Development of an Immersive Virtual Reality Earthquake Simulation Experience for Event Engagement and Safety Awareness

The client requires a virtual reality experience that can simulate real-life emergencies, such as earthquakes, to educate and engage attendees during major events, with a rapid development timeline of three weeks. The challenge is to deliver a realistic, interactive simulation that enhances safety preparedness without risking actual emergencies or logistical complications.

A large-scale media organization seeking innovative engagement tools for live events to promote safety awareness through immersive virtual experiences.

• Create an immersive virtual reality experience simulating a lifelike earthquake event suitable for large events.
• Enable users to follow a clear, interactive 7-point safety checklist during the simulation.
• Incorporate realistic physics and destructible objects to enhance immersion.
• Implement functionalities to allow users to crawl under a virtual table for protection as part of the response training.
• Deliver the project within a 3-week timeframe, ensuring a high-quality, engaging experience for hundreds of attendees.
• Provide on-site technical support for smooth setup, operation, and teardown during the event.
• Establish a foundation for deploying similar VR experiences at future large-scale events.

• Use of existing 3D assets and Unity platform for rapid development.
• Integration of Steam VR SDKs to support HTC Vive and similar VR hardware.
• High-fidelity physics simulation for objects affected by the earthquake to fall and break.
• Guided interactive checklist providing safety instructions during the experience.
• Inclusion of an interactive safety maneuver—crawling under a virtual table for user protection.
• Support for multiple users simultaneously with real-time feedback and interactions.
• Onsite support capability for setup, troubleshooting, and debriefing.

• VR hardware support (e.g., HTC Vive or compatible headsets)
• Onsite support tools for deployment and troubleshooting
• Optional data tracking systems for user engagement and safety training metrics

• Rapid development cycle within 3 weeks
• High system stability during large attendee interactions
• Realistic physics and visual fidelity to enhance immersion
• Support for multiple simultaneous users without latency issues
• Field-deployable setup that withstands outdoor event conditions, including sunlight interference mitigation

The virtual earthquake simulation is projected to significantly enhance attendee engagement and safety awareness at large-scale events, with successful deployment leading to increased preparedness and potentially saving lives during actual emergencies. The rapid development approach and onsite support model will ensure consistent quality and expandability for future event use cases, contributing to the organization’s reputation as an innovator in interactive safety education.