Virtual Fires, Real Skills: How the University of Life Sciences Is Revolutionizing Farm Safety
The Problem
Livestock farms are places with a high risk of fire. Traditional training methods, like presentations or videos, don't prepare people for the real stress and chaos of an actual fire. Running a live practice drill is simply too dangerous for people and animals. A solution was needed to practice safety procedures in a way that felt real but was completely safe.
The Solution: Learning by Doing in Virtual Reality (VR)
The University of Life Sciences in Lublin decided to use modern technology: VR headsets. With these headsets, trainees can find themselves in the middle of a simulated fire on a farm. They can see the danger with their own eyes, feel the pressure, and practice what to do step-by-step—all in a 100% safe, virtual environment.
How Was It Implemented? A Simple Path to Modern Education
Free Tests: First, the VR company EHSVR sent a test kit to the university. Professors and students could put on the headsets and see for themselves how VR training works. This helped them decide if the technology was right for them.
Buying a Ready-to-Go Kit: After the successful tests, the University purchased 10 Meta Quest 3S headsets. Importantly, these headsets were bought with a lifetime educational license.
What Does This Mean in Practice? Buying the headsets with this license is like buying a computer for a school that already has all the necessary software installed and is ready to use. The university didn't have to worry about extra costs or complicated setups. Along with the hardware, they received access to over 40 ready-made health and safety training modules and a key tool: the Device Management System.
What Is the Device Management System (Meta Horizon Managed Solutions)?
Simply put, it’s a control panel for all the headsets. You can think of it like how a school’s IT admin manages all the computers in a lab from one central desk. This system allows the professor to easily and quickly:
Prepare Headsets for Classes: Instead of setting up each headset one by one, the instructor can remotely install the necessary training app on all ten devices at the same time.
Ensure Security: The instructor has full control over the headsets. They can remotely lock a device if it gets lost and protect user data with features like PIN codes, single sign-on (SSO), and two-factor authentication (2FA). The services are independently certified for top security standards like ISO 27018 and SOC 2.
Run Group Training Sessions: The system includes a "Shared Mode," which is perfect for classes where multiple students use the same headset. It also allows the instructor to show the view from multiple headsets on a single screen (like a projector), so the whole group can see what the person in VR is doing.
Make Teamwork Easier: The platform allows for classes and meetings in a virtual space where all participants feel like they are in the same room, even if they are physically far apart. This is supported by apps like Horizon Workrooms and a feature called "casting," which shares the in-headset view in real time.
Technology That Saves Lives
With this approach, the University gained a powerful and easy-to-use tool. Instead of just theory, students and farmers get a practical, memorable, hands-on experience. They learn the right reflexes, which, in the face of a real fire, can save human lives, animals, and property.
A project carried out by the University of Life Sciences in Lublin in cooperation with the State Fire Service, financed from the state budget under the 'Science for Society II' program (NdS-II/SP/0595/2024/01).
