Affordable Mobile Virtual Reality Earthquake
Simulation
1st Peter Liuwandy
Information System Department Information System Department
Universitas Multimedia Nusantara Universitas Multimedia Nusantara
Tangerang, Indonesia Tangerang, Indonesia
Abstract—Earthquake is one of the natural disasters that
often occurs in Indonesia. Recorded data from 1779 to 2010,
earthquakes that occurred in Indonesia were more than 48,000
with strength greater than four on the Richter Scale. Therefore,
earthquake simulations are carried out in offices such as
schools, offices, and so on. This research focuses on using virtual
reality as an earthquake simulation drill to give a better
experience to the user. This research also tries to reach as many
people as possible so that it's built on Android and doesn't need
any additional tools, just VR glasses, with the help of Google VR
prefab. The results show that the earthquake simulation drill
through virtual reality is more familiar and save time than the
traditional earthquake simulation drill used by the
comprehensive institution.
Keywords—earthquake, google VR, unity, virtual reality
I. INTRODUCTION
Safety during an earthquake becomes a big problem in
various parts of the world. In areas that have a large enough
earthquake frequency, each individual needs to know how to
protect themselves in an emergency [1]. Traditionally, safety
during an earthquake has been taught through a simulation
exercise, which is often required in schools located in areas
that are at high risk of a shock. However, a study found that
this method has a problem in the form of no standardization,
which causes simulations carried out by schools that are often
ineffective in increasing students' readiness to deal with
emergencies such as earthquakes [2].
The Indonesian archipelago lies on the border of three
main tectonic plates, the Indo-Australian plate, the Pacific
Plate, and the Eurasian plate, stretching from Sumatra in the
west to Papua in the east. Indonesia itself is also at the
collision point of the three tectonic plates. The high seismicity
associated with subduction in Indonesian territory reflects the
high likelihood of earthquake and tsunami hazards. Indonesia
has approximately 17,504 islands. A land area of 1.92 x 106
km2 and a sea area of 3.26 x 106 km2, has experienced many
earthquakes in the past. Based on data from 1779 to 2010,
earthquakes that have occurred in Indonesia amounted to more
than 48,000 with earthquake strength more significant than
four on the Richter Scale [3]. Most of the major earthquakes
that happened in Indonesia caused massive damage [4]-[6].
One example of the most famous earthquake in Indonesia is
the Banda Aceh earthquake in 2004. It caused Tsunami and
resulted in around a million people homeless and a hundred
thousand deaths [7].
This simulation discussion focuses on indoor space
because studies found that the most severe case when an
earthquake approaches is people in a room getting hit by
falling or flying objects [8], [9]. Studies [8], [10] also found
that the possibility of someone getting injuries from the falling
object is higher than killed in a collapsing building. There's
also a technique to apply during the earthquake to minimize
the chances of wounds; it's called the "drop, cover, and hold
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2nd Suryasari 3rd Wella*
Information System Department
Universitas Multimedia Nusantara
Tangerang, Indonesia
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9587-1057
on" method [8]-[10]. The drop means moves to a safe spot
from falling objects as fast as possible. Cover means
protecting essential body regions with arms or hands or even
hide under a sturdy table and hold means to take hold onto
something until the earthquake is gone. From this technique,
this simulation will cover the holding part. There are also
traditional methods of earthquake safety training include
conducts earthquake drills [2], [11], [12], reading manuals of
earthquake safety [10]-[13], and also watching videos of
earthquake safety training. The goals of those pieces of
training are to increase people's preparedness and behavior, so
when an earthquake occurs, they can respond immediately and
know what they are going to do [11].
Virtual reality is a simulation of real life. Virtual reality
can clearly describe the real environment and make people
who see it feel that the immersive virtual environment
interacts with them [14]. Virtual reality can also be interpreted
as a "virtual" reality. That means, in principle, anything that
can happen can be programmed to occur but "virtually" [15].
On another reference, virtual reality is also interpreted as the
use of a computer graphics system that is combined with a
variety of displays and interface devices to provide an
immersion effect on 3D interactive environments generated
by computers [16]. The usage of virtual reality is increasingly
widespread it's potential in various ways, such as for medical
