Advances in Engineering Education - Summer 2008 - Development and Deployment of a Library of Industrially Focused Advanced Immersive VR Learning Environments

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Đào

This work presents a unique education resource for process engineering students and the industry workforce. A VR immersive learning environment uses spherical imagery of real operating plants, combined with interactive embedded activities and instruction. Educational theory and teaching approaches guide its design, including constructivism, interactivity, cognitive load, and learner-centred principles. The paper also reports on framework and platform development, system demonstrations, current interface feedback, and future work addressing key issues.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages34

Reading Time1 h 26 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Overview

Need for accessible visual context in process plants

Requirements for consistent 24/7 training

VR learning environments and available benefits

Prototype development and supporting partners

Advances in engineering education Summer 2008 Development and Deployment of a Library of Industrially Focused Advanced Immersive Vr Learning environments IAN CAMERON The University of Queensland Brisbane, Queensland, Australia CAROLINE CROSTHWAITE The University of Queensland Brisbane, Queensland, Australia CHRISTINE NORTON The University of Queensland Brisbane, Queensland, Australia NICOLETA BALLIU Curtin University of Technology Perth, Western Australia MOSES TADÉ Curtin University of Technology Perth, Western Australia ANDREW HOADLEY Monash University Clayton, Victoria, Australia DAVID SHALLCROSS The University of Melbourne Melbourne, Australia GEOFF BARTON The University of Sydney Sydney, Australia ABsTrACT This work presents a unique education resource for both process engineering students and the industry workforce. The learning environment is based around spherical imagery of real operating plants coupled with interactive embedded activities and content. This Virtual Reality (VR) learning tool has been developed by applying aspects of relevant educational theory and proven instructive teaching approaches. Principles such as constructivism, interactivity, cognitive load and summer 2008 1 adVances in engineeRing educaTion development and deployment of a Library of industrially Focused advanced immersive VR Learning environments learner-centred design have been central considerations when constructing and structuring this resource. structural challenges include determining a framework for the basic environment, the repository for the VR and activities, as well as the development of a learning platform arrangement to support self-directed learning in the interface. The system’s current functionality is demonstrated through video imagery of a user performing activities as well as snapshots of the current screen configuration. current feedback regarding the interface is acknowledged and future work responds to the key issues presented by these studies. Keywords: virtual reality, immersive learning environment, process engineering OVerVIeW Opportunities for providing visual context for process theory in real operating systems are increasingly less accessible to students. Costs, litigation concerns as well as logistic constraints make both plant operators and university staff hesitant to conduct large scale plant tours. Additionally, the Figure 1. Virtual Process Plant Launch Page. 2 summer 2008 adVances in engineeRing educaTion development and deployment of a Library of industrially Focused advanced immersive VR Learning environments demise of most industry cadetships in Australia, means students have forfeited the opportunity to see engineering in practice. This therefore leaves a significant gap in the conceptual understanding of the current process engineering undergraduate [1] . Within industry, there is a need to establish training packages which deliver a consistent message to operations and engineering staff. With round the clock operations in most process plants, there is also a desire to provide a learning platform which is accessible and available 24 hours a day. Obviously a learning structure which reduces the requirement for trainer supervision, without diluting the key learning outcomes, provides industry with undeniable cost and training benefits. This work directly addresses these parallel needs of university and industry. For university students, the real plant is brought to the learner, through a set of virtual reality (VR) immersive environments. These environments enhance insight and understanding by providing: l A real engineering context within the different plants l Relevant activities and information pieces embedded within the VR imagery l An exploratory platform to discover and investigate at the individual’s own pace [1] . Benefits are equally available to our industry partners. Company staff can utilize the environ ments to: l Show

FAQs

What learning problem does the VR resource address?

It improves students’ conceptual understanding by bringing real process plants into a virtual learning environment. It also meets industry needs for consistent training without relying heavily on trainers.

How is the VR learning environment structured?

It is built around spherical imagery of real operating plants, with interactive embedded activities and information. Learners can explore and investigate at their own pace through an interface that supports self-directed learning.

What benefits are intended for university students and industry partners?

University students gain a real engineering context, embedded relevant activities, and an exploratory platform. Industry partners can use the environments for public showcases, site inductions, operator training, and explaining equipment typically viewed as “black boxes”.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Đào