TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2018//
TI  - Virtual training environments for major incident response planning in UK gas infrastructure
JO  - International journal of disaster resilience in the built environment
A1  - Rogage, Kay
SP  - 130
EP  - 144
VL  - 9
IS  - 2
N2  - This paper aims to evaluate a virtual training environment for testing UK gas pipeline emergency response plans.         Design/methodology/approach        Interviews, observations and desk research were used to identify current methods for testing plans. A virtual training environment was developed and evaluated with industry experts by using participatory design techniques. Key themes relating to both the current methods for testing plans and for a virtual training environment were identified using thematic analysis.         Findings        Improved training performance, remote participation and evidence of decision testing are benefits a virtual training environment can bring to current practice. It is suggested that a virtual training environment can enhance, rather than replace, the current process of testing emergency response plans.         Research limitations/implications        Analysis of the virtual training environment being used to test plans in a live context would give further ecological validity to the findings. A study of the prototype used to test plans for incidents involving sectors outside the gas industry would further validate the findings.         Originality/value        The application of a virtual training environment to facilitate testing plans and the decision-making processes for major incidents involving high-pressure gas pipelines and storage sites is yet to be documented. This paper contributes to the literature by documenting the decision-making process and evaluation of a virtual training environment for testing plans in this context.     Keywords:      Emergency response planning, Emergency response training, Gas infrastructure, Major incidents, Multi-agency response, Virtual training environment; Pipeline transportation<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1759-5908
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/IJDRBE-01-2017-0007
ID  - ref1
ER  -