The application of ionizing radiation in medicine requires a rigorous attention to procedures in order to

minimize the risks to the healthcare professional and to the patient. Risk minimization involves the training of

the professional and the adequacy of the facilities. Virtual Reality (VR) is an already consolidated tool for training procedures, including those of the health sciences. In this context, an interactive VR simulator representing a radiotherapy room (bunker) for training healthcare professionals and the inspectors of such facilities was developed. This VR model allows the user to perform the normal activities on the operation and the inspection procedures of the facility. The model was based on the blueprints of a real radiotherapy clinic.

The virtual model of the radiotherapy bunker, developed at the Institute of Nuclear Engineering, was presented

to experts of the General Coordination of Medical and Industrial Facilities of CNEN and is in the process of

receiving small modifications to the specific needs for its adequateness, as a training tool, in a training course,

sponsored by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), for inspectors of radiotherapy installations. This work shows the possibility of using Virtual Reality in the development of training tools for professionals working in radioactive installations

Legey, Ana Paula

Marins, Eugenio

Mól, Antônio Carlos de Abreu

Nascimento, Ana Cristina de Holanda

Santo, André Cotelli

Suita, Julio César

Carpe dIEN

2017 International Nuclear Atlantic Conference - INAC 2017 
Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil, October 22-27, 2017 
ASSOCIAÇÃO BRASILEIRA DE ENERGIA NUCLEAR – ABEN 
  
 
VIRTUAL REALITY INTERACTIVE SIMULATOR FOR TRAINING 
HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS IN THE USE OF IONISING 
RADIATIONS 
 
Jaime B. de Carvalho
1
, Jefferson Lima da Silveira
2
, Antônio Carlos de Abreu Mól
3
, 
Ana Paula Legey
3
, André Cotelli E. Santo
3
, Eugenio Marins
3
, 
Ana Cristina de Holanda Nascimento
3
 and Júlio Cezar Suita
3 
 
1
 Estudante de Ciências da Computação do Centro Universitário Carioca - UNICARIOCA; 
Bolsista PCI/DE do IEN/CNEN 
Cidade Universitária - R. Hélio de Almeida, 75 
Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro - RJ 
jaimecarvalho4318@hotmail.com 
 
2
 Estudante de Design do Centro Universitário Carioca - UNICARIOCA;  
Bolsista PCI/DE do IEN/CNEN 
Cidade Universitária - R. Hélio de Almeida, 75 
Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro - RJ 
 
3 Instituto de Engenharia Nuclear - IEN/CNEN 
Cidade Universitária - R. Hélio de Almeida, 75 
Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro - RJ 
 
 
ABSTRACT 
 
The application of ionizing radiation in medicine requires a rigorous attention to procedures in order to 
minimize the risks to the healthcare professional and to the patient. Risk minimization involves the training of 
the professional and the adequacy of the facilities. 
 
Virtual Reality (VR) is an already consolidated tool for training procedures, including those of the health 
sciences. In this context, an interactive VR simulator representing a radiotherapy room (bunker) for training 
healthcare professionals and the inspectors of such facilities was developed. 
 
This VR model allows the user to perform the normal activities on the operation and the inspection procedures 
of the facility. The model was based on the blueprints of a real radiotherapy clinic. 
 
The virtual model of the radiotherapy bunker, developed at the Institute of Nuclear Engineering, was presented 
to experts of the General Coordination of Medical and Industrial Facilities of CNEN and is in the process of 
receiving small modifications to the specific needs for its adequateness, as a training tool, in a training course, 
sponsored by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), for inspectors of radiotherapy installations. 
 
This work shows the possibility of using Virtual Reality in the development of training tools for professionals 
working in radioactive installations. 
 
 
1. INTRODUCTION 
 
In Brazil, the National Nuclear Energy Commission (CNEN) is the Governmental Agency 
responsible for planning, guiding, supervising and establishing standards and regulations in 
radioprotection and on the production and use of nuclear energy. Among its attributions, as an 
example relevant to the scope of this work, is the elaboration of the CNEN-NN-3.01 and 
CNEN-NN-3.05 Regulations, which establish the basic safety and radioprotection 
INAC 2017, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. 
 
requirements for Nuclear Medicine services, ensuring the safe use of ionizing radiations in 
medical procedures. Thus, this particular use of ionizing radiations requires adequate 
information, guidance and training for each involved individual in order to minimize risks[1]. 
 
