standardized so that the simulator 20 and exposure module 14 can interface with different event evolution modules 12.

Fig 4 schematically illustrates a layout of a facility 40 comprising a building 59 and a building 50, a source 42 of an evolving hazard event h(t) 44, the evolving hazard event h(t) 44t at times t=1, 2, 3.., the actor 46 within the facility 40, and one or more deluges 90. The building 50 comprises respective rooms 52, 54, 56 having respective windows 62, 64, 66 and respective doors 72, 74, 76.

The facility module enables the simulator module 20 to render through the output module 22 a visually realistic representation of the facility in which the user can navigate the actor 46 at realistic speeds (walking, running, scaling ladders, when injured or rushing).

The facility module 24 is configured to define a layout and items within the facility 40 with which the actor 46, under the control of a user, can interact during the simulation to influence the evolution of a hazard event and/or influence the exposure of the actor 46 to hazards.

The facility module 24 may for example, define a layout of fixed structural items such as and the shielding structure 59 and the housing structure 50 and its partitioning into rooms 52, 54, 56 illustrated in Fig 4. The structural features may, for example, affect the dynamic evolution of a hazard event and/or shield the actor 46 from hazard.

The facility module 24 may for example, define movable items such as, for example, windows 62, 64, 66 and doors 72, 74, 76. Such items may, for example, affect the dynamic evolution of a hazard event and/or shield the actor 46 from hazard to differing extents depending upon their position. The user may therefore be able to reduce injury to the actor 46 by controlling the actoi to change the position of these movable items. The effect of such an item on the dynamic evolution of a hazard event and/or in shielding the actor 46 from hazard may vary with time.

The facility module 24 may for example, define safety items that may be actuated by the actor 46 to influence the evolution of the hazard event.

Examples of safety items may include such as, for example, a deluge system (big sprinkler), fire doors etc. The safety items may, for example, affect the dynamic evolution of the hazard event. The user may therefore be able to 1 5 reduce injury to the actor 46 (and others) by controlling the actor to actuate a safety item. The effect of a safety item on the dynamic evolution of a hazard event may vary with time.

The facility module 24 may for example, define escape items such as, for example, fire escapes, life rafts etc. The correct interaction with these items may allow an actor to escape the facility and possibly the hazard event.

For examp'e, the actor 46 may need to perform a series of operations in a predetermined order. This may be achieved by requiring a user to click on critical components in the correct order. As an example, in order to launch a lifeboat, specific tasks have to be undertaken in the correct order or else engines won't start, the boat won't disengage from its tether etc).

The facility module 24 may enable desirabte and undesirable escape routes.

For example, a desirable escape route from an oil exploration plafform in the sea may be by lifeboat whereas an undesirable escape route which may involve exposure to hazard may involve jumping over the side of the platform into the sea. The availability and the hazard arising from using different 11* escape routes may vary with time and/or with the evolution of the dynamic hazard event.

The user input module 18 provides an interface that enables the user to command the simulator 20 and, in particular, control the actions of the actor 46 within the facility 40. The user can typically control the actor 46 to walk slowly, walk quickly, run, sprint, jump, climb etc as needed and to interact with items within the facility 40 by moving towards or away from them, taking cover behind them, actuating them etc. The user may control the actor 46 to move away from an evolving hazard event 44.The simulator module responds to such control by informing the exposure module of the actors new position 25.

The user may control the actor 46 to hide behind a fixed structural item 59 (which provides shielding from the evolving hazard event 44).The simulator module responds to such control by informing the exposure module of the actors new position 25.

The user may control the actor 46 to move a movable item 72. If the movable item provides shielding from the evolving hazard event 44, the simulator module responds to such control by informing the exposure module of the actors action 23. As an example, closing a fire door may provide shielding. If the movable item influences the evolution of the hazard event 44, the simulator module responds to such control by informing the event evolution module 12 of the actor's action 21. As an example, closing a fire door may prevent a draft fueling a fire.

The user may control the actor 46 to actuate a safety item 90. The simulator module responds to such control by informing the event evolution module 12 of the actor's action 21.

The user may control the actor 46 to interact with an escape item. The simulator module responds to such control by informing the exposure module 14 of the actors actions 23.

