African Security Studies (Political Science focus) | 11 September 2004
Adoption and Impact Analysis of Virtual Reality Training for Disaster Response Teams in Urban West African Cities: An Empirical Methodology
H, a, s, s, a, n, A, h, m, e, d, N, u, r, ,, A, b, d, i, l, l, e, A, l, i, A, b, d, i, ,, I, s, a, m, Y, u, s, u, f, G, a, r, a, r
Abstract
Virtual reality (VR) training has been increasingly adopted by various organizations to enhance skills in disaster response scenarios. However, there is a need for empirical research on its effectiveness and adoption patterns specifically among urban West African cities' disaster response teams. We employed mixed-methods research, including quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews, to evaluate the adoption and impact of VR training in Somalia's urban West African cities. A logistic regression model is used to predict the likelihood of team members adopting VR training based on their demographics and previous training experiences. The preliminary findings suggest that approximately 45% of participating teams have adopted VR training, with a significant preference for interactive simulations over passive viewing sessions. Teams in cities with higher population densities were more likely to adopt the technology. This study contributes by offering a robust methodology framework for evaluating VR training adoption and impacts on disaster response teams in urban West African contexts. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies to track long-term effects of VR training, including its impact on team performance and organisational culture. Additionally, more diverse case studies are needed across different cities within the region. Model estimation used $\hat{\theta}=argmin<em>{\theta}\sum</em>i\ell(y<em>i,f</em>\theta(x<em>i))+\lambda\lVert\theta\rVert</em>2^2$, with performance evaluated using out-of-sample error.