Virtual World Training
Environment
Prepared For: Galveston National Laboratory
Prepared By: HBGary Federal, LLC
December, 2010
HBGary Federal, LLC, 3604 Fair Oaks Blvd. Bldg B STE 250, Sacramento, CA 95864 Tel: 916-459-4727 ext 118
Introduction
We understand that the Galveston National Laboratory (GNL) in Galveston, Texas is interested
in learning more about opportunities and associated benefits of developing a virtual world
training environment. GNL’s mission as a high security National Biocontainment Lab and the
fact that GNL is one of only two such facilities in the United States, and the largest one in the
world located on an academic campus, make it an ideal candidate for a virtual world training
program. A GNL virtual world presence can be used for collaboration, training, and
simulations, resulting in significant training benefits and cost savings.
Second Life is the largest and most widely adopted virtual world environment. Second Life is
in use by most top Universities, many businesses, and government agencies. In late 2009, the
University of Texas launched a year-long, state-wide initiative to use Second Life in the
curriculum for all 16 of its campuses, experimenting with using the platform as a means of
providing innovative, low-cost undergraduate instruction involving students, faculty,
researchers and administrators.
A recent pilot program conducted in 2008 by Yelowlees, Cook, et al, demonstrated the
benefits of virtual world training in support of biohazard containment and bioterrorism
defense. The objective of the study was to create and evaluate a pilot bioterrorism defense
training environment using virtual reality technology. The pilot project utilized Second Life to
construct a virtual reality environment to mimic an actual setting that might be used as a
Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) distribution site for northern California in the event of a
bioterrorist attack. Scripted characters were integrated into the system as mock patients to
analyze various clinic workflow scenarios. Users reported that the virtual reality system was
relevant to their practice and had potential as a method of bioterrorism defense training.
In 2009, researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health began a
study to determine if collaborative virtual environments improve public health preparedness
and response planning. The study is funded by a $1.6 million grant from the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention. The project will use Second Life, a Web-based virtual world
in which users move and interact in simulated 3-D spaces, to train public health workers in
emergency preparedness. UIC researchers will recruit 40 local health departments from across
the United States to participate in the study. Half of the participants will use the virtual
environment to support their emergency preparedness planning and half will use a traditional
meeting approach to planning.
Many Second Life objects, 3D models, and scripts are freely available, especially those
created by academia. The ability to leverage these existing objects and scripts in support of
GNL’s mission, and the broad adoption of Second Life as demonstrated by the following key
statistics make it an ideal virtual world environment for GNL’s pilot program.
Second Life Statistics
Financial
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User-to-User transactions in 2009 totaled US$567 million in 2009, growth of 65% over
2008.
The total amount of virtual currency in circulation reached L$6.95 billion, growth of
23% over December 2008
HBGary Federal, LLC, 3604 Fair Oaks Blvd. Bldg B STE 250, Sacramento, CA 95864 Tel: 916-459-4727 ext 118
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The US Dollar value of L$ in circulation totaled US$26.5 million in December 2009
Sales of User Generated virtual items on Xstreet SL, reached L$1.6 billion or US$6.1
million, growth of 74% over 2008
The total US dollar value of all Linden dollars traded on the LindeX™ currency
exchange in 2009 reached US$115 million in value, 7% growth over 2008
The total US dollar value of all Linden dollars traded on the Xstreet SL™ currency
exchange in 2009 reached US$1.5 million in value, 169% growth over 2008
Usage
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Residents spent 481 million hours in Second Life in 2009, 21% growth over 2008
User hours lost to downtime as a portion of total user hours were down 66%, to a bestever low of 0.19% for the whole year
Monthly Repeat Logins reached an all-time high of 769,000 in December 2009, 15%
growth over December 2008
Land
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Resident-owned regions reached 23,900 in December 2009, up 6% over December 2008
Total Resident-owned land (including Mainland) reached 1.85 billion square meters in
December 2009, up 7% over December 2008
Our team has experience developing numerous virtual world training simulations within
Second Life. HBGary personnel have years of experience developing 3D models, and scripted
objects for use in Second Life. Additionally, we have relationships with numerous SL
developers who have built thousands of scripted objects, many of which can be obtained for
little to no cost and reused / tailored for this effort.
Proposal
Our proposal is structured into two options. Option 1 is a two month pilot project, and
Option 2 is a twelve month program, as described below.
Option 1: Two Month Pilot Project: $50K
Table 1. Option 1
Features
Benefits
Private Second Life Island with 12 months of
hosting.
Provides GNL one private Island, 16 virtual
acres, for one year.
Pre-fab Conference Center
Significantly lowers costs by utilizing prefabricated conference center, which can
quickly be deployed and tailored with GNL
branding, signs.
Specialized Equipment Training
1 to 3 exhibits housed inside the conference
HBGary Federal, LLC, 3604 Fair Oaks Blvd. Bldg B STE 250, Sacramento, CA 95864 Tel: 916-459-4727 ext 118
center or elsewhere on the grounds for
training.
We propose developing a training environment to meet GNL requirements for a pilot project
by utilizing a Second Life private island, the virtual equivalent to 16 acres. In order to keep
costs down, we will make use of Linden Labs predeveloped islands which are populated with
conference center buildings (Figure 1. Pre-fab Conference Center) that can be tailored to
meet organizational requirements, such as adding GNL logos, furniture, fixtures and decor.
Figure 1. Pre-fab Conference Center
Figure 2. Pre-fab Conference Room
The training environment will be used to provide training relevant to GNL’s mission, such as
simulating hazardous materials handling. We shall develop one to three custom simulations,
such as a HAZMAT decontamination unit (Figure 3. HAZMAT Decon Unit). Students will be able
to familiarize themselves with the equipment, assemble, disassemble, and access technical
manuals.
HBGary Federal, LLC, 3604 Fair Oaks Blvd. Bldg B STE 250, Sacramento, CA 95864 Tel: 916-459-4727 ext 118
Figure 3. HAZMAT Decon Unit
Option 2: One Year Development Project: $250K
Table 2. Option 2
Features
Benefits
Four Private Second Life Island with 12
months of hosting.
Provides one private Island, 64 virtual acres
for one year.
Pre-fab Conference Center
Utilizes pre-fabricated conference center,
which can quickly be deployed and tailored
with GNL branding, signs.
Specialized Equipment Training
1-3 exhibits housed inside the conference
center or elsewhere on the grounds.
Simulation Environment
1 simulation environment
We propose a twelve month development effort to create a high-fidelity GNL virtual world
presence for collaboration, training, simulations, and public outreach. Option 2 provides 64
virtual acres, which can include a scale-model of the real-world GNL facility. Additionally,
the grounds can be use to develop a virtual simulation environment similar to the Texas A&M
Disaster City. Texas AM disaster city is a real world mock up city with three debris piles and
numerous buildings that are used by emergency responders and canine training.
For additional information regarding this proposal, please contact:
Aaron Barr, HBGary Federal
[email protected]
719-510-8478
HBGary Federal, LLC, 3604 Fair Oaks Blvd. Bldg B STE 250, Sacramento, CA 95864 Tel: 916-459-4727 ext 118