Plantroom Simulation

The introduction of a new multi-sensory 4D cinema technology necessitates a complex plant room to manage various systems that provide cinematic effects such as motion chairs, wind, smoke, scents, and rain. This plant room requires daily attention to ensure all systems are operational. A key component needing particular attention is the water filtration system, which delivers water-based effects like rain, spray, and rainstorm effects to the cinema auditorium.

Employees must understand the water filtration system’s operation and maintenance, including tasks like changing filters, checking for leaks, monitoring water pressure, and flushing the system. Daily maintenance is crucial to prevent the formation of legionella in the water system.

An e-learning course is required to introduce learners to the water filtration system, explaining its operation, maintenance schedule, and the consequences of neglect. This course will serve as pre-learning, followed by hands-on training with an instructor in the plant room, where learners can practice and ask questions.

The cinema management team, primarily responsible for preventative and scheduled maintenance, possesses skills in leadership and management rather than technical maintenance. Although they receive annual legionella training and are aware of the associated dangers and precautions, there is a skills gap in understanding the specific components of the plant room.

This gap includes knowledge of how each component works, how to maintain and service them, and how to troubleshoot issues. Ultimately, the goal is to understand how these components work together to minimise the risk of legionella formation.

Given the variety in design, size, and layout of 4DX plant rooms, the course needed to accommodate this diversity across the cinema estate. Therefore, I decided to use the schematic from one of the most basic 4DX plant rooms and recreate it as a 2D simulation. This allows learners to interact with the system, turning valves on and off, and accessing key information through clickable info hotspots.

The course begins with a brief recap on legionella, signposting learners to their annual training, before introducing the layout of the water filtration system. Each component in the system’s pipework is explained, setting the foundation for understanding the maintenance requirements.

The primary goal of the course is to ensure learners are competent in maintaining the filtration system and preventing the risk of legionella. The course focuses on this area, starting with learning how to isolate parts of the water system. It includes interactive elements that allow learners to turn valves on and off. Maintenance duties are broken down into daily, weekly, and quarterly tasks, with detailed explanations supported by images, GIFs, and videos for better visualisation.

To assess knowledge retention, the course concludes with a scenario-based knowledge check. Learners interact with the 2D simulation to answer various questions, with validation based on their interactions and the valves they turn on or off.

During the soft launch to a focus group, it was discovered that the course stalled midway. This issue wasn’t identified during testing due to ideal internet conditions. However, it became apparent when rolled out to areas with inconsistent internet connections. The problem was traced to a slide with multiple layers containing large animated GIF files, causing significant data load. The solution was to reduce the file sizes of these GIFs, resulting in faster load times.

Following the soft launch, the wider release was successful. 78% of learners reported increased knowledge and confidence in performing daily checks and preventative maintenance. Training buddies confirmed that new learners arrived at in-person sessions well-prepared, allowing more focus on other critical areas such as maintaining the motion chairs.

Six months post-launch, an audit of maintenance paperwork showed improved record-keeping, indicating that checks and maintenance were being performed regularly. This resulted in an overall audit score of 94% compliance, a 13% increase.

In the 12 months before the launch, there were 4 confirmed cases of legionella in water samples across the 36 4DX cinemas. In the 12 months following the course’s launch, there have been no positive cases of legionella in water samples.

• Articulate Storyline

• Microsoft PowerPoint

• Camtasia

• Inkscape