Imagine stepping into a power plant and experiencing a chemical leak scenario in a fully immersive virtual reality environment. That is now possible thanks to RoboAI Academy’s Vision4Safety project, which developed a VR safety training demo for Pori Energia Oy. The project created a hands-on, interactive learning experience where employees can practice safety procedures, hazard recognition, and emergency response safely and effectively.
Learning safety through play
The VR training combines realistic 360° visuals of the Pori Energia facilities with gamified interactions. Learners select the correct personal protective equipment (PPE), identify hazards and emergency exits, perform chemical leak response steps in order, and complete a worksite safety check. Gamified features include dynamic scoring, immediate feedback for correct, partially correct, or incorrect actions, drag-and-drop tasks, time-limited selections, clickable hotspots, instructional videos, visual and audio cues, and 3D props such as tools, cones, and collection bags.
From idea to immersive experience
The project began with research on VR platforms suitable for training. After evaluation, they chose CenarioVR for its intuitive no-code interface and compatibility with available VR hardware. Using 360° photos captured on-site, the team developed three main modules: PPE Awareness, Chemical Leak Response, and Worksite Safety Check.
Why it matters?
Traditional safety training can be passive and hard to retain. This VR demo allows employees to actively practice procedures, gain confidence, and make critical decisions safely. It demonstrates how immersive technology can complement existing training methods, increase engagement, and reduce workplace risk.
Background
RoboAI Academy's Vision4Safety project was part of the TATTI project (Artificial intelligence and automation technologies for better safety at work), which received co-financing from the European Regional Development Fund through the Regional Council of Satakunta. It was implemented in collaboration with Pori Energia Oy. The demo is a proof-of-concept designed for one chemical leak scenario, but the platform can be expanded to cover additional safety situations. The project provided students with hands-on experience in VR development, scenario-based learning, gamification, and multimedia integration, while delivering a functional tool for the partner company.
Thank you Pori Energia for the great project topic!
More information about the Vision4Safety VR demo or RoboAI Academy projects:
Chief Researcher and Principal Lecturer
Mirka Leino
tel. 044 710 3182
mirka.leino@samk.fi
Researcher and Lecturer
Janika Tommiska
tel. 044 710 6332
janika.tommiska@samk.fi