The use of ionizing radiations should comply with CNEN’s recommendations and standards 
and should have at its disposal specific equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE) 
for protection of organs and tissues, depending on the procedure in question and the type of 
radiation involved. In this way, the importance of this proposal in planning and training 
strategies within the context of a safety culture is evident. With this, the professionals 
involved will be able to improve their qualifications, reducing the chance of failures and 
putting in perspective that subjects related to protection and safety should receive the priority 
compatible with their importance, keeping in mind the health of the worker and the general 
public as well as environmental concerns. 
 
Virtual Reality (VR) is an already consolidated tool for training procedures, including those 
of the health sciences[2]. In this context, an interactive VR simulator representing a 
radiotherapy room (bunker) for training healthcare professionals and the inspectors of such 
facilities was developed. This VR model allows the user to perform the normal activities on 
the operation and the inspection procedures of the facility. The model was based on the 
blueprints of a real radiotherapy clinic. 
 
In this context, the use of new training technologies favors learning. These new technologies 
also act as a motivating and challenging element, to make the teaching-learning process an 
innovative, dynamic and interactive activity. In particular, the use of virtual reality techniques 
allows the development of environments where the trainees feel more integrated due to the 
immersion sensation created by interactivity and stereoscopic visualization. 
 
Among the functionalities incorporated in the virtual model is the representation of the 
structural aspects of the bunker shielding. The function to disassembly and rotate the bunker 
allows the user to view the radiotherapy room construction details, providing a perception of 
the structure to shield the radiation emitted by the radiotherapy apparatus (the “machine”). 
The actions and functions are triggered by the use of a game controller and the 3D 
environment is presented on a stereoscopic viewer. 
 
The virtual environment was created using Unity 3D, a robust game engine, complemented 
with several functions necessary for the development of virtual models, such as libraries for 
the insertion of physical characteristics, lighting, closed circuit television (CCTV) and 
interactive audio. Blender 3D, an open source program for modeling, animating, texturing, 
compositing, rendering, video editing and creating of interactive 3D applications such as 
games, was also used to create the virtual environment. 
 
 
2. METHODOLOGY 
 
2.1. Requirements Survey 
 
Initially, a survey of the physical characteristics was carried out by means of the blue print of 
an actual installation (Figure 1 (a) and (b)), which was then used as the basis for the model 
construction. The modeling of the virtual environment follows the engineering and 
INAC 2017, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. 
 
architectural design of the facility. Scale is an important factor, as it will bring more realism 
to the virtual environment.  
 
 
   
                                  (a)                                                                    (b) 
Figure 1: (a) Bunker blue print; (b) Bunker blue print on Blender 3D. 
 
Field research was also carried out in a Nuclear Medicine Clinic, where the structures and 
equipments were analised and photographed (Figure 2). 
 
 
 
 
Figure 2: Partial aspect of a Nuclear Medicine Clinic. 
 
2.2. Detailed Features and Components Specifications 
 
A detailed specification of the functionalities and components to be inserted in the virtual 
environment was made, in order to make the functionalities of the virtual model compatible 
with those of the actual installation. These details were implemented using the appropriate 
software: Blender for the architectural design of the facility and Unity for the functional 
aspects and environmental and character interaction. 
INAC 2017, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. 
 
2.3. Unity 3D 
 
Unity 3D consists of a robust three-dimensional game engine, complemented by a variety of 
functions needed to develop virtual games or scenarios, such as libraries for the insertion of 
physics into environments, lighting and interactive audio (Figure 8). Aiming portability, this 
game engine works in a plurality of platforms. Thus, the programmer does not have to worry 
about the peculiarities of each operating system or hardware, since Unity makes all the 
necessary adjustments to this compatibility. 
 
This game engine presents itself as a multi language programming tool, supporting scripts in 
JavaScript (interpreted programming language) and C# (object-oriented programming 
language, developed by Microsoft, native to the .NET platform). This feature provides 
flexibility to developer, leaving the choice of language to the programmer.[3] 
 
 
 
 
Figure 8: Facility aspect in the Unity 3D engine. 
 
2.4. Blender 3D 
 
Blender 3D consists of a modeling tool solution not for modeling, rendering, creating 
animation and simulations in three dimensions. It allows computer graphics professionals to 
develop various applications, such as games, virtual mockups, cinema, animations, etc. 
Blender 3D (Figure 9) constructions are easy to import to Unity-created environments.[4] 
 
 
 
INAC 2017, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. 
 
 
 
Figure 9: Facility aspect in the Blender 3D software. 
 
 
3. RESULTS 
 
3.1. Door Interlock 
 
One of the inserted features that is in the CNEN standard and which is part of the Bunker 
safety features is the interlocking of the shielded door (Figure 3), which causes the machine 
to shut down if the door is opened when in operation. 
 
