Application of the 3D Multi User Virtual Environment of Second Life to Emergency Evacuation Simulation

Virtual reality technologies have been used to simulate evacuation and training exercises. Sometimes it is chosen to simulate the entire environment. However, openly accessible 3D multi user virtual environments (MUVE) such as Second Life^TM offer new opportunity for emergency evacuation simulation and training exercises. Our article presents lessons learned from the development of a model in a university building and trials conducted in evacuation simulation within Second Life. While human behavior differs from reality in simulated environments, we find that training exercises in Second Life did have real value.