Interactive industry training solutions: eLearning using CGI

Construction engineers supervising progress of construction proj

Table of Contents

Last Updated on May 29, 2024

We use advanced CGI technology to bring operational instructions and safety procedures to life. Our bespoke industry training solutions are suitable for use within certified industry training programs, workplace competency-based training, or on-the-job employee upskilling. We deliver immersive eLearning experiences in a range of formats, such as dynamic animated videos, website-based learning platforms, interactive apps, and augmented reality tools. These cloud-based digital resources allow trainees and staff to master critical skills remotely without needing to be onsite. Here we provide a detailed summary of our industry training services and eLearning offerings, showcasing many examples and practical use cases.

Inform, induct, and instruct your team quickly using interactive visual tools

Workplaces have a plethora of complicated operational procedures, equipment, and interfaces, with many staff needing to understand how things function, how components fit together, what to do, and how to behave. A poorly informed workforce can lead to project delays, misunderstandings, and safety risks. Effective training is essential to maximise efficiency, reduce errors, and ensure a safe and productive work environment for employees.

Using simulation and gamified digital training and learning techniques, we transform complex data and technical procedures into easily understood eLearning content. Our pioneering CGI Digital Twins technology generates realistic 3D models of assets, infrastructure, vehicles, facilities, people, and terrain, creating visually compelling learning experiences that mimic real-world conditions. These immersive 3D virtual environments let people explore industry scenarios from a range of viewpoints, fast-tracking the learning curve and markedly increasing the efficacy of training.

The limitations of traditional industry training methods

Traditional modes of education within business and industrial sectors often involve classroom-based learning, onsite instruction, and physical simulators. Each of these approaches has its own set of pros and cons.

Classroom tuition

Classrooms typically provide a safe and controlled environment, accommodating a large group of trainees at one time. Yet this environment can fall short of preparing people for the realities of day-to-day operations within a particular industry. The complex nature of dynamic real-world systems is often challenging to replicate using traditional modes of classroom instruction.

Furthermore, the one-size-fits-all approach that is often necessary within a classroom can become a significant limitation, as people absorb information and adapt to tasks at different rates. Traditional classroom training can leave little room for individualised learning trajectories.

When workforces are dispersed, the rostering, administration, and coordination of travelling to classroom locations can take a lot of time. Sometimes people are not available for various reasons at the time of the training and may miss the training altogether. Sometimes training is required quickly, in hours or days, from safety access training and site inductions for specialist workers. One example is uncovering, say, archaeological or heritage items in a construction site and needing to bring in a specialist professional to the site quickly – who will require induction and basic training. Having digital CGI training access means specialists can be inducted and upskilled quickly – even in the airport or in their hotel rooms.

Classroom training requires trainers, and trainers are in increasingly short supply. Trainers may also have varied methods of delivery, which can vary in consistency for the training. We believe that specialised trainers should be utilised for the higher-end specialist needs – it can be a wiser value proposition and return on investment to use your skilled trainers for high-end specialist training, and automate and digitise training where possible.

Onsite instruction

By comparison, onsite instruction is immersive and practical, delivering valuable hands-on experience. In-person training visits, however, can present logistical and safety challenges, particularly when managing a large cohort of learners. Coordinating schedules for hundreds of trainees and tutors amidst fluctuating site and weather conditions, while ensuring compliance with strict safety protocol can be logistically difficult – impacting staff rostering and overtime, and increasing travel costs in an already stretched workforce. These issues multiply when trainees need to familiarise themselves with new plant or machinery in a short timeframe or conduct training in confined, hazardous spaces.

Onsite training carries real-world risks. Mistakes can lead to injuries or operational mishaps. In addition, variations in training conditions and staffing rotation may lead to unequal learning opportunities, with potential skill gaps and knowledge discrepancies among trainees. If additional consolidation of learning is required to remedy this, catch-up sessions can be difficult to organise.

Onsite instruction may take place in a depot or training yard, or it may literally be on the operational worksite, using active plant and machinery. This means closing down all or part of the worksite and taking highly valuable machinery, plant and equipment offline for the training process. The costs of this process can quickly escalate.

Physical simulator training

Some industries use physical simulators. Simulators can be helpful when learning how to operate heavy machinery or vehicles, such as trains, aeroplanes, excavators, or cranes. Physical simulators typically include a seat, manual controls, and accompanying digital displays and sound systems to enhance the training experience. Motion-based simulators also possess the capacity to tilt, pitch, and roll, mimicking the movements of a vehicle.

Physical training simulators can be valuable in situations where kinaesthetic learning and hands-on experience are crucial. These devices help to refine motor skills and muscle memory, providing a tactile experience of the layout and operation of levers, switches, and other control mechanisms, without the dangers of operating on a live site.