 
 
 
Figure 3: Shielded door. 
 
INAC 2017, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. 
 
3.2. Emergency Buttons 
 
Emergency buttons (Figure 4 (a) and (b)) were also installed in the radiotherapy room, as 
another safety feature that allows the machine to be immediately shut down in an emergency. 
 
 
   
(a)      (b) 
Figure 4: Emergency buttons; (a) in the bunker access; (b) in the bunker interior. 
 
 
 
 
Figure 5: Shielding structure of the bunker. 
 
3.3. Shielding 
 
In controlled environments, it is normal for patients to fear the radiation for lack of 
information. In order to instruct the general population, one of the VR model features is a 
functionality where the user can see the protection offered due to the thickness of the 
concrete walls, that act as shielding to the ionizing radiation and shape of the room structure, 
that is also designed to block the radiation (Figure 5). 
 
INAC 2017, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. 
 
3.4. Virtual Cameras 
 
The control room has four monitors where the images generated by the virtual cameras can 
be seen (Figure 6). These cameras are located at strategic points, for example, in the 
corridors, at the bunker door and in the radiotherapy room, allowing greater safety when 
starting a treatment. These virtual cameras allow that, in multiplayer mode, users in the 
control room to see the other characters present in the virtual environment. 
 
 
 
 
Figure 6: CCTV monitors in the control room. 
 
3.5. Multiplayer Mode 
 
The multiplayer mode (Figure 7) allows conducting simulation in which different users 
participate, providing a realistic environment where the characters interact, cooperate and, in 
some kinds of simulation, hinder or disturb each other or even create dangerous situations. 
 
3.6. Special Features 
 
Among the functionalities incorporated in the virtual model, is the presentation of the 
structural aspects of the bunker shield. The function to disassemble (Figure 10) the bunker 
walls was developed so that the user can observe the thickness of the radiotherapy room 
walls. It also allows to rotation and zoom the image, providing a detailed analysis of the 
entire structure developed to block the radiation emitted by the radiotherapy apparatus. These 
functions are triggered by the use of a game controller and are viewed on stereoscopic 
goggles. 
 
 
INAC 2017, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. 
 
 
 
Figure 7: Characters in the multiplayer mode. 
 
 
 
 
Figure 10: Bunker disassembly function. 
 
 
4. CONCLUSIONS 
 
The virtual model of the radiotherapy bunker, developed at the Institute of Nuclear 
Engineering, was presented to the experts of the General Coordination of Medical and 
Industrial Facilities of CNEN and is in the process of receiving minor modifications for its 
use as a training tool in an International Atomic Energy Agency course for inspectors of 
radiotherapy facilities. These modifications encompass the bunker’s shielding factors for 
realistic readings in virtual radiation detectors, given the machine angle and emission 
potency. 
INAC 2017, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. 
 
This work shows the possibility of using Virtual Reality in the development of a tool for 
training professionals working in radioactive installations, showing the effectiveness of an 
architectural design for the blocking of radiation emitted in a radiotherapy room and guiding 
employees and patients on the security procedures of the premises. 
 
This simulator, when used to train new professionals, in order to standardize the use and 
inspection of radiotherapy facilities, reducing human failures, will reinforce the importance 
of VR in training techniques. 
 
 
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 
 
This research was partially supported by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio 
de Janeiro - FAPERJ and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico 
(CNPq). 
 
REFERENCES 
 
1. CNEN – Normas para Proteção Radiológica; http://www.cnen.gov.br/normas-tecnicas. 
2. LEGEY, A. P.; SÁ, F. S. G.; MACIEL, B. B.; BERNARDO, T. C. M.; CHELLES, D. R.; 
PASSOS, C. A.; MOL, A. C. A.; “Desenvolvimento de Vídeos Estereoscópicos 3D para o Ensino 
na Área Médica,” Revista de Ciência e Tecnologia, Vol. 3(2); (2013). 
3. COTTELI, A.; LEGEY, A. P.; MOL, A. C. A.; MARINS, E. R.; SILVA, M.; “Using 
virtual reality to support the physical security of nuclear facilities,” Progress in Nuclear 
Energy (New Series), Vol. 78, pp. 19-24; (2015). 
4. ANDALÓ, F.; BLENDER – Modelagem e Animação 2D e 3D para Jogos; Série Eixos; 
Editora Érica; (2015). 


Virtual reality interactive simulator for training healthcare professionals in the use of ionising radiations

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Virtual reality interactive simulator for training healthcare professionals in the use of ionising radiations

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