The event evolution module 12 takes the simulation data 31 and determines the dynamic evolution of the event in real time taking into account actions 21 that influence the evolution of an event (e.g. operate deluge 90). It provides the event evolution data 13 to the exposure module 14.

1 0 The simulation data 31 which is typically provided a priori by the physics simulator 30 includes predetermined data sets of temporal and spatial data that represent all possible evolutions of the hazard event. The event evolution 12 module determines the current scenario by taking into account actions 21 that influence the evolution of an event and determines which of the predetermined possible event evolutions is the actual event evolution.

The event evolution module 12 then provides the predetermined data set associated with this actual evolution to the exposure module 14 as the event evolution data 14.

In some implementations it may be possible for the event evolution module 12 to perform some simple simulation in real time (e.g. for events that can be characterized using analytic expressions which are limited to simple fires, explosions) but for complex events the computational fluid dynamics is computationaly very expensive and is not done in real time but is predetermined in the physics simulator 30.

The exposure module 14 takes the event evolution data 13 and calculates an actor's real-time exposure 15 to hazard taking into account their actions (on items) 23 which influence exposure (e.g. closing a fire door) and their position 25 within the facility taking into account the actor's movement.

The exposure-response module 16 takes the actor's exposure 15 and determines a biological response of the actor 46 in dependence upon the accumulated exposure of the actor 46 to hazards.

The biological response of the human body to hazard events is well understood and is generally related to the intensity of the hazard (i.e. thermal radiation, explosion overpressure, toxic gas concentration) and the time of exposure. The combination of exposure intensity and duration can be related to probit functions which predict the likelihood of a human being killed or 1 0 incurring a given degree of injury.

The exposure-response module 16 records the accumulation of exposure (dose) as the user navigates around the installation 40 and translates the accumulated dose into predicted biological response (be it probability of 1 5 fatality, burn, asphyxiation, impairment of faculties etc) The biological response is fed back 27 to the simulator module 20 which renders using output 22 a real-time simulation of the actor 46 within an evolving hazard event 44 at times t=1, 2, 3... at the facility 40 and provides feedback to a user on the injury sustained by the actor 46.

The output module 22 will typically include a display for displaying a representation of the facility 40, the real-time actions of the actor within the facility and the real-time evolution of the hazard event 44.The output module 22 may also comprise an audio output device to provide sound effects to the user as the hazard event evolves.

The output module 22 may also comprise some feedback means for providing perceptible feed back to the user that indicates the fed back biological response 27. This feedback means, in one implementation, includes the display. In a further implementation, additional sensory stimulation devices external to the apparatus 10 are used to provide sensory stimuli to the user.

The output module 22 provides command and control signals to one or more external sensory stimulation devices. For example, electronically controlled glasses may be provided and the opaqueness of the glasses may be controlled to simulate impaired vision. For example, an electronically controlled vest may be provided which is inflated to constrict breathing to simulate asphyxia. Safety mechanisms would be provided to prevent injury or distress to the user. For example, a heated glove or patch may be provided and the temperature of the glove or patch controlled to indicate heat damage or ambient temperature or the temperature of a door touched by the actor 46 inthefacility.

The user is informed of the physical response that the actor 46 would experience (e.g. pain, smoke obscuration, difficulty in breathing) such that they understand the effects of the hazard and the consequences of actions 1 5 taken in relation to the evolution of the hazard event 44 and the injury inflicted to the actor 46.

The simulator module 20 may additionally comprise an action evaluation module that allows a user to control the actor to make a putative action and for the consequences of that putative action to be assessed before actually taking the action. This module may enable a fire and rescue service to simulate the effect of different actions on a real evolving hazard event before actually taking an action with respect to the real evolving hazard event. In this scenario, although the evolution of the hazard event may be determined in real time, it may be rendered at a rate faster than real time.

It should be appreciated that the architecture of the training apparatus 10 allows it to be simply expanded to multiple actors/users. A plurality of user input modules may be provided for each user/actor and they may communicate remotely with the simulator 20. A plurality of output modules 22 may be provided for each user/actor and they may communicate remotely with the simulator 20.