Despite these advantages, physical simulators are impractical in many contexts. The setup costs alone can run into the millions, with the kit often large and bulky, sometimes requiring several rooms to install and manage. Physical simulators can take 12-24 months to deliver and build. The difficulty of relocating these simulators also means that trainees must often travel significant distances to use them, booking extended training sessions that can lead to boredom or fatigue, wasting the high investment cost of the learning opportunity.

In addition, the specialised nature of physical simulators and the commercial contracts that are often involved can make these systems inflexible and expensive to upgrade and maintain – causing training delays that lag several months. Organisations can be locked into software licensing agreements that stifle alterations to the visual displays, and the graphic imagery is not always of the quality and resolution that people expect. Many organisations have simulators that are a long way behind modern rendering and CGI capabilities, as the cost of upgrading is so high. Furthermore, simulators often have a ‘unique’ coding languages and editors for setting up scenarios, making it difficult and clunky to change scenarios.

Perhaps the most significant limitation with physical simulators, however, is that they typically accommodate only a single learner at a time – with a throughput that is even more constrained than onsite training. This makes using physical simulators simply unfeasible in situations where thousands of staff need to be upskilled in a short timeframe, or for re-accreditation.

Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) for training and learning

There has been huge hype in the past years about the use case of virtual reality and augmented reality, with the likes of Mark Zuckerberg and Meta and their investment in the ‘metaverse’. This metaverse sounded very similar to the Second Life hype of the 2000s – where we would all live in virtual buildings dancing and waving to each other. Of course, this has not come to bear, and generally people like talking to real people, looking each other in the eyes and keeping it simple.

In the eLearning and training sphere, VR and AR goggle-based learning received a similar amount of excitement, and many organisations invested millions of dollars in the solutions. There are some specialist use cases where VR or AR can be of great benefit, but, on the whole, there have been found to be many challenges with this style of training.

One of the challenges is purely that the devices are physical, and need to be purchased, managed, updated, distributed, and maintained. Most of the brands have particular licensing requirements so that the purchaser and the support organisation need to be the same, thus we can’t buy them for you.

Like any technology, VR requires a setup, which is not as straightforward as the marketing would have us believe. And then it requires updates.

The distribution issue of the VR and AR headsets is much more annoying than you would first think. Not only does the headset need to be in the same place as the trainee – up-to-date, working, and connected – it usually requires another person, a trainer, to support the trainee with guidance. Using the dongles is strange and requires training, knowing how to sit so the trainee does not suffer from motion sickness nor hit a wall or fall over. During COVID, and after, the extra requirement of hygiene, sharing a headset, cleaning etc was also an issue.

For example, for a Vulnerable Road User VR Training project we did at Urban CGI for the Rail Projects Victoria – the concept was the VR two-minute training was delivered onsite, at the site office, to make it easy for training to be provided to the contract and sub-contract truck drivers. However, the office staff did not want these drivers walking in and out of the office, and did not want the distraction of teaching them, guiding them and supporting them in how to sit, how to use the technology, ensuring they didn’t get vertigo etc. It is often these little insurmountable barriers that can stop a project’s success.

Another technical issue with VR is it always requires to be dumbed down, especially untethered VR. This is because VR hardware itself is small and lightweight and will always be a decade or two behind what you can get on desktop computers and beyond. This technicality means it takes more effort to try and build a great result. More optimisations, more cutting corners, and smaller memory mean smaller textures and geometries – which all cost more and take more time to build.

For example, some construction clients for major projects have the idea you can just ‘paint the BIM and drop it into VR’. Sadly, this is not the case. BIM models are hundreds of millions of triangles entangled in thousands of layers with ultra-basic materials and no textures generally. Untangling and optimising these models is a huge task, especially without the very close collaboration of the BIM team, who may be very busy and have their own goals. Furthermore, designs change, and one changed sprinkler on layer 563 that is not tracked clearly can result in massive rebuilds. The timelines required for construction projects to do these demonstrations, in line with the current BIM models and design scenario, and then to demonstrate materiality and design finishes is generally very labour intensive. 

CGI Digital Training – the new solutions available

While onsite, classroom, and simulator training can and do play a valuable role in workforce education, the limitations of these approaches point to the need for innovative digital training solutions.

With our modern CGI technological pipeline, the invention of virtual machines with powerful physics cards hosted on the cloud by suppliers like Amazon and Azure all around the world, and fast internet access, there is a whole new paradigm of immersive cloud-based industry training available.

