Training law enforcement, fire, and EMS for critical incident response – incidents like active shooter events, bombings, and other violent attacks – cannot wait for a convenient time. “This training saves lives and is essential, but you must meet emergency responders’ needs within their restrictions,” says Bill Godfrey, CEO of C3 Pathways.
Located near the University of Central Florida, the Oviedo (FL) company provides responders hands-on training to integrate their emergency response and achieve better outcomes, something the company has been doing since 2004.
Better outcomes means saving lives.
C3 Pathways uses 3D simulation and virtual reality to accomplish the complex training, a blend of live-action and virtual reality with face-to-face and radio communications. Says Godfrey, “We started working with Unity in 2008, adding multiplayer capability to put 50+ emergency responders in the same scene. In 2010, we put it in the classroom with amazing results, adding features ever since.”
The COVID Pandemic created a new challenge to conduct hands-on training remotely.
Explains Godfrey, “We were stuck. Our existing 3D platform was not designed for the Internet and requires higher-end hardware. Platforms like Zoom and AltspaceVR do not have the functionality we needed. We had to create a new platform from scratch and fast.”
C3 Pathways operates the National Center for Integrated Emergency Response (NCIER®). In November 2020, a photo-realistic firstperson virtual training campus launched enabling hands-on remote training for law enforcement, fire, EMS, emergency management, and 911 dispatch. It is called NCIER® Campus. Through NCIER® Campus, C3 instructors continue their mission to deliver experiential, hands-on training to America’s first responders – only now it is remote.
Instructors can facilitate up to 100 participants in NCIER® Campus. Photo-real avatars are created from participant photos. Positional audio enables normal conversation by walking up to someone and talking, while the 7-channel radio emulates public safety radios. The auditorium is surrounded by 12 breakout rooms with incident scenes, command posts, an emergency operations center (EOC), and 911 Dispatch.
Says Godfrey, “Our mental model for NCIER® Campus is a real-world training center. We want it to feel familiar, like you have been here before. Your mind quickly tricks you into believing you are there. That lets the instructors interact with participants almost as easily as being there, to literally point things out, correct mistakes, and coach them to better performance. Importantly, this is all in the context of a live scenario mimicking the chaos and confusion of a real-world incident. It is an amazing experience.”
C3 Pathways joined the VR/AR Association to continue exploring cutting-edge solutions. “Some things require face-to-face training and probably always will, but that list is getting shorter,” says Godfrey. “The VR/AR Association is a key player in VR research and education. This relationship will better support our development efforts and sharing with others in our mission to help save lives.”
For more information, please contact Steve Williams at info@c3pathways.com or (407) 490-1300.