[17]-[19] and safety training purposes, such as firefighter
training and simulation [20]-[22]. This discussion also tries to
explore more about the potential of virtual reality in
earthquake safety training drill simulation [23]. By using
virtual reality, the user will not receive physical hazards when
using virtual reality also allow scenarios that are considered
dangerous if done during a live earthquake simulation.
Making this virtual reality earthquake simulation application
has a focus to help people know what steps are appropriate to
take when an earthquake occurs when they are at home
effectively and certainly does not jeopardize their safety. In
this application, users get points according to the actions they
took when the earthquake occurred. The maximum marks are
earned if the user manages to save themselves as fast as
possible. The application also doesn't need any other devices
except VR glasses worth IDR 56.300,- and an Android (above
4.4 version) mobile phone.
The main reason why this research happens because of the
increase in earthquakes occurrence here in Indonesia.
Daryono, Head Division of Earthquake and Tsunami of
BMKG (Badan Meteorologi, Klimatologi, dan Geofisika) in
Indonesia stated that in the period of 2008-2018, Indonesia has
averaged 5.000-6.000 earthquakes. In 2013, there are 4.234
earthquakes and increased to 6.929 in 2017. In 2018, it
increased almost two times from 2017, around 11.920
earthquakes. And even 2019 not even ended yet when he gave
the statements, already more than 10.300 earthquakes
occurred. Before 2019, the average of destructive earthquakes
is around 8-10 times, but in 2019 15 destructive earthquakes
 occurred. Based on these statements, this research will
hopefully help the public to learn how to anticipate in case the
earthquake is occurred, especially here in Indonesia, so that it
can help to minimize the total of the victim.
II. RESEARCH METHOD
A. Literature Studies
In the initial process of doing this research, much research
was done on things that would help in the process of designing
and making this virtual reality mobile application. This
research better understands the concept of developing mobile
applications with virtual reality that do not use any controller,
relying only on the gaze of users in VR glasses. After studying
various resources, the solution is using Google VR references
called GvrReticlePointer. GvrReticlePointer was made for
Google VR Cardboard, one of Google VR product which not
using any controller [24].
B. Assets Making
In collaboration with Visual Communication University
(VCD) major in this earthquake simulation VR mobile
application project, the VCD has a stake in making three-
dimensional assets of this earthquake simulation VR
application. The assets are in the form of a room and also the
items contained in the room.
C. Making Scenarios of the Game
Making a scenario is the first thing done after getting
assets. The creation of scenarios is done after the
establishment of assets because the existing scripts must be
adapted to existing assets. Scripts are first made by themselves
and then discussed with related parties, as previously
mentioned. After conducting the discussion, finally, the final
results in the form of scenarios to be made in this game consist
of 3 plots, namely the safest situation, worse, and the worst.
Fig. 1. Whole room view
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D. Determination of Interactive Assets and Script Making
After creating a scenario, then proceed by selecting assets
based on the scene that can interact with users. After that, the
assets will also be given a script that makes the assets of these
goods can interact. Interaction can be done by looking at the
item, and within 0.5 seconds, there will be a specific response
from the issue. This can be done with the help of a prefab from
Google VR in the form of GvrReticlePointer. The script was
created in the Visual Studio Code with the C # programming
language. Items that can interact are items or places that were
mentioned earlier in the scenario as a scenario of the
earthquake simulation. The goods or locations include doors,
cabinets, the center of the room, and also the corner of the
room.
E. Making a Script to Run an Earthquake
The script to run the earthquake was created to try to
simulate the earthquake. The script was built in the Visual
Studio Code with the C# programming language.
F. Calculation of Results
Calculation of the results of the time to save themselves is
done as a form of gamification of the earthquake simulation
VR mobile application. The estimate will have a range of
values 0-10 with a left limit, which means the player failed to
save himself during the earthquake simulation, and a right
limit, which means the player managed to save himself with a
fast time.
III. RESULTS AND ANALYSIS
A. Assets Making
Fig. 1, Fig. 2, and Fig. 3 are the assets that have been made
by the VCD team.
 Fig. 2. Items in the room