The benefits of cloud-based industry eLearning solutions

We have over two decades of experience delivering digital training resources to clients, from visually AAA-grade quality ‘computer games’ as training live on the web, to guided virtual interactive competency training tools, also live on the web or hosted locally.

Our learning materials are centred around clear, visually compelling 3D virtual models of precise industry scenarios. Our CGI training methods dovetail seamlessly with conventional training approaches, complementing and often superseding other forms of workplace instruction to save time, cost and risk.

Organisations that adopt our cloud-based CGI methodology quickly find this yields many advantages:

Instant access to training resources anywhere, anytime

Digital training materials can be available anywhere you have access to the internet, and even offline with occasional reconnections. Resources can be deployed within a classroom or learning centre (viewed by participants on a large screen) or accessible with login on a personal device. There is no need for headsets or bulky simulators at all – just a computer or mobile device.

This new training portability lets people access training from anywhere, from your depot or even the comfort of your own home, in transit, in hotel rooms and at airports. There is much less need to have the expense or inconvenience of staff travelling to specific sites for specific training days. This is particularly valuable for organisations with a mobile workforce or staff operating across multiple sites. Digital resources also allow training institutions including Registered Training Organisations (RTO) to deliver individual training modules or entire courses online, serving a much wider audience than before.

Dramatic increase in training capacity

Unlike other forms of industry training, which are limited by facility and trainer availability, online CGI digital learning modules allow throughput to be scaled dramatically – offering training to thousands of learners at once, with participation only limited by the capacity to process enrolments. This frees up qualified trainers to do more advanced work and results in tremendous efficiencies of scale.

Faster training periods

Rather than being forced to wait for a specific timetabled training event, people can access training resources when they need them, increasing the cadence of learning refreshers and facilitating self-paced learning for perpetual accreditation. On-demand training helps to minimise workplace delays and can accelerate progress through industry training courses, shortening the overall training time for employees.

Easy to repeat, revise, and replay

Whereas other forms of training are challenging to repeat, digital training lets learners pause, rewind, and replay, providing infinite opportunities to revisit, practise, and revise material. This helps consolidate learning and reduces the potential degradation of skills. Being able to return to online content when needed also lessens the tendency for workers to rely on others when faced with uncertainty, equipping staff with the capability to single-handedly solve problems.

High engagement

Although all training methods can be valuable and engaging, this often depends on the aptitude and enthusiasm of the tutor. In our fast-paced modern world, decreased attention spans are the norm.

Enriched with interactive gamification strategies, our CGI digital solutions are accessible and engaging to diverse learner groups, converting complex material into digestible, bite-sized pieces. This makes content easier to understand and remember and helps sustain motivation and concentration. Most people are visual learners, and our interactive visual training improves cognition, information retention, staff engagement and ultimately staff retention.

Interactive strategies: eLearning gamification examples

‘Gamification’ involves applying game-design elements and principles (such as point scoring, competition, and rewards) to non-game contexts. This infuses the fun and competitive aspects of games into other tasks, increasing user interaction, motivating specific behaviours, and encouraging the achievement of learning goals.

We can integrate the following gamification strategies within our digitalised industry training resources:

  • Quizzes and questionnaires with multi-choice questions and answers – encouraging engagement and active learning.
  • 3D multi-function selection wheels – allowing users to rotate, highlight, and select items within the simulated environment.
  • Puzzles –promoting problem-solving and critical thinking.
  • Interactive posters with additional information appearing upon hover or click – increasing user interaction and learning depth.
  • Countdown timers – adding a sense of urgency or competition.
  • Checklists – providing a sense of achievement and progression through a task.
  • Experiential user controls, such as drag/drop, open/close, and switch on/off functionality, interacting with digital elements such as levers and pullies, openable doors, and other clickable items – enhancing interactivity and memorability of content.
  • Explode and explore functionality, letting learners investigate the inner workings of machinery or other systems – increasing comprehension.
  • Choose your own adventure or ‘pick a path’ journeys, with branching narratives facilitating navigation through a scenario – understanding the impact of decision-making.
  • Treasure hunts, where items are found within a virtual environment – adding a sense of discovery and fun to the learning.
  • Free roam environments, where users can explore a digital setting without predefined paths or limitations, interact with a scene in a non-linear manner – promoting curiosity and self-driven learning.

The speed and ease of use of our industry training material, coupled with the visual impact of the animated 3D scenarios, all work together to increase engagement and help us create popular training courses for employees.

Example of gamification strategies in eLearning
Gamification strategies in eLearning: These images are from an interactive industry training video that Urban CGI created to guide users through safety training on a construction site. In this example, a 3D multi-function selection wheel lets trainees choose and position various items within the site. Note the timer indicating the remaining time available to complete the task, increasing the sense of urgency. This training tool has been disseminated far and wide amongst Tier 1 contractors for safety training to upskill the industry and improve safety on hundreds of worksites.

