The University of Applied Sciences HES-SO Valais Wallis and the London-based design studio Ink have developed an innovative earthquake simulator at the CPPS Earthquake Simulation and Prevention Centre in Sion, Switzerland. The simulator offers various training modules to prepare for a major earthquake, providing the opportunity to feel and experience firsthand the different characteristics of seismic events. The center, which leverages the latest technological innovations, uses a sophisticated “shake table” that can replicate every recorded earthquake in the world, including the most powerful ones, such as the 2009 L’Aquila earthquake or the 2015 Nepal earthquake.

As seismic risk increases every year due to greater human exposure and the number of buildings constructed in high-risk areas, it is crucial to provide this type of training. Projects are already underway to replicate this kind of center worldwide. The Earthquake Simulation and Prevention Centre offers the chance to learn about the essential steps to take before, during, and in the days following an earthquake, positioning itself as a pioneering model of immersive learning. The earthquake simulator room, designed by the Dubai-based creative agency Pi, features a gigantic moving platform and three large screens surrounding the viewers, where a fully CGI video produced by INK is projected. Thanks to recent advances in video mapping technologies, the public experiences a truly immersive and extremely realistic experience.