Blog - Disaster & Emergency Management Conference

FLAIM’s Immersive Learning Solutions: Innovation & Global Impact

Written by Contributor | Jul 22, 2022 2:25:19 AM

FLAIM developed the world’s first multi-sensory immersive learning solution for firefighters to safely and cost-effectively replicate the stress and uncertainty of real-world emergency situations.

Today, we continue to pioneer solutions to improve the safety and performance for all those who respond to fire, rescue, and emergency situations.

We believe there are too many injuries and lives being lost in training or performing this important work globally. To correct this situation, every FLAIM system is developed using best practice, science and available evidence to improve individual, organisational, community, and environmental outcomes.

In 2014, Dr. James Mullins founded and pioneered the development of FLAIM at Deakin University, in collaboration with NASA, NTT and HTC. FLAIM’s solutions incorporate a unique combination of fire science modelling, kinesthetics and virtual learning environments, making its products amongst the most advanced immersive training solutions in the world.

Economically recreating low frequency, high risk hazards in safe learning environments is at the core of FLAIM’s product offering, serving customers across Fire & Rescue, Workplace Safety and Defence.

Both our current solutions, FLAIM Trainer™ and FLAIM Extinguisher™, are delivered in 28 languages and are part of fire training education for nearly 200 customers across 35+ countries. They are now supported by FLAIM Capture™, a cloud services platform built to record, manage and analyse training data easily. Organisations can receive more valuable insights from training sessions, with the ability to track micro-level learning events. This enables them to measure skill development, improved performance outcomes and report on compliance.

In February 2022, FLAIM and our progress in immersive learning was featured in the National Fire Protection Association Journal. This support from the NFPA is critical to moving the industry forward in implementing what we know is a game-changing technology and best practice in keeping firefighters safer and keeping the environment cleaner. Read the article here and watch the video here.

This year FLAIM is a proud Gold Sponsor of the Disaster & Emergency Management Conference (DEMC) on the Gold Coast, Australia.

We look forward to meeting the attendees and showcasing our innovative training solutions. You will find us at stand 28.

Addressing Skills Fade in First Responders Using Immersive Learning

On Monday, 25th July, at 10:45am, you can attend the Bushfire and Flood session where our Founder and CTO, James Mullins, will be holding a presentation called “Addressing skills fade in first responders using Immersive Learning”.

Associate Professor James Mullins is a third-generation volunteer firefighter, with roots in country Victoria. He received his B.Eng degree in robotics engineering in 2002 and his PhD degree in 2009, both from Deakin University. As the first robotics graduate from Deakin University, James has devoted the majority of his career to the development of novel, applied electronics, electromechanical and software solutions for both Australian and international industry. With a heavy focus on haptics, real-time control and embedded systems, James founded FLAIM Systems in 2019 and acts as the company CTO. FLAIM, a scale-up aimed at bringing immersive virtual reality learning experiences to firefighters globally, supplies training solutions to 35 countries. With over 120 industry projects successfully delivered, James has received international success with a number of highly competitive Defence Capability projects awarded.

Presentation Summary

Preparing first responders for high risk, low incidence events such as bushfire and flood requires a highly trained and motivated workforce. Organisations are facing challenges recruiting, retaining and engaging volunteers members in a period where people are time poor and sometimes under financial pressure. This presentation discusses a new way of recruiting and retaining members using an immersive training tool used in fire services and Defence around the world. The system can be used to micro-credential individuals, understand their ability to perform dynamic risk assessment, and deliver command and control training using an engaging, new generation of immersive virtual reality. A case study of the solution being used for community preparedness will be discussed where landowners can prepare a property for an approaching bushfire, understand the exposures and risks to their properties and then experience an ember attack and ultimately a fire front.

3 x Key Learnings

  1. Immersive learning can be used to address skills fade in high risk, low incidence events
  2. Virtual reality is currently in use across most agencies in Australia and globally
  3. There is a community of resources that can assist you to locally implement immersive learning

If you are interested in knowing more about FLAIM you can visit our website www.flaimsystems.con and follow us on Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram and Youtube.