Realistic scenes with multiple scenario-based learning opportunities

Urban CGI Digital Twin models are built in a complex tech stack including the Unreal Engine – software that powers AAA video games. Our team customises this technology to create 3D simulated visualisations that accurately represent all manner of specialist industry scenarios – including typical and atypical use cases such as High-Risk Low-Frequency (HRLF) events (see below). We combine 3D modelling expertise with instructional design and programming experience, producing beautiful interactive eLearning and eTraining modules that educate and motivate.

Our digitalised 3D scenarios are interactive and contextualised, representing precise industry settings, simulating best practices, guiding decision-making, are mapped to regulatory competencies and create interactive technical procedures.

A single training scenario can deliver multiple learning opportunities, with functionality to let trainees work at multiple scales, fostering macro and micro skill development and micro-credentialling of competencies. Our 3D simulated environments enable scenes and assets to be interactively experienced and examined from a range of viewpoints under different conditions, stresses, and time pressures – increasing the breadth and depth of learning. Adding physics, behaviours, animations and simulations brings learning to life.

Increased knowledge retention

When content is engaging, accessible, and customised to reflect the precise industry situation involved, it is far more likely that a full comprehension of the material will be grasped. Visual learning is often faster than other forms of learning – minimising miscommunications that may arise due to language or literacy barriers, with core competencies communicated in an unambiguous and literal manner.

Learning is particularly effective when the visual content is interactive (as opposed to passively consumed), using procedural muscle memory benefits to help cement learning connections, especially through repetition. Urban CGI learning resources are particularly effective for industry skills training, delivering fast knowledge transfer and absorption, improving recall, and increasing proficiency in an efficient manner.

Example of training in construction industry
Training in the construction industry: In this Urban CGI training example, we worked with a government agency to build a safety training application that allowed staff to practice working safely at heights, minimising the risk of dropped objects and hand injuries. This training animation included an interactive poster, labels on interactive elements, a visual score system, and a summary window.
Interactive poster illustrating the hierarchy of control in a safety training program for employees
This is part of an Urban CGI safety training program for employees with an interactive poster illustrating the hierarchy of control. Interactive methods of communication are typically far more effective than paper handouts or textbooks, engaging the learner and facilitating better retention of knowledge.

Digital assessment services: real-time performance feedback and micro-credentialling

Conventional modes of assessment may involve stacks of paper sitting around for weeks before work is graded, with results having to be manually entered into a learning management system (LMS) or industry training management portal. The LMS itself may be limited in its granularity – with yes/no or pass/fail criteria only, and very limited nuances in training learning.

Digital assessment within an eLearning program, on the other hand, can occur instantly, measured against predetermined training outcomes, with results automatically and instantly recorded in the associated LMS (connected via API) or relevant CMS (content management system) database. This is especially beneficial when time is of the essence, and the repercussions of operating with untrained or unprepared staff are significant.

With Urban CGI training solutions, the level of nuance and feedback on trainee performance is significantly enhanced. While traditional learning outcomes may be simply yes or no, pass or fail at a training course level, Urban CGI training offers endless possibilities for skills feedback through the training modules developed. Examples include:

  • The number of trials to perform a task, and perform it correctly.
  • The wrong answers chosen, for later assessment.
  • The decision time it takes for each answer or response.
  • The timing to complete the entire training modules.
  • Mouse movements around the screen – to record decision processes.
  • Record and video playback, for training assessments and feedback.

Our industry training and assessment services provide immediate validation of the degree of understanding. This rapid feedback loop reinforces the correct understanding and prevents misconceptions from being ingrained. This form of digital assessment (as opposed to face-to-face critique) can be less damaging to pride when learners get something wrong, leaving participants more inclined to try again, improve, and make progress. Educators can also quickly identify gaps in understanding and ascertain where further clarification and training are needed.

Real-time industry training and assessment report
Instant assessment validates the degree of understanding in real time. If learners can complete tasks correctly, this gives them confidence in their knowledge and motivates them to continue learning. Conversely, if they make mistakes, they can correct and learn from them immediately, enhancing their understanding and retention of the material. This image is from a training and assessment tutorial Urban CGI created for a client, showing the final screen after a user has progressed through ‘Dropped Objects’ safety training on a construction site.

Automated statistics for training evaluations and reports

Digitalised data analytics is enormously useful when evaluating the success of a training programme. This data (comprising both assessment data and onscreen behaviour data) lets you produce comprehensive industry training reports, carry out pre-emptive industry training needs analysis, compare existing performance against industry benchmarks, and identify consistent pitfalls and areas where further training is needed. The clarity and unambiguous nature of this data helps to dramatically improve and refine training methods over time, aiding you in tailoring programs that remedy areas of weakness and build upon strengths.

