Earthquake Disaster Simulation in Immersive 3D Environment

Human response to any adverse situation can be greatly enhanced through training and mind-body experience. Earthquake is one such phenomenon where human response to minimise injuries/deaths is constrained due to disorientation of the victims. People in regions with frequent earthquakes often exhibit better response due to past experience. Training of the mind and body can also be achieved in a virtual environment where the risks associated with a real earthquake shaking can be eliminated. This is feasible by using an immersive 3D environment for earthquake disaster simulation. This paper presents a new method for earthquake simulation for disaster management purposes, which combines knowledge in the field of structural engineering, cinematography and immersive 3D technology. In this technique, nonlinear time history analysis of a building and/or its internal content are performed and earthquake response of building along with its content recorded for duration of motion. These time history results of building and/or its contents are then used to realistically represent the consequences of the earthquake in a virtual 3D environment after converting the mathematical model to physical model. This method brings three very different fields, namely structural engineering, cinematography and immersive technology together and put it to a novel use as an earthquake simulation system. This paper describes the process of creating the final product in the form of 3D immersive virtual reality simulation of an earthquake.