Transferring fire modelling sciences into augmented reality : a realistic and safe reconstructed fire scenario

Abstract

Fire emergencies present significant challenges to human safety, with evacuation success relying on situational awareness and informed decision-making. Traditional methods, such as rendered fire simulations and physical evacuation drills, often fail to capture the complexity of fire dynamics or provide realistic, immersive environments for evaluating human behaviour. To address these limitations, this study pioneers a novel augmented reality (AR) platform that, for the first time, integrates real-time, scientifically accurate fire dynamics simulations with immersive visualisations. Unlike existing approaches, the proposed AR workflow offers an end-to-end process, from geometry extraction, fire simulation, and data processing to visualisation in real-world settings. This enables a high-fidelity representation of flame structures and smoke layers, providing an interactive tool for studying evacuee behaviour. A primary survey was conducted to evaluate user perceptions and exit choice preferences in AR environments. Results showed that 77% of participants preferred AR over traditional simulations, citing its interactivity and improved situational awareness. The survey also confirmed that clear signage significantly influences evacuation decisions, with 71% choosing the nearest exit when the exit sign was visible, compared to 31% when obscured. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of AR for evaluating human behaviour in fire scenarios and highlight its potential as a safe, cost-effective tool for fire safety engineering and emergency preparedness.