Fig 2 schematically illustrates a method comprising: a) providing for user control commands that enable a user to control actions of an actor within a facility during a user training simulation; b) realistically modeling the dynamic real-time evolution of a hazard event at the facility as part of the user training simulation; c) determining real-time exposure of the actor within the facility to hazard as a result of the dynamic real-time evolution of the hazard event and the actions of the actor; d) providing feedback to the user concerning a real-time biological response of the actor that is determined in dependence upon the determined real-time exposure of the actor to hazard.

The steps may be carried out electronically by for example hardware, programs or a mixture of hardware and programs.

Fig 3 schematically illustrates a computer implementation of the training apparatus 10.

The apparatus 10 may be implemented using computer program instructions 86 that enable hardware functionality, for example, by using executable computer program instructions in a general-purpose or special-purpose processor 80 that may be stored on a computer readable storage medium 84 (disk, memory etc) to be executed by such a processor.

The processor 80 is configured to read from and write to a memory 82. The processor 80 may also comprise an output interface 83 via which data and/or commands are output by the processor 80 and an input interface 81 via which data and/or commands are input to the processor 80.

The memory 82 stores a computer program 86 comprising computer program instructions that control the operation of the apparatus 10 when loaded into the processor 80. The computer program instructions 84 provide the logic and routines that enables the apparatus to perform the methods illustrated in Figs 2 and the modules discussed with reference to Fig 1. The processor 80 by reading the memory is able to load and execute the computer program 84.

The computer program 84 when loaded into a computer enables the computer to a) provide for user control commands that enable a user to control actions of an actor within a facility during a user training simulation; b) realistically model the dynamic real-time evolution of a hazard event at the facility as part of the user training simulation; C) determine real-time exposure of the actor within the facility to hazard as a result of the dynamic real-time evolution of the hazard event and the actions of the actor; d) provide feedback to the user concerning a real-time biological response of the actor that is determined in dependence upon the determined real-time exposure of the actor to hazard.

The computer program may have modular components corresponding to the modules illustrated in Fig. 1.

The computer program 86 may arrive at the apparatus 10 via any suitable delivery mechanism 84. The delivery mechanism 84 may be, for example, a computer-readable storage medium, a computer program product, a memory device, a record medium such as a CD-ROM or DVD, an article of manufacture that tangibly embodies the computer program 86. The delivery mechanism may be a signal configured to reliably transfer the computer program 86.

The apparatus 10 may propagate or transmit the computer program 86 as a computer data signal.

Although the memory 82 is illustrated as a single component it may be implemented as one or more separate components some or all of which may be integrated/removable and/or may provide permanentlsemi-permanentl dynamic/cached storage.

References to computer-readable storage medium', computer program product', tangibly embodied computer program' etc. or a controller', computer', processor' etc. should be understood to encompass not only computers having different architectures such as single /multi-processor 1 0 architectures and sequential (Von Neumann)/parallel architectures but also specialized circuits such as field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), application specific circuits (ASIC), signal processing devices and other devices. References to computer program, instructions, code etc. should be understood to encompass software for a programmable processor or firmware 1 5 such as, for example, the programmable content of a hardware device whether instructions for a processor, or configuration settings for a fixed-function device, gate array or programmable logic device etc. The blocks illustrated in the Fig 2 may represent steps in a method and/or sections of code in the computer program 86. The illustration of a particular order to the blocks does not necessarily imply that there is a required or preferred order for the blocks and the order and arrangement of the block may be varied. Furthermore, it may be possible for some steps to be omitted.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in the preceding paragraphs with reference to various examples, it should be appreciated that modifications to the examples given can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed.

Features described in the preceding description may be used in combinations other than the combinations explicitly described.

Although functions have been described with reference to certain features, those functions may be performable by other features whether described or not.

Although features have been described with reference to certain embodiments, those features may also be present in other embodiments whether described or not.