Data analytics within industry training reports
This is a sample of the industry training reports that are available in the Urban CGI training system dashboard. These graphs illustrate a range of statistics, such as the average completion time per training scenario, average score, completion rates per scenario, survey rates, number of failed attempts per task, number of engagements, and so on, with data able to be filtered using metrics such as start and end date.

Training tasks are mapped to national industry training standards and competency requirements

For competency-based training, assessment frameworks can be linked to the appropriate curriculum and industry training authority – such as the Australian Qualification Framework (AQF), the Office of the National Safety Regulator (ONSR), or the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) – helping to ensure that regulatory standards, workplace competencies, and operator licensing requirements are met. This is crucial in many industries that we serve, with compliance costs of breaching regulator and operator licensing standards high.

Urban CGI training solutions can be utilised as part of certified technical training programs, short courses, diplomas, degrees, and other pre-classroom and re-accreditation training programs, with multiple tiers possible for refreshers and re-accreditations.

Our training and assessment services can be set up to require second-tier logins or multi-factor authentication in cases where verification is required – ensuring the specified individual is doing the test. One example method for clients is to have participants required to complete an assessment at a supervised industry learning centre, such as a site depot, with or without a tutor onsite.

Industry training standards – competency
This is part of a railway competency-based training example, mapping various assessment criteria and unit requirements to simulated eLearning scenarios.

Uniformity of instruction

An important benefit of eLearning and eTraining systems is that the same information is communicated to all parties, resulting in equal learning opportunities and consistency and quality of information delivery. Consistent messaging helps ensure staff throughout a company or specific industry area are aligned, following the same protocols and procedures. Consistency in delivery also reduces the risk of accidents and improves predictability in project execution, boosting efficiency. If two different people are onsite, trained by two different trainers, using different protocols in safety critical communication and execution, these differences can lead to tragic outcomes.

CGI instruction training employees on correct usage of personal protective equipment (PPE)
This interactive training video guides staff through the process of wearing correct personal protective equipment (PPE) as part of a site induction for a Metro Tunnel Project construction site. Our CGI instruction makes this process very visual and literal.

Safer working environments and training experiences

Misjudging onsite procedures can have severe implications. Within a digital simulation, the trainee learns from the mistake without causing any harm. Learning in a simulated environment is particularly helpful in high-risk industries, where the consequences of real-world missteps can be severe.

Our CGI simulations illustrate concepts for learners in a way that is close to experiencing a situation in reality. This high-information transfer reduces risks in the field once staff return, leading to fewer accidents and disruptions.

Industry safety induction showing the procedure for approaching and passing heavy machinery
Industry safety induction: These images are from an Urban CGI animation in which the trainee learns how to safely approach and pass a heavy machinery operator by signalling with their cap lamp, allowing the staff to move through a restricted zone on a worksite. Safety training in industry is one of the most popular applications of our digital technology.

Increased productivity

When staff can access training from anywhere, downtime is significantly reduced. Having a library of digital training material on hand also allows new staff to rapidly get up to speed, reaching full capacity sooner. The improved knowledge absorption results in confident workers who are more likely to adapt and perform well, which has a flow-on effect on overall productivity.

Easy to deploy, update, and adapt

Urban CGI training systems can be built and launched relatively quickly (though please bear in mind we are often booked well in advance – we recommend reaching out early if you have tight timeframes or specific schedules to adhere to).

Once in place, our systems allow for rapid updates – with modifications sometimes actioned within the same day, and changes immediately live and accessible. This swift adaptation makes it simple to keep training material current with new regulatory requirements and emergent hazards – an essential requirement in an era of rapid technological advancement. Our comprehensive training support ensures your staff stay ahead of the curve, armed with relevant, up-to-date skills.

Improved return on investment creates affordable industry training

Traditional methods can result in severe project delays while waiting for all staff to receive the necessary onboarding training and mobilisation. Online training systems dramatically speed up these timeframes, delivering tremendous cost savings. Online training also reduces the reliance upon physical simulators and site access, minimising overtime, travel costs, and costs related to hiring, building, and maintaining physical training facilities. This makes the return on investment (ROI) very favourable.

This ROI increases further when you consider that a single training module can be reused with an infinite number of people across multiple operations and sites.

Our clients find that CGI training is 70% cheaper on average than practical training, with this ROI improving over time (as more people use the training, the lower the cost per individual becomes).

