Queensland Rail – VR Safety Experience at the EKKA

Queensland Rail’s VR application, designed for the Meta Quest 2, provides an immersive experience at EKKA to educate visitors on the dangers of level crossings. By simulating real-life decisions and outcomes of crossing or waiting, the VR experience complements their wider campaign to enhance safety awareness.

The Client

Queensland Rail is a railway operator in Queensland, Australia. Owned by the Queensland Government, it operates local and long-distance passenger services, as well as owning and maintaining rolling stock and approximately 6,600 kilometres of track and related infrastructure.

The Challenge

Developing the Queensland Rail VR application for the EKKA show presented several challenges. The primary objective was to create an immersive and interactive experience that effectively communicated the dangers of level crossings to visitors. This required designing a VR environment that could seamlessly simulate real-life scenarios on the Meta Quest 2, where users would face the critical decision of whether to cross or not at a level crossing, with each choice leading to dramatically different outcomes.

Moreover, the project needed to align with the broader campaign goals of raising awareness about level crossing safety. Ensuring that the VR experience was both educational and engaging posed a significant challenge, as it had to resonate with a diverse audience at the EKKA show. Balancing the technical demands of VR development with the need for clear, impactful messaging was key to achieving the client’s goals within the event’s tight timeline.

Our Solution

3D Walkabout was engaged to create an immersive VR application for Queensland Rail, designed to be a standout feature at their exhibit during the annual EKKA show. The client sought an engaging way to educate visitors about the dangers of level crossings, as part of a broader safety awareness campaign. To achieve this, we developed a standalone VR application specifically for the Meta Quest 2. The application placed users in the role of a pedestrian approaching a level crossing, allowing them to experience the critical decision-making process of whether to cross or not. Each choice led to different outcomes, mirroring the real-life consequences of such actions.

Our team meticulously crafted the VR environment to accurately simulate the level crossing experience. We ensured that every detail, from the surrounding environment to the timing of the train’s arrival, was realistic and compelling. The goal was to create a fully immersive experience that would leave a lasting impression on users, reinforcing the importance of safety at level crossings. By integrating this VR application into the client’s EKKA exhibit, we provided an innovative tool that not only educated but also engaged the public in a memorable way. The success of this project demonstrates our ability to leverage advanced VR technology to support public safety campaigns, and we look forward to applying this expertise to future initiatives.

Developed a standalone VR application for the Meta Quest 2 to simulate the experience of a pedestrian approaching a level crossing

Created an immersive VR environment to educate users on the dangers of crossing at level crossings

Ensured realistic and compelling details in the VR simulation, including the timing of the train’s arrival and the surrounding environment

Provided an interactive experience that mirrored real-life consequences, reinforcing the importance of safety at level crossings

Integrated the VR application into the client’s exhibit at the annual EKKA show, enhancing public engagement with the safety campaign

Successfully delivered an innovative tool that combined education and leverage advanced VR technology in support of public safety campaigns

Project Team

Tim

Jamie

Mary

Anthony

Andrew

Client Testimonial

Joshua Wright, Queensland Rail

Partnering with 3D Walkabout on the Cross River Rail VR project was fantastic. They developed a highly engaging VR application for our EKKA show stand that effectively conveyed the dangers of level crossings. The immersive experience on the Meta Quest 2 resonated strongly with the public, greatly supporting our broader safety campaign. We’re thrilled with the outcome and appreciate 3D Walkabout’s professionalism and creativity.