Whilst endeavoring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

1 5 I/we claim:

Claims

CLAIMS1. A training apparatus comprising: a) a user input module configured to enable a user of the apparatus to control actions of an actor at a facility; b) an event evolution module configured to control realistic modeling of the dynamic real-time evolution of a hazard event at the facility; c) an exposure module configured to determine the real-time exposure of the actor at the facility to hazard as a result of the dynamic real-time evolution of the hazard event at the facility and the actions of the actor; and d) an exposure-response module configured to determine a response of the actor in dependence upon the exposure of the actor to hazard.
2. A training apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the event evolution module is updatable to realistically model the dynamic real-time evolution of a different hazard event.
3. A training apparatus as claimed in claim I or 2, wherein the event evolution module is configured to control realistic modeling of the dynamic real-time evolution of the hazard event at the facility in dependence upon actions of the actor taken to control the dynamic development of the hazard event.
4. A training apparatus as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the event evolution module is configured to contro' realistic modeling of the dynamic real-time evolution of the hazard event at the facility by selecting a data set from a stored plurality of predetermined data sets..
5. A training apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the predetermined data sets each comprise spatial and temporal distributions of hazard intensity data.
6. A training apparatus as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the predetermined data sets are dependent upon a plurality of parameters that define a pre-defined hazard event for the facility.
7. A training apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the event evolution module is configured to control accurate modeling of a dynamically developing thermal threat.
8. A training apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the exposure module is configured to determine the real-time exposure of the actor to hazard as a result of the dynamic real-time evolution of the hazard as determined by the event evolution module and the position of the actor within the facility relative to items in the facility.
9. A training apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the exposure module is configured to determine the real-time exposure of the actor to hazard as a result of the dynamic real-time evolution of the hazard as determined by the event evolution module and as a consequence of actions taken by the actor under the control of the user.
10. A training apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising an output feedback module for providing perceptible feedback to the user that is dependent upon the determined biological response.
11. A training apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a facility module configured to define a facility used in the training simulation;
12. A training apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the facility module isupdatable.
13. A training apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the facility module is configured to define a layout and items within the facility with which a user can interact during the simulation to influence the evolution of a hazard event and/or influence the exposure of the actor to hazards.
14. A training apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising an action evaluation module that provides an assessment of the consequences of performing a putative action before taking the putative action.
15. A method comprising: a) providing for user control commands that enable a user to control actions of an actor within a facility during a user training simulation; b) electronically modeling a realistic dynamic real-time evolution of a hazard event at the facility as part of the user training simulation; c) electronically determining real-time exposure of the actor within the facility to hazard as a result of the dynamic real-time evolution of the hazard event and the actions of the actor; d) providing perceptible feedback to the user concerning a real-time biological response of the actor that is determined in dependence upon the determined real-time exposure of the actor to hazard.
16. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the realistic modeling the dynamic real-time evolution of the hazard event at the facility is responsive to actions of the actor taken to control the dynamic development of the hazard event.
17. A method as claimed in claim 15 or 16, wherein computational fluid dynamics is used for the realistic modeling the dynamic real-time evolution of the hazard event at the facility.
18. A method as claimed in claim 15,16 or, 17, wherein the hazard event at the facility involves the release of hazardous energy.
19. A method as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 18 wherein determining the real-time exposure of the actor to hazard is responsive to the position of 1 0 the actor within the facility relative to items in the facility.
20. A method as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 19 wherein determining the real-time exposure of the actor to hazard is responsive to actions taken by the actor under the control of the user.
21. A method as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 20, further comprising providing perceptible feedback to the user that is dependent upon the determined biological response.
22. A method as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 21, configuring a training apparatus for use with respect to a facility by using a facility module configured to define the facility.
23. A method as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 22, further comprising assessing a consequence of performing a putative action before taking the putative action.
24. A computer program which when loaded into a computer enable the computer to perform the method as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 23.
25. A system comprising: the training apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14 and one or more sensory stimulation devices for providing sensory stimulation to the user, wherein the output module of the apparatus provides command and control signals, dependent upon the biological response, to the one or more external sensory stimulation devices.
26, A sensory stimulation device configured for use with the system as claimed in claim 25.
27. A system comprising: the training apparatus as claimed in any one of claims ito 14 and a physics simulator for providing data sets each representing one of a plurality of possible evolutions of the hazard event, wherein the event evolution module controls realistic modeling by selecting a data set for use.