PC-based simulations: Effective, low-cost, alternative training in tactical decision-making for the US Department Of Energy's protective forces
Simulation is one of the most effective training methodologics for helping students transfer classroom knowledge to practical understanding. Simulations encourage a student to apply newly learned facts to a credible problem faced in the real world. In applying knowledge, the student gains an operational understanding of the task and confidence that the task can be performed under the pressures of reality. The power of simulation as a teaching tool does not have to be argued to this group. The dilemma is, how can simulations be integrated into more courses The promise of computer simulations has sometimes not been realized because these simulations typically have been thought of as appropriate only for elaborate, complex projects, requiring a high cost of development and implementation. Sophisticated simulations typically require 500 manhours of development time per course hour of instruction. Because of the large amount of data and the need to process this data quickly these simulations usually need the processing power of a mini computer. A training center with ten student workstations could cost over $750,000 for the computers alone. With costs like these simulations only meet an effective cost/benefit ratio for training objectives that are extremely costly or hazardous to achieve with other methods. However, if a simulation could be delivered on a personal computer, the cost for the training center would be reduced to $35,000 and the simulation would be accessible to more trainees. And, if the time for development could be reduced to 60 manhours per course hour, development costs would be close to other teaching methodologies and simulations could be effectively integrated into more courses. These were the objectives when the Tactical Assessment, Deployment and Decision making (TADD) simulation was proposed. How these objectives were achieved is the subject of this paper.
- Research Organization:
- EG and G Energy Measurements, Inc., Albuquerque, NM (USA). Kirtland Operations
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE/DP
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC08-88NV10617
- OSTI ID:
- 6794585
- Report Number(s):
- EGG-10617-6070; CONF-9009172-1; ON: DE90012583
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Close combat light simulations technology conference, Albuquerque, NM (USA), 17-20 Sep 1990
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
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