VR-3D Simulation for Complex Fire
Evacuation Scenarios
Immersive UI/UX Design for Complex Fire Evacuation in VR-3D
Year:
2023
This project builds upon the previous phase of the Smart Disaster Prevention Dynamic Visualization System, extending its application from two-dimensional evacuation environments to multi-story, cross-building three-dimensional spaces.
Using VR-3D simulation and the Unity engine, the project constructs realistic fire emergency scenarios, incorporating dynamic conditions such as smoke diffusion, fire spread, changes in visibility, and inter-floor movement. This enables users to engage in immersive evacuation experiences and decision-making within a virtual reality environment.
Design objectives are as follows:
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To investigate the visibility and guidance effectiveness of dynamic visual indicators in complex spatial environments.
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To observe user behavioral responses and psychological processes under high-pressure emergency conditions.
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To establish a validated VR-based UI/UX design model for disaster prevention experience evaluation.
Design Strategy & Concept
1/ User Research
In-depth interviews were conducted with participants who had experience in fire drills and with building management personnel to understand evacuation decision-making and fear responses. Most users expressed that “if they could visualize fire progression or rescue status in real time, it would reduce anxiety and uncertainty.
2/ Scenario Development
Three VR evacuation scenarios were designed to simulate varying levels of fire severity:
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Early Stage: High visibility with clear directional guidance.
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Mid Stage: Smoke-filled, limited lighting—users must crouch and navigate under low visibility.
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Late Stage: Users are trapped indoors and must shelter in place while awaiting rescue.
3/ Experience Design
The experience design emphasizes visual readability and behavioral orientation as its core principles:
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The flashing frequency and brightness of dynamic graphics adjust according to the level of danger.
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Color schemes follow the CNS 1306 Industrial Safety Color Standard (green/white for safety, red/yellow for warnings).
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Directional arrows feature animated motion and depth parallax, enhancing spatial guidance and perception in 3D environments.
Design System & Guideline
1/ UI Hierarchy Design
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Primary Guidance Layer: Red and yellow flashing dynamic arrows indicating evacuation direction.
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Safety Sign Layer: Green and white static symbols displaying safe zones and exit locations.
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Supplementary Information Layer: Real-time visual cues of fire spread, smoke density, and obstacles.
2/ UX Interaction Flow
Users can freely explore within the VR environment or follow the directional indicators for evacuation.
The system records their movement trajectories, gaze focus, and response times, enabling analysis of the correlation between information readability, behavioral response, and psychological load.
3/ Emotional UX Design
Lighting and color tones dynamically shift according to fire progression stages to simulate environmental stress. Breathing sounds, alarms, and ambient audio feedback enhance the sense of immersion.
During peak anxiety phases, dynamic indicators flash with a steady rhythmic pattern to establish a visually calming tempo.
Outcomes & Future Development
The design outcomes were evaluated through multiple rounds of user testing within a VR-3D virtual environment.
Participants were required to complete evacuation or shelter-in-place tasks across multi-story fire scenarios. The simulation incorporated fire spread, smoke density, inter-floor movement, and lighting variations, while dynamic visual indicators provided directional guidance and action suggestions throughout the process.
Future development aims to extend the system to mobile devices and smart signage integration, creating an interconnected information design framework. Through synchronized mobile interfaces, users will be able to access evacuation directions, rescue progress, and safety notifications in real time.
This approach will compensate for the limitations of static signage in large-scale environments and advance the development of a cross-platform, real-time interactive disaster prevention UX system.
Design Value
This project utilizes VR-3D as its core technology, elevating disaster prevention information design from "visual communication" to "immersive experiential learning." The research not only validated the effectiveness of dynamic symbols but also established an experimental model that can be continuously applied to public safety education and UI/UX research.