Simulation supported CBRNE accident coordination training

The utilization of computer simulations and virtual environments offers a cost-effective solution for education, training, and exercises. These platforms provide training audiences exposure to scenarios that may be too hazardous, inaccessible, complex, or costly to replicate in a live environment. Consequently, virtual training environments are widely embraced within the defence community. CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive) incidents present similar challenges as those mentioned above, making virtual environments a valuable tool for CBRNE incident training and education. The starting point for this report is the use of the CBRNE Accident Coordination Training (CBRNE-ACT) system in an exercise at the Norwegian Civil Defence Course Interaction at a contaminated incident site CBRN/E. The Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI) has developed CBRNE-ACT to facilitate training on response and management of CBRNE incidents. Technical details about the simulation system can be found in the FFI-report 24/01122 CBRNE Accident Coordination Training (CBRNE-ACT) System – Technical description. The external FFI-note 24/01029 Dispersion simulation for CBRNE incident coordination training describes how the high-fidelity dispersion data is computed. The system is a research demonstrator based on NATO and civilian standards and consists of military Computer-Generated Forces (CGF) and simulation components to include dispersion of a toxic gas and its effect on personnel. CBRNE-ACT has been developed as part of the project "Strengthening CBRNE Safety and Security – Coordination and Standardization". The project, supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Justice and funded by Norwegian EEA grants ("Norway grants"), aims to enhance CBRNE safety and security through coordination and standardization. The training audience in the exercise was the emergency services – police, fire department, and health services – with their incident commanders and their second in command. After the exercise, recordings from CBRNE-ACT and self-evaluation from the actors was used to get a better understanding of what had been done and which consequences their actions had led to. Feedback from all attendees after the exercise, along with the questionnaire responses, was used to formulate the lessons learned from this experiment. In conclusion, the successful implementation of CBRNE-ACT for training emergency service personnel represents a significant step forward in enhancing preparedness and response capabilities for CBRNE incidents. By addressing identified challenges and leveraging participant feedback, ongoing refinement of training methodologies and technological integration can further optimize training effectiveness, ultimately strengthening emergency response capabilities, and ensuring readiness in the face of CBRNE threats. There is room for improvement in the system setup and exercise execution, particularly regarding the room layout, allowing more time for the scenario to unfold and providing additional system training for participants before the exercise.