As an example, one of our railway clients recently sought our services for CGI rail driver training simulations. Quick calculations showed that the cost of upskilling their 130 train drivers using conventional methods was $190,000 in one year (excluding rostering backfill costs, travel costs and so on) – delivering immediate savings if our CGI training was used. If calculations are projected forward across several years, the savings are immense.

ROI eLearning example calculation for rail driver training

Multipurpose, reusable content

Our clients quickly find that a CGI Digital Twin model built for industry training purposes can be leveraged for other needs, such as stakeholder engagement and infrastructure planning. For example, a 3D infrastructure model built to train staff can also be used in the design and development phase of a new project, or to generate animations that promote your organisation to the wider community. In other words, once a realistic 3D model of a situation exists, you have a reusable digital asset that can be utilised for a wide range of functions, increasing the return on investment further.

Note: We have just touched upon the benefits of our industry training solutions here. For a more comprehensive look at these topics, please read our 10,000-word guide to the benefits of eLearning for employee training and development.

A comparison of industry training approaches

Features and Benefits Classroom Tuition Onsite Training Physical Simulator CGI Training
Hands-on experience with equipment
Flexible training schedule
Low travel and accommodation costs
Accessible anywhere
Able to repeat training scenarios as required
Scalable for an infinite number of trainees
High levels of engagement
Gamification strategies to incentivise learning
­Increased retention of knowledge
Real-time assessment
Linked to LMS
Consistency of message and delivery
Safe from onsite hazards
Easily customisable scenarios and approaches
Reduced floor space and storage requirements
Training in realistic railway environments
Reusable, cross-purpose content
Cost-effective

Urban CGI virtual training services and solutions – specifications

Urban CGI training animations and videos are displayed in high definition (HD) at a resolution of 1920 x 1080p. This high-resolution display produces crisp, detailed visuals, enhancing the learning experience. Each animation is typically about 150-200 megabytes (MB) and is supplied in a numbered and labelled sequence, reflecting the learning journey.

Industry training and workplace services in railway – simulation in third person
Animations and interactive videos delivered as part of our apprenticeship and industry training client services can incorporate first- and third-person point-of-view (POV), as well as the view from above or within a moving vehicle. The images above show an example of third-person (left) versus first-person (right). A first-person perspective (in which you see through the ‘eyes’ of the simulated character) provides the user with an immersive and personal experience, often leading to a stronger sense of presence and higher levels of engagement. This may aid skill transfer as it closely mimics the trainee’s viewpoint in real life. On the other hand, the third-person perspective (where you follow along behind or over the shoulder of the simulated character) allows the user to see their avatar in context. This detached perspective can provide a more comprehensive view of the surroundings and may help the trainee understand and observe complex tasks more effectively.

Our website-based learning platforms and interactive apps are designed to be accessible on any device: desktop, laptop, tablet, and mobile. These eLearning platforms are compatible with multiple browsers, such as Chrome, Firefox, and Safari, and are available for both Mac/Windows and iOS/Android operating systems. They feature an intuitive user interface with easy-to-understand navigation, ensuring learners can focus on the training material. We develop resources to be compliant with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) – a set of standards that ensure websites and web applications are user-friendly for people with disabilities and follow industry training best practices.

Our apps can be configured for output to virtual reality (VR) Goggles, physical simulators, and other VR devices, and can even be created with dual cameras for stereoscopic immersive vision. Stereoscopy is a method of creating the illusion of depth in an image by presenting a slightly different image to each eye. Dual cameras capture or create these images, similar to how our eyes perceive depth in the real world. When viewed through a VR device, the result is a 3D, immersive experience, enhancing the realism of the training simulation. VR applications are sometimes used by our clients within digital media exhibits for community consultation and stakeholder engagement – offering training and project familiarisation for community members.

We are able to upload digital eLearning resources directly to your intranet for ongoing staff and trainee access. Alternatively, we can take care of hosting for you, providing website and portal access, as our Urban CGI servers often have the technological capacity to handle faster streaming of videos than many client intranet servers. Content can also be uploaded to a private cloud server. We are happy to take care of this part of the process for you, ensuring that the training materials are accessible and secure.

Example of augmented reality industry training services
Augmented Reality (AR) is an interactive environment where real-world objects are enhanced by computer-generated perceptual information, adding digital layers. AR training combines real and virtual worlds, offering real-time interactions and accurate 3D representations of objects. Our AR solutions are used predominantly for training apps or augmented maps and are viewed using tablets and phones. This is just one of the many industry training services we offer.

The Urban CGI training workflow

Our eLearning resources are produced in iterative collaboration with the client, with our interface design and media production specialists working alongside your team to ensure that learning objectives and timeframes are met. We offer a full content creation service, with projects ranging in scope from one-off animations familiarising staff with a new piece of machinery to comprehensive sequences of videos to aid clients in building training courses online.

