Towards Embodied Immersive Training for Human-Drone Interactions in Wildfire Preparedness, Response, and Recovery

Wildfires pose a significant and growing threat to society and ecosystems, necessitating innovative approaches to wildfire preparedness, response, and recovery (PRR). Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs), or drones, have emerged as a valuable tool for aiding wildland firefighters in their efforts. However, effective integration of drones into wildfire management requires structured training programs that address the complexities of human-drone interaction. Traditional training methods for wildland firefighters are costly, inflexible, and lack an efficient means of transferring tacit knowledge from experienced personnel to new recruits. Our project explores the potential of immersive simulation-based learning environments, particularly virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR), to enhance drone-based wildfire training. By conducting a systematic literature review, we identified key wildland firefighting tasks suitable for interactive and immersive learning, including wildfire detection, fire suppression, and post-fire recovery operations. Additionally, we developed a set of focus group interview questions to gather insights from industry experts to refine our training framework. Our findings indicate that simulation-based training has the potential to improve the effectiveness and accessibility of wildfire drone operations while reducing training costs. Future work will involve conducting expert interviews, refining training modules, and developing a prototype XR-based training program to bridge the gap between firefighters and emerging drone technologies.