Fig. 3. Room foundation

B. Game Scenarios TABLE I. SIMULATION POINTS

In the safest scenario, the user will move towards the
corner of the wall that has a strong foundation or choose to run
forward. In an adverse scene, the user decides to stand in the
middle of the room because it is considered to be far from
falling objects, but the light above can fall. Worst case
scenario, the user chooses to save the items in the closet but
instead is crushed by the rubble.
C. Calculation of Results
Calculation of the results of the time to save themselves is
done as a form of gamification of this earthquake simulation
VR mobile application. The count will have a range of values
0-10 with a left limit, which means the player failed to save
themselves during the earthquake simulation, and a right limit,
which means the player managed to keep themselves with a
fast time. The points will be specified, such as in Table 1.
Points Criteria
0 Failed
1 Survived on the time range of 27-29 seconds
2 Survived on the time range of 24-26 seconds
3 Survived on the time range of 21-23 seconds
4 Survived on the time range of 18-20 seconds
5 Survived on the time range of 15-17 seconds
6 Survived on the time range of 12-14 seconds
7 Survived on the time range of 9-11 seconds
8 Survived on the time range of 6-8 seconds
9 Survived on the time range of 3-5 seconds
10 Survived on the time range of 1-2 seconds

D. User Acceptance Test

The user acceptance test was conducted for 25 users. For
this, UAT itself does not have specific user criteria, because
the application has a purpose to be used by all Indonesian

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 people. Due to the condition of Indonesia, which is issuing an TABLE IV. ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION RESULTS
outbreak of the Coronavirus, the UAT is limited to only a few No Information Before After
people who live not too far away and spend it to visit. Do not
1 Do the Earthquake Users must wait to Users can do
forget when conducting visits and simulations still agree to
health protocols that have been approved to support the virus Simulation drill be organized by earthquake
that spreads. Users will ask to use VR that has been made to institutions, both simulations
then answer questions about the application for earthquake schools, and offices whenever they
relief using the VR. Items are requested using the Google
want
Form provided, and the user responds with an option which is
then verified to be the number specified in Table 2 as the 2 Knowing the steps Users usually Users can find out
weight to be used for the calculation of Mean Opinion Score that must be taken search for what to do during
(MOS). when an information an earthquake by

TABLE II. MEAN OPINION SCORING [25]
No Information
1 Strongly disagree
2 Disagree
3 Neutral
4 Agree
5 Strongly Agree
In Table 3, there are results from the UAT that have been
asked directly to users who have used earthquake simulation
applications using VR.
TABLE III. UAT RESULTS
No Questions 1 2
1 Is the earthquake simulation 0 0
application using VR easy to
understand?
2 Does the earthquake 0 0
simulation application use VR
help you in knowing what
steps need to be taken in the
event of an earthquake?
3 Does the earthquake 0 0
simulation application use VR
to make you more familiar and
save time (in studying) when
compared to earthquake
simulations at school or the
office?
4 Does the earthquake 0 1
simulation application use VR
not to cause dizziness?
5 Does the earthquake 0 0
simulation application using
VR have an attractive
appearance?
The results before and after the earthquake simulation
application with VR were found in Table 4.
earthquake occurs through Google or trying to get the
just general highest points on
knowledge the application
IV. CONCLUSION
Based on the final UAT results, the use of virtual reality is
a bit of a headache for some users. This study still proves that
earthquake simulations using virtual reality applications can
help people become more familiar and save time in earthquake
simulations and know essential things that need to be done if
the earthquake occurred while they were at home. Users can
also easily understand the use of earthquake simulation virtual
reality applications without having to study first. The existing
3 4 5 display has also been said to be quite interesting for an
1 16 8 earthquake simulation virtual reality application. For further
studies, it's highly recommended to make more interaction
into the simulation, such as take some essential items, giving
more room simulation or even outdoor simulation, and also
0 23 2 some butterfly effects to any decision the user decides.
V. LIMITATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
In the journey of this research, there are some limitations
and also recommendations. As for the limitations itself,
there’s a problem in finding the respondents. It is caused by
2 9 14 the social distancing policy condition here in Indonesia
(because of the COVID-19 virus outbreak). Also, there also a
bit problem in finding the most accurate data, because the
government sources are quite a different one from another. For
the recommendations, it would be great if there’s more than
one room to choose to do the earthquake simulations. Adding
more rooms will improve the user experience for every
environment they’re in. Another recommendation is
implementing a more interactive environment for the
10 9 5 gamification part so that the user will be more entertained with
the VR. Also for future research, try to work together with the
government so that the data will be more accurate and reliable.
4 16 5 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thank you to Aditya Satyagraha, S.Sn., M.Ds. And
Thomas Simpson, S.Ds for making three-dimensional assets
of this earthquake simulation VR application. The assets are
in the form of a room and also the items contained in the room.
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