Although our workflow varies depending on the precise brief and project requirements, our instructional design process typically involves the following:

  • Instructional design documentation – setting the brief, terms of engagement and so on
  • Content planning – identifying the context, learning experience, curriculum requirements, and primary interactions required, incorporating input from subject matter experts where needed to ensure animations are information-rich and accurate
  • Scripting and storyboarding – ensuring the narrative flow is logical, and levels of interactivity are appropriate, with learning objectives and assessment standards addressed
  • Development of scene assets – achieving the necessary level of detail and realism using a range of data sources.
  • Refining of scene layouts based on scenarios identified within workshops, integrating the 3D assets, with transition scenes utilised as needed
  • User experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design – aligning reaction to input to create stimulating and engaging learning scenarios
  • Artwork and graphic design – creation and integration
  • CGI modelling
  • Interactive video sequencing and course development – bringing it all together within our eLearning platform to create an interactive visual journey
  • Assessment integration – design and development
  • Post-production editing and soundscape
  • Evaluation, live testing, and revisions, including bug testing and client feedback, with real-time decision-making typically making this process much faster than expected
  • Deployment
Signal sighting railway workshop training for employees
Upon completion, we can run classroom training workshops for around 30 staff per session at 60 minutes per class, with material shown on a large screen. This example shows a ‘signal sighting’ railway workshop run by Urban CGI. Our training presentations are typically delivered onsite, for example, at a train depot or using construction industry training centre services, ideally on a modern >60-inch HD TV screen or HD projector with audio for sound effects (horn) and analysis overlays. Our training simulations can also be played in ‘caves,’ ‘hubs,’ and ‘mission control centres.’

Industry training case studies and examples

Urban CGI provides professional instructional materials to keep everyone safe and on the same page. Our clients include industry bodies, educational institutions, private companies, and government organisations.

Below is an introduction to areas where Urban CGI industry training applies. Keep reading to see further case studies and examples.

Plant, machinery, and heavy equipment operator training

Liebherr LB 28 drill rig operator training
Our CGI training courses are a very effective way to learn how to operate heavy equipment, plant, and machinery. Training and development in the manufacturing industry may also require familiarisation with new manufacturing methods, protocols, and procedures. Urban CGI industry training tools allow for accelerated asset inductions and operational readiness training, replicating complex machinery and vehicles with precision (note the Liebherr LB 28 drill rig shown above). Learn more about heavy equipment, plant, and machinery operational training.

Railway training

https://player.vimeo.com/video/440909776
Railway training is a particular specialty of ours. We have extensive experience in this field, producing a wide range of digitalised railway training solutions, including driver induction training, route familiarisation, site access training, operator competency training, coupling/uncoupling training and so on. The video above illustrates a CGI railway site induction delivered to thousands of staff for the Metro Tunnel Project in Melbourne, Australia. We built the concept, storyboard and scripts, messaging, audio, linked training outcomes, and deployed the technologies. The user familiarises and learns tagging-in processes, covering critical safety communications in a rail tunnel construction site. Note the audio environment. Please view our rail competency training page for full details about the extensive range of railway inductions and training services we offer.

Construction industry training

https://player.vimeo.com/video/433806069
We have a wealth of experience producing interactive 3D visualisations for health and safety courses for the construction industry. Our CGI visualisations are used for a wide range of skill-based training, including site induction training, plant familiarisation, and safety orientations, ensuring workers are prepared for site conditions before they arrive. As part of online construction training courses, workers can navigate through a virtual construction site and identify potential safety hazards like unsecured scaffolding or improperly stored materials, or they can simulate the operation of heavy machinery such as forklifts, trucks, or cranes, minimising delays and reducing the risk of accidents onsite. The construction safety training video above shows our work live in action. This training tool has helped to upskill workers across hundreds of worksites. Our technology has a wide range of applications for training and development in the construction industry and is also utilised heavily within construction project management and planning.

Aviation industry training

Aviation industry training produced for Auckland Airport
CGI training is useful in a wide range of airport and aviation operations, including security procedures, baggage handling, aircraft marshalling, and emergency response protocols. Our digital technology creates immersive, realistic aviation scenarios, such as this simulation of Auckland Airport, New Zealand. As part of a new terminal development project, our CGI visualisations helped to illustrate safe site access paths, machinery placement, and exclusion zones to airport staff.

