VRoad (2018-2020) Erasmus+ Program
Project for the development of a Virtual Reality application for Health and Safety training in European road works.
Designation: VRoad. Virtual Reality applied to roadwork training in European construction industry.
Project: Belonging to the European Union Erasmus+ Program, 2018 Call, of the Key Action 2 to the Cooperation for Innovation and the Exchange of Good Practices.
Project Identification: 2018-1-ES01-KA202-050294.
Duration: 24 months, since October 2018, until September 2020. Extended until 30th November 2020!
Budget: 214.484 €.
Coordinator of the project: Fundación Laboral de la Construcción (Spain).
Partners: GA Consultores (Spain), Formedil Piemonte (Italy), Centro de Formação Profissional da Indústria da Construção Civil e Obras Públicas do Sul -Cenfic- (Portugal), BTP CFA Indre-et-Loire (France).
Website: http://microsites.fundacionlaboral.org/vroad?idioma=1
Social networks of VRoad:
The maintenance and exploitation of road infrastructures is essential to maintain their viability and extend the useful life of European transport infrastructure, which strengthens the social and territorial cohesion of the European Union (EU) by promoting economic development and job creation.
To this end, having a qualified workforce in road works, in accordance with the requirements of Health and Safety is essential to increase the competitiveness and development of the construction industry, which faces the following needs:
- Improving the hazard prevention in roadworks.
- Implementing a pedagogical innovation aimed at road maintenance needs.
- Promoting the acquisition of pedagogical skills.
Training system, based on Virtual Reality, with simulation of real scenarios
In this sense, the European project VRoad aims to address the specific needs of Work-based Learning (WBL) and risk prevention in road works, through the development of a Virtual Reality (VR) training system, i.e., through a computer-generated scenario that simulates a realistic experience of specific work in the field.
In this way, the main result of the initiative is the development of a Virtual Reality application to promote training in Health and Safety in COEX works in the European construction industry, as well as:
- A practical guide with the knowledge, skills and competences in the field of Road Maintenance and Operation (COEX) that professionals in the sector must possess, with the aim of guaranteeing the quality and safety of the work.
- A Virtual Reality application (called VRoad) which will include virtual scenarios to support learning processes, and as a training system in risk prevention and preventive measures related to road works. Three virtual scenarios will be developed: lane closure; repair of handrails and traffic signs; and action protocol in the event of an accident.
- A didactic guide for Vocational Training (VET) teachers that will allow them to manage the VRoad application and make the most of the training system.
- A roadmap which establishes the standars and necessary steps to recognize the content of the proposed training system, developed in terms of EQF (European Qualification Framework) and according to the European frame and recommendations of EQAVET (European Quality Assurance in Vocational Education and Training).
In support of these challenges, the project will have a double objective: to create National Advisory Groups (NAGs) in each country of the partnership, as well as Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs) and to implement the standard recognition process.
The working methodology will combine qualitative techniques (focus groups) and quantitative techniques (questionnaires and internet surveys) to get first-hand information regarding Health and Safety on roadworks and, in particular, in maintenance roadworks.
Challenges and benefits for industry
However, this European initiative addresses three clear challenges:
- Difficulty to carry out work-based learning in real situations in this type of activities in roadworks scope, and especially in traditional training carried out in classroom.
- Increasing demand of attractive and innovative pedagogical methodologies and tools which ease the learning-training processes in construction industry VET, especially with some collectives.
- Lack of training tools and resources including the experiential item to make easier the learning and increase the trainee’s motivation towards training, through his/her participation in an immersive process.
The benefits of solving, at least in part, these challenges are:
- Improvement of the construction VET providers' activity to include an appealing training offer for the current and potential construction sector worker.
- Strengthening of the preventive culture of construction workers.
- Enhancement of workers’ qualification on management and use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).
- And, in short, the improvement of the image of an increasingly prepared and competitive sector.
Project Resources
Download the program with the VRoad virtual reality application
Watch the VRoad Virtual Reality application prototype video.
Download the handy guide of the application.
Download the report on «Learning results in road-works».
The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.