VSTEP, leading European developer of emergency response training software, has partnered with Prof. Henk van Zuylen of the Technical University Delft and YuSen Chen (CYStone) to develop an Emergency Management System training system for the Municipality of Chengdu. The system will be based on VSTEP’s RescueSim emergency training application with the potential to be coupled with advanced traffic modeling systems.

The Municipality of Chengdu has a population of over 12 million and is the capital of Sichuan province. The province is an active earthquake zone. In 2008, Sichuan was struck by one of the heaviest earthquakes in Chinese history with its centre a few kilometers from Chengdu, resulting in great loss of life and infrastructural damage. In addition to natural disasters, Chengdu, like any major city, is confronted with major industrial, inner-city and transportation incidents every day. To deal with these incidents, the city’s emergency response organization has embarked on an ambitious program to train the emergency services to operate effectively during different types of incidents.

With hundreds of emergency response workers in Chengdu in the local police, fire fighting department and hospitals, effective practical training is difficult, time consuming and expensive to organize. The Municipality of Chengdu turned to the Dutch consortium, to investigate the opportunities of integrating innovative virtual training with traffic simulation systems. The Chengdu Emergency Management System will incorporate the proven emergency response training platform RescueSim and be used as a training and decision support tool by both the municipal authorities and emergency services to efficiently and effectively manage emergencies of different types, both natural disasters and man-made emergencies.

In addition, the Delft University of Technology and CYStone have developed software tools for simulating evacuation flows of both vehicles and pedestrians. Research is going on to optimize logistics in case of evacuation. Professor Henk van Zuylen is a renowned expert in dynamic traffic management in urban networks.

RescueSim is the leading virtual emergency response training software available today. It helps emergency response teams prepare for any thinkable incident by letting them train in a realistic virtual environment, without the dangers, costs and time associated with traditional practical training.

Professor Henk van Zuylen, TU Delft: “Chengdu and its environment were severely struck by the earthquake of 2008. One of the positive results of this tragedy is that the municipality is extremely driven to prepare themselves for future incidents. They are innovative, resourceful and committed to being the best-prepared municipality in the country. Their extremely successful rebuilding efforts after the 2008 earthquake demonstrate these qualities.”

Cristijn Sarvaas, CEO VSTEP: “We are deeply honored to be able to work for the city of Chengdu on this innovative project. The resulting Emergency Management System for Chengdu will be leading, not only in China but around the globe. The combination of VSTEP’s RescueSim training platform and the traffic management expertise of Prof. Van Zuylen and YuSen Chen will help train the Chengdu emergency services and provide a safer environment for all its inhabitants.”

Wu Weiwei, vice director of Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Emergency Management: “Efficient emergency response requires a good cooperation between different service organizations. Practical training is needed and a virtual training center can help us to safe lives in the future and to prepare for that with low costs.”
 

  

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ABOUT VSTEP
VSTEP is an International developer of simulators and virtual training software. VSTEP creates 3D virtual training applications and simulators that allow people to build their skills in a practical and cost effective way:
RescueSim - Emergency Response Training is single and multi agency training software that prepares safety and security professionals for real-life incidents and allows them to experience and train incidents in a safe virtual 3D environment. RescueSim includes specialised modules for Fire & Rescue services, as well as Industrial, Port, Airport and Offshore Incident Management. www.vstepsimulation.com , www.rescuesim.com

ABOUT Prof. Henk v. Zuylen
He is emeritus professor at Delft University of Technology, specialized in dynamic management of traffic. Henk van Zuylen is well known as researcher and advisor on traffic control and on ways to deal with congestion. He is continuing his work as independent consultant and he is also visiting professor at 5 universities in China.

ABOUT CYSTONE
CYStone is a start-up company, providing personal consulting and advice in traffic and transportation, with the emphasis on research, development and application of new techniques, products and services. CYStone provides tailor made market research and project consultancy for public organizations and private companies.