Biosecurity Compliance Thought Immersive Virtual Reality Simulations

The Livestock industries in the U.S. loses over a billion dollars annually to diseases. To combat this loss there are biosecurity measures in place to lower rates of disease outbreaks. In examining biosecurity practices measures we created a computer simulation that was played as a game to test users compliance to biosecurity measures where the user was a worker at a swine facility. Their conflict being common biosecurity practices such as a “line of separation” at which workers shower and change clothes entering and exiting the facility. This cost the user time, but is considered highly effective for reducing the risk of disease infection. Then their alternative option of going around the biosecurity measures and taking less time at the risk of infecting the livestock. We have expanded to a virtual reality simulation of the same game. With in virtual reality the simulation is more immersive than the 2D counterpart. With being more immersive this simulation decision making becomes more accurate. Making testing on compliance with different influences and messaging more effective. These results lead to more effective messaging for livestock managers and policy makers to move behaviors to increase on biosecurity practices