Abstract: For the sake of improving the application of VR technology in fire escape training, a VR system with thermal device for underground space fire drill based on FDS was developed by numerical simulation and hardware design. PyroSim was employed to simulate fire process in underground space and the simulation results were used as data source of this system. Through the secondary development based on Unity, fire drill visual simulation with scene interaction was established. Moreover, thermal device was designed to simulate the high temperature environments and present the real fire environment in underground space. Via this system, testees fully experienced the vivid scene including real fire smoke and high temperature and felt the fire condition in terms of vision and heat. Results show that fine flame, smoke and high temperature make test personnel feel irritated and disturb their choice of escaping route, and that all the test persons have completed the escape within 70 seconds and the aim of the fire drill can be achieved.

Key words: underground space, fire drill, virtual reality (VR), fire dynamic simulation (FDS), enhanced experience