ORIGINAL ARTICLE Design of a collaborative virtual environment for training security agents in big events Claudio Passos 1 • Ma ´rcio H. da Silva 2 • Antonio C. A. Mol 2 • Paulo V. R. Carvalho 2 Received: 20 October 2016 / Accepted: 14 February 2017 Ó Springer-Verlag London 2017 Abstract This paper describes a design of a collaborative virtual environment (CVE) for training security agents in big events. The CVE was modelled with Autodesk 3ds Max, while Unity 3D was used to create the terrain and implement the features that make up a virtual environment. The Brazilian soccer stadium known as Maracana ˜ and its surroundings were chosen as the real counterparts of the CVE. The usability of the CVE was evaluated through simulations involving security agents dealing with threats related to suspects carrying radioactive material in big events. In order to perform these simulations, we use the same procedures used during 2014 FIFA World Cup and planned to be used in Rio 2016 Olympic Games. The main objective of this work is to verify the feasibility of designing a CVE and its usability for training security agents involved in big events issues. Results indicated that the proposed CVE has been successful concerning both, design and usability, besides of helping to improve the ability of each member of the security team on performing his duty. Keywords Virtual reality Á Collaborative virtual environment Á Usability Á Design 1 Introduction The recent terrorist attacks on ‘‘soft targets’’ (Forest 2006) defined as civilian sites where people are vulnerable and congregate in large numbers such as national monuments, hospitals, schools, sporting arenas, hotels, cultural centres, movie theatres, cafe ´s and restaurants, places of worship, nightclubs, shopping centres and transportation sites indi- cate the need to improve security countermeasures in place to provide a high degree of people protection against such attacks. As these sites are not designed in safe basis to provide adequate physical barriers, well-trained security agents to prevent and respond to such situations become very important to avoid or mitigate security issues. Therefore, there is a need to provide training to develop create and develop skills for security agents through sim- ulation exercises. Simulation exercises serve as imaginary future situa- tions to explore possible responses to events. Thus, such exercises should be planned to address the cognitive skills that must be developed to respond expected and unex- pected situations. The purpose and scope of these exercises may include the training of emergency responders, pro- viding practice opportunities in new situations, evaluation of new technological systems, building trust on trainees, identifying critical decisions, improving coordination and testing the plans in the light of new threats (Voshell 2009). One of the possible ways to accomplish this type of training is through the use of virtual reality (VR). VR concepts are very attractive to the users as it allows to them the feeling of immersion without being exposed to any risk. In addition, the use of such technologies can offer virtual environment for simulations at unfinished facilities or at the ones where the access is restricted. Virtual envi- ronments may also contribute to improve the planning of & Claudio Passos cpassos.cp2@gmail.com 1 Programa de Po ´s-Graduac ¸a ˜o em Informa ´tica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Cidade Universita ´ria, 21941-590 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil 2 Instituto de Engenharia Nuclear, Cidade Universita ´ria, Rua Helio Almeida 75, 21941-906 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil 123 Cogn Tech Work DOI 10.1007/s10111-017-0407-5