Gdańsk, Poland | 14 September 2026
How can we prepare people for a crisis before it actually happens?
On 14 September 2026, we organised a demonstration of an interactive immersive training experience based on a blackout scenario in Gdańsk, Poland.
The event was made possible through SimuDome’s cooperation with the Immersive 3D Visualization Lab at Gdańsk University of Technology, led by Prof. Jacek Lebiedź.
Inside the SimuDome projection dome, participants entered a realistic 360° environment in which a crisis situation developed step by step. Instead of watching a presentation about what to do during a blackout, they could experience the simulation together, make decisions and observe their consequences.
We demonstrated how immersive simulations, interactive 360° content and Shared VR technology can support training in civil protection, emergency preparedness, public safety and crisis management.
The challenge: how can we effectively train people for crisis situations?
A blackout means much more than simply losing electricity.
A prolonged power outage can affect access to information, communication, heating, water, transport, payments and essential services. As time passes, human behaviour can also change, creating additional safety and security challenges.
Traditional training can provide procedures and knowledge. Simulation puts participants in a situation where they have to use that knowledge.
That is why we created a scenario in which a group experiences an evolving crisis together and, at each stage, has to answer one simple question:
What would you do in this situation?
A city in blackout – an interactive 360° simulation
Participants entered a panoramic 360° projection environment showing a city before and during an escalating blackout.
The scenario began like an ordinary day. Gradually, different elements of the city’s infrastructure stopped functioning and participants received new information as the situation developed.
Each stage required a response.
Participants had to consider, among other things:
- how to prepare for an extended power outage,
- which supplies and equipment are most important,
- how to manage available water,
- where to obtain reliable information,
- when to stay at home and when evacuation should be considered,
- how to protect themselves and their families,
- how to respond to increasing safety and security risks,
- how to support people requiring additional assistance.
As the scenario progressed, the entire environment surrounding the participants changed. Thanks to the 360° projection, the group was not simply watching a crisis situation on a screen – they were inside the simulated event.
Training where participants make decisions
A key element of the demonstration was interactivity.
At selected points, the scenario paused and participants had to decide what they would do next. The instructor could discuss their choices, explain recommended procedures and demonstrate the potential consequences of different decisions.
Participants therefore remain active throughout the training.
They observe. Analyse. Decide. Discuss. Experience the consequences.
This approach combines theoretical knowledge with an experience of a situation that would be difficult, expensive or potentially dangerous to recreate in real life.
No VR headsets – one simulation for the entire group
SimuDome uses the Shared VR model – a shared virtual experience without the need for individual VR headsets.
The entire group is present in the same physical environment and experiences the same developing scenario.
This makes it possible to conduct team-based training in which participants can:
- analyse the situation together,
- communicate with each other,
- make decisions,
- observe the reactions of other participants,
- interact with an instructor,
- review and discuss their actions after the simulation.
This is particularly important in civil protection, emergency preparedness and crisis management training, where the response of an individual is only one part of the wider group response.
A scenario based on real-world risks
The scenario and substantive training content were developed in cooperation with the University of Szczecin and experts in crisis management.
The objective was to create an experience that goes beyond an impressive technology demonstration and can provide a foundation for practical training that prepares participants to respond to real emergency situations.
A blackout is only one possible scenario.
The same training format can be used to simulate:
- evacuation,
- floods,
- fires,
- extreme weather events,
- contamination and environmental hazards,
- critical infrastructure failures,
- emergency alerts and crisis communication,
- first aid,
- public behaviour during emergencies.
A mobile immersive training centre
SimuDome technology makes it possible to create a mobile immersive training centre that can be deployed directly within a city or municipality – for example in a public square, school grounds, cultural centre or during a public safety event.
Depending on the configuration, the system can accommodate groups of different sizes and the same scenario can be repeated for successive groups of participants.
This means the technology can support both specialist exercises and large-scale public preparedness and civil protection training.
Immersion as a training tool
The objective of SimuDome is not simply to create an impressive projection.
We combine immersive infrastructure, 360° projection, software, interactive content and training scenarios to create environments where situations that are difficult to reproduce in real life can be practised safely.
The technology can support training for:
- residents and local communities,
- cities, municipalities and local authorities,
- crisis management teams,
- emergency services and public safety organisations,
- companies and critical infrastructure operators,
- schools, universities and training institutions.
Instead of simply telling people what they should do during a crisis, we can let them experience it.
Today, it was only a simulation
The final stage of the scenario showed the city gradually returning to normal.
Lights came back on, infrastructure began functioning again, and participants could leave the simulated environment and reflect on what they had just experienced and learned.
Because a resilient city does not depend on infrastructure alone.
A city is, above all, its people.
Their preparedness, knowledge and ability to make the right decisions can become critical when a real emergency occurs.
Today, it was only a simulation.
Acknowledgements
Special thanks to Prof. Jacek Lebiedź and the team at the Immersive 3D Visualization Lab at Gdańsk University of Technology.
Thanks to our cooperation and their involvement, we were able to organise this demonstration in Gdańsk and showcase the potential of SimuDome immersive training in practice.
We greatly appreciate their cooperation, organisational support and our shared commitment to developing and testing new applications of immersive technologies.
Interested in using immersive simulations for safety and crisis management training?
SimuDome develops mobile and permanent Shared VR environments for interactive training, crisis simulations, civil protection, emergency preparedness and safety training.
Contact us: info@simudome.com