Testing, Evaluating and Enhancing Practicing Mariner Competence Using Virtual Reality Technology

Patrick Potter, Janet Stevens, Anthony Baginski, Zachariah Conover,Thomas Gill

Abstract:	In late 1994 a project to develop a portable, low cost shipboard bridge team trainer using virtual reality (VR) was initiated at the U. S. Coast Guard Academy. Students and faculty in the electrical engineering section have recently made strides in the areas of virtual reality based mariner evaluation and computer based Rules of the Road testing. Using Pentium driven, Windows TM NT based personal computers, cadet engineers have created maritime scenarios designed to enhance and evaluate practicing mariner competence. Additionally, a computer based testing program designed to electronically administer, score and archive both initial and renewal Rules of the Road exams was created. These applications were developed using a standard high-level programming language, low-cost virtual reality software and the Coast Guard’s standard database software. Neither application requires the original development software be loaded on the resident computer, thereby minimizing operation costs. The computer based Rules of the Road exam uses the virtual reality software, where appropriate, to provide either static or dynamic video images with exam questions. The maritime scenarios realistically depict environmental conditions, other vessels, navigational aids and ship characteristics. While not intended to replace the Coast Guard’s full mission simulator, both the PC based mission simulator and the computer based Rules of the Road exam demonstrate the potential application of technology to fill training requirements in any networked PC environment. Both applications lend themselves service-wide distribution and use and can easily be tailored to address changing requirements.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 55th Annual Meeting of The Institute of Navigation (1999) June 27 - 30, 1999 Royal Sonesta Hotel Cambridge, MA
Pages:	89 - 98
Cite this article:	Potter, Patrick, Stevens, Janet, Baginski, Anthony, Conover, Zachariah, Gill, Thomas, "Testing, Evaluating and Enhancing Practicing Mariner Competence Using Virtual Reality Technology," Proceedings of the 55th Annual Meeting of The Institute of Navigation (1999), Cambridge, MA, June 1999, pp. 89-98.
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