Realistic training scenario simulators and simulation techniques

Abstract

In one embodiment, a system for simulating emergency events includes: a signal generator operatively coupleable to one or more detectors; and a controller operably coupled to the signal generator and configured to cause the signal generator to: generate one or more synthetic signals based at least in part on data comprising one or more of: trainee identity, trainee role, synthesized data, and one or more measurements taken during a simulation; and communicate the synthetic signal(s) to the detector(s) by injecting the synthetic signals) directly into a position of a receive path of the detector(s) that is upstream of signal processing electronics of the detector(s) and downstream of a sensor of the detector(s). The synthetic signal(s) is/are waveform signals representative of at least one emergency event; and the synthetic signahs) is/are utilized to mimic conditions during emergency event(s) and under particular emergency conditions. Corresponding methods and computer program prodcuts are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system configured to simulate one or more emergency events, the system comprising:
 a signal generator, the signal generator being operatively coupleable to one or more detectors; and   a controller, the controller being operably coupled to the signal generator and configured to cause the signal generator to:
 generate one or more synthetic signals based at least in part on data comprising one or more of: a trainee identity, a trainee role, synthesized data, and one or more measurements taken during a simulation; and 
 communicate the one or more synthetic signals to the one or more detectors to which the signal generator is operably coupled by injecting the one or more synthetic signals directly into a position of a receive path of the one or more of the detectors, the position of the receive path being upstream of signal processing electronics of the one or more of the detectors and downstream of a sensor of the one or more of the detectors; 
   wherein the one or more synthetic signals are waveform signals;   wherein the one or more synthetic signals are representative of at least one emergency event; and   wherein the one or more synthetic signals are utilized to mimic conditions during the at least one emergency event under particular emergency conditions,   
     
     
         2 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the signal generator includes a waveform generator operatively coupleable to the one or more detectors. 
     
     
         3 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to cause the signal generator to generate the one or more synthetic signals in response to receiving an instruction from a user trainee indicating the trainee's decision to engage a. particular location within a simulated emergency environment; and
 wherein the controller is further configured to cause the signal generator to generate the one or more synthetic signals based at least in part on sampling one or more probability distributions.   
     
     
         4 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a central data processing system for:
 calculating one or more source parameters corresponding to the one or more synthetic signals;   determining one or more sources of the one or more synthetic signals;   determining a type and a quality of one or more waveforms corresponding to the one or more synthetic signals; and   describing one or more events corresponding to the one or more synthetic signals in a three-dimensional space.   
     
     
         5 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the one or more detectors comprise one or more seismometers; and wherein the one or more seismometers comprise a 1-C seismometer and a 3-C seismometer. 
     
     
         6 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: an interface configured to couple with a computer readable storage medium;
 one or more multi-channel digitizers;   a global positioning module;   a networking component; and   a power supply.   
     
     
         7 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising at least 50 of the detectors each having a signal generator associated therewith and operably coupled thereto, wherein the detectors are arranged in at least two detector arrays, wherein each detector array is configured to detect conditions indicative of a different type of emergency event, and wherein the different types of emergency event are selected from a group consisting of: seismic events; radiological events; chemical events; explosive events; and biological events. 
     
     
         8 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the one or more synthetic signals include data representative of one or more simulation characteristics selected from a group consisting of: a simulated plume size; a simulated radioisotope identity; a simulated radioisotope composition; a simulated prevailing wind speed; a simulated prevailing wind direction; a simulated particle density; a simulated soil composition; a simulated altitude; a simulated topography; a simulated shockwave magnitude; a simulated shockwave frequency; a simulated presence of radiation shield(s); and a simulated occurrence of a radiation shielding event; a simulated infrared spectrum; simulated mass spectrometer data; a simulated seismic signal magnitude; and a simulated seismic signal timing. 
     
     
         9 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the one or more detectors comprise one or more seismometers;
 wherein the one or more seismometers comprise a 1-C seismometer and a 3-C seismometer;   wherein the data further comprises location data and temporal data;   wherein the one or more synthetic signals comprise a plurality of synthetic signals each cor corresponding to a same emergency event; and   wherein each of the plurality of synthetic signals is characterized by a magnitude and a timing each determined based at least in part on the location data and temporal data.   
     
     
         10 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the signal processing electronics are selected from a group consisting of: a digitizer; a preamplifier; an analog-to-digital converter (ADC); a digital-to-analog converter (DAC); a field-programmable gate array (FPGA); and an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). cm  11 . A method for simulating one or more emergency events, comprising:
 receiving, by a controller, data corresponding to one or more emergency events, the data comprising one or more of: a trainee identity; a trainee role; synthesized data;   and one or more measurements taken during a simulation;   generating, by a signal generator operatively coupled to the controller, one or more synthetic signals based at least in part on the data; and   communicating, by the signal generator, the one or more synthetic signals to one or more detectors by injecting the one or more synthetic signals directly into a position of a receive path of the one or more of the detectors, the position of the receive path being upstream of signal processing electronics of the one or more of the detectors and downstream of a sensor of the one or more of the detectors;   wherein the one or more synthetic signals are waveform signals;   wherein the one or more synthetic signals are representative of at least one emergency event; and   wherein the one or more synthetic signals are utilized to mimic conditions during the at least one emergency event under particular emergency conditions.   
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in claim  11 , wherein the one or more emergency events are selected from a group consisting of: seismic events; radiological events; chemical events; explosive events; and biological events. 
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in claim  11 , wherein the generating occurs in real-time during an emergency simulation exercise based at least in part on: a predetermined simulation sequence and detecting one or more predetermined trigtrigger events during the emergency simulation exercise. 
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in claim  11 , wherein the data further comprises location information and temporal information,
 wherein the generating is further based on the location information and the temporal information; and   wherein the location information and the temporal information correspond to a responder participating in an emergency simulation exercise, during the emergency simulation exercise.   
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in claim  11 , further comprising parameterizing some or all of the data;
 wherein the signal is generated based on the parameterized data; and   wherein the parameterizing comprises a probabilistic analysis of the data.   
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in claim  11 , wherein the communicating is based at least in part on detecting existence of one or more predetermined trigger parameters of the one or more emergency events. 
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in claim  11 , wherein each of the generating and the communicating are based on a predetermined trigger condition, a predetermined event simulation sequence, and user input. 
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in claim  11 , further comprising distinguishing the one or more synthetic signal(s) from synthetic noise not corresponding to the one or more emergency events. 
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in claim  11 , wherein the one or more synthetic signals are communicated as part of a continuous stream comprising synthetic noise representative of one or more unrelated events selected from a group consisting of seismic disruptions; magnetic storms; and naturally occurring bio-threat analogs. 
     
     
         20 . A computer program product for simulating one or more emergency events, the computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer code embodied therewith, the computer code being executable b an emergency event simulation system to cause the system to perform a method comprising:
 receiving, by a controller of the emergency event simulation system, data corresponding to one or more emergency events, the data com.prising one or more of: a trainee identity; a trainee role; synthesized data; and one or more measurements taken during a simulation;   generating, by signal generator operatively coupled to the controller, one or more synthetic signals based at least in part on the data; and   communicating, by the signal generator, the one or more synthetic signals to one or more detectors by injecting the one or more synthetic signals directly into a position of a receive path of the one or more of the detectors, the position of the receive path being upstream of signal processing electronics of the one or more of the detectors and downstream of a sensor of the one or more of the detectors;   wherein the one or more synthetic signals are waveform signals;   wherein the one or more synthetic signals are representative of at least one emergency event; and   wherein the one or more synthetic signals are utilized to mimic conditions during the at least one emergency event under particular emergency conditions.