{"id":6317,"date":"2019-10-01T11:24:00","date_gmt":"2019-10-01T16:24:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arch.tamu.edu.staging2.juiceboxint.com\/news\/2019\/10\/01\/profs-studying-how-to-train-workers-in-extreme-environments\/"},"modified":"2022-06-28T13:49:30","modified_gmt":"2022-06-28T18:49:30","slug":"profs-studying-how-to-train-workers-in-extreme-environments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.arch.tamu.edu\/news\/2019\/10\/01\/profs-studying-how-to-train-workers-in-extreme-environments\/","title":{"rendered":"Profs studying how to train workers in extreme environments"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In the future, as the projected limits of human exploration extend beyond the moon to Mars and even further destinations, some workplaces will be in deep space with low- and no-gravity environments. How can workers be trained for extreme environments like space, deserts or deep oceans in a safe, cost-effective manner?<\/p>\n<p>A research team that includes three Texas A&amp;M College of Architecture scholars is developing design principles for virtual reality training simulators for workers to flourish in these environments in a three-year, $1.2 million study funded by the National Science Foundation.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur main goal is to understand how spatial cognitive processing differs in altered gravitational and visual environments, and how virtual reality-based simulation can help train workers to adapt to such environments,\u201d said Manish Dixit, Texas A&amp;M assistant professor of construction science and the study\u2019s principal investigator.<\/p>\n<p><!--kg-card-begin: html--><\/p>\n<div align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 150px\" src=\"https:\/\/www.arch.tamu.edu\/app\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Manish-Dixit.jpg\" alt=\"Manish Dixit\" \/>Manish Dixit<\/div>\n<p><!--kg-card-end: html--><\/p>\n<p>The current approaches to train workers for operations in altered environments are expensive, insufficient, and risky, he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTo train workers for microgravity conditions, parabolic flights are used to experience a microgravity-like environment through free fall,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is expensive and risky. Each flight has to perform multiple parabolic climbs and descents to achieve a few seconds of microgravity.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Traditional scuba diving training methods are also risky, he said. \u201cIn 2014, nearly 1,220 emergency room visits due to scuba injuries were reported in the U. S. alone, resulting in 188 deaths.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dixit and Texas A&amp;M visualization researchers Ann McNamara and Andr\u00e9 Thomas, will measure and analyze subjects\u2019 eye movements, brain electrical activity, cognitive strategies and mental workload reaction time during behavioral tests in simulated normal and altered environments, then apply the results to create a framework for a training simulation or game.<\/p>\n<p><!--kg-card-begin: html--><\/p>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col-sm-6 col-xs-6\" align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 150px\" src=\"https:\/\/www.arch.tamu.edu\/app\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Ann-McNamara.jpg\" alt=\"Ann McNamara\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Ann McNamara<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"col-sm-6 col-xs-6\" align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 150px\" src=\"https:\/\/www.arch.tamu.edu\/app\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Andre-Thomas.jpg\" alt=\"Andr\u00e9 Thomas\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Andr\u00e9 Thomas<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--kg-card-end: html--><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis study will create new knowledge in behavioral and physiological domains of cognitive science and lead to a better understanding of spatial cognitive processing in altered environments,\u201d said Dixit. It will also lead, he said, to the invention, evaluation, and application of innovative methods and tools that use virtual reality, eye tracking and brain wave data to design scenario-based simulations and games for workforce training.<\/p>\n<p>In the study, the College of Architecture researchers are also teamed with Joseph Orr and Jyotsna Vaid, faculty members of the Texas A&amp;M Department of Psychological Brain Sciences, and Greg Chamitoff, a former astronaut and professor of aerospace engineering.<\/p>\n<p>The study\u2019s funding is from the Human Technology Frontier Program of the National Science Foundation\u2019s Division of Computer and Network Systems.<\/p>\n<p>For more information, contact <a href=\"mailto:rnira@arch.tamu.edu\">rnira@arch.tamu.edu<\/a> or <a href=\"mailto:doswald@tamu.edu\">doswald@tamu.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How can workers be trained for workplaces that will be in deep space with low- and no-gravity environments in a safe, cost-effective manner?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":32,"featured_media":6318,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[87,63,90],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v20.12 (Yoast SEO v20.12) - 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