Ports and shipping industry training

CGI illustration of the ferry terminal iReX project, Wellington
Ports are multifaceted environments with many activities occurring simultaneously, such as customer wayfinding, ship navigation, docking, container handling, and crane operations. This image depicts the KiwiRail iReX project, an upgrade to the intermodal ferry terminal between the North and South Island of New Zealand – a complex junction between roading, rail, and ferry transport systems. Urban CGI simulations provided clear communication of proposed changes to staff so that these could be understood in context. Image © iReX

Defence industry training

Australian Defence Force training
Our simulations replicate the challenging conditions that military, defence force and army personnel can encounter – from dense urban landscapes to remote, isolated outposts. We can simulate military vehicles, specialised equipment, terrain, and large-scale naval or ground-based assets, providing virtual spaces to refine strategic deployment and practise high-stakes procedures or tactical manoeuvres. For example, the Australian Department of Defence asked Urban CGI to develop a training prototype that would provide a safe and cost-effective way to train personnel without the logistical challenges and costs associated with large-scale, real-world exercises. This training platform has multi-user functionality, allowing Australian Defense Force personnel in different regions to participate within the same virtual space, like a multi-player video game – with character avatars enabling recognition of other users.

Mining industry training

Mining operations training showing tunnel boring procedures
Our CGI technology accurately replicates underground environments, creating context-specific 3D models that are highly useful in mining operations training. We can illustrate procedures for emergency scenarios, including tunnel collapses or equipment failures, and create simulations for workers to familiarise themselves with assets and machinery, such as excavator training. The images above are from an animation communicating safety protocol in an underground tunnel boring project, illustrating how to work safely with heavy machinery operating in the nearby vicinity.

Oil, gas, and electrical industry training

Energy industry training showing electrical safety envelope in railway
The energy industry is heavily regulated, with strict safety and environmental standards necessitating thorough, ongoing safety training. CGI simulations are highly versatile and have many applications in this field – such as immersive walkthroughs of oil rigs, power plants, substations, and other built environments, providing virtual site inductions to familiarise new staff with the layout, operation, and maintenance procedures. Safety training in the oil and gas industry often involves procedures for operating dangerous equipment or protocols for responding to disasters, such as explosions. CGI training can simulate evacuation drills and rescue operations, as well as the correct usage of PPE. We have a lot of experience modelling electrical safety envelopes around live wires, which is critical in electrical industry training. The example above shows safety clearance zones around high-voltage overhead lines (OLEs) in railways. Urban CGI custom-built this OLE envelope for our clients (this is just one of the many railway clearances we can model – read more about kinematic envelopes and safety clearances).

Emergency rescue and preparedness training

Digital simulation used as an effective crisis communication strategy for blocked roads
Our team creates highly effective and innovative emergency rescue training and crisis preparedness tools. These allow staff to practice responding to crisis scenarios, becoming familiar with evacuation procedures and fire safety exit routes, and simulating responses to high-risk/low-frequency (HRLF) events. This form of emergency training guides appropriate responses and helps to cultivate automatic reactions – crucial during high-pressure, rapidly evolving scenarios. Our simulations are customised for a particular industry (read more about how our CGI technology is utilised in railway emergency preparedness training) and can be useful for improving the disaster resilience of infrastructure projects. The image above shows an Urban CGI simulation in which emergency patrol staff direct traffic and manage commuter disruptions when transport routes are blocked.

Urban CGI: Cutting-edge industry training solutions

Creating high-quality CGI training material is a huge undertaking, requiring professional thinking, high-powered software and hardware, robust project management and support systems, and staff with expertise in 3D animation, user interface development, as well as instructional design. Clients attempting to construct training materials in-house can be a frustrating exercise that diverts resources away from core business activities and results in subpar training materials that do not reflect your organisation in the best light.

Urban CGI takes great pride in delivering outstanding digital learning resources for industry clients. Our team of 3D animators and industry training specialists bring visual communication skills to novel domains and wicked problems in novel contexts, helping clients educate and engage large workforces.

We have 3D planning, visual communications and training capabilities spanning over 20 years, and remain at the forefront of the training and development industry, with experiences ranging from cinematography, design, 3D animation, learning and development (L&D), and communications. We also have extensive experience in brand development, digital marketing, stakeholder engagement and infrastructure planning. Our team produces a wide array of visual content, and our animations have won bids for major projects, unlocking billions of dollars in building and infrastructure revenue for our clients.

We are recognised for our proficiency in leading and driving projects from concept to completion and collaborating with our clients, stakeholders, and development teams. Operating from Melbourne, Australia and working globally, we have a reputation as a dependable, efficient, and creative animation-based eLearning provider, delivering a wide range of industry training and workplace services. We offer advanced simulation capabilities using cloud-based solutions that are light, agile, multipurpose, and flexible, with best-in-class visual fidelity. We would welcome a conversation about your needs in training and simulations.

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