Method and apparatus are presented for an augmented reality-based firefighter training system. The system includes hardware for motion tracking, display, and vari-nozzle instrumentation. System software includes a real-time fire model, a layered smoke obscuration model, simulation of an extinguishing agent, and an interface to a zone fire model. Physical modeling and graphical elements in the software combine to create realistic-looking fire, smoke, and extinguishing graphics. The hardware and software components together contribute to a realistic, interactive training experience for firefighters.

A method is presented for calculating a force to apply to components in a computer simulation to simulate the effect that an extinguishing agent stream (e.g., water or foam from a nozzle) should have on airflow in the vicinity of the stream, thereby affecting the movement of other components of the simulation. The method is designed to work in real-time as part of a virtual reality, augmented reality, or other real-time 3-D graphics simulation. In addition to the preferred embodiment of calculating forces to apply to a fire and smoke plume, the invention also contemplates calculation of a force to apply to aerosols and particles that are not part of a fire and smoke plume.

A method, system and computer program product for generating an alternative form of transmitted environmental data, e.g., scent information, air temperature settings, air humidity settings, triggering of infrared devices such as to create tactile warmth. Upon identifying one or more environmental data files in a received file, e.g., HTML file, environmental data associated with the data files may be read and interpreted. If there are no environmental devices, e.g., smell-generating device, configured to emit a response to the environmental data or if the environmental devices are disabled from emitting a response to the environmental data, then the environmental data may be translated into a form a computer may be capable of reproducing. The translated form may then be outputted in a variety of forms such as: pictorial data (e.g., picture of a pine tree substituting a pine smell), graphical effects (e.g., screen-flashing effect may substitute a strobe-light trigger).

Method and apparatus are presented for an augmented reality-based firefighter training system. The system includes hardware for motion tracking, display, and vari-nozzle instrumentation. System software includes a real-time fire model, a layered smoke obscuration model, simulation of an extinguishing agent, and an interface to a zone fire model. Physical modeling and graphical elements in the software combine to create realistic-looking fire, smoke, and extinguishing graphics. The hardware and software components together contribute to a realistic, interactive training experience for firefighters.

A method, computer readable medium and a structure for real-time simulation, which allows the user to manipulate model parameters and see the simulated result in real-time as the model is changed. The simulated result is visually compared with the data, allowing the user to refine the model. In one embodiment, the invention is used for evaluating medium energy ion scattering (MEIS) data, as well as conventional Rutherford backscattering data. It is important to realize that the invention is not limited to ion beam analysis, or to scientific data analysis. The invention can be used for evaluating any type of complex system where a well-defined simulation procedure exists. The model evaluation must proceed quickly enough to provide a real-time, visual display for the user.