The VR Training Readiness Evaluation Model (VTREM): A cross-domain model for credibility assessment in immersive simulations

Abstract

Immersive virtual reality (VR) environments are increasingly utilized to support training in safety-critical fields such as construction, transportation, healthcare, and emergency response. However, the reliability of these simulations depends not only on visual fidelity but also on how well user perception and behavior in virtual environments correspond with real-world expectations. This paper presents the VR Training Readiness Evaluation Model (VTREM), a cross-domain model for assessing the perceptual and behavioral credibility of scenario-based VR training systems. VTREM comprises three integrated components: a Spatial Realism Test to evaluate distance and size perception; an Action Credibility Test to examine whether motor responses align with real-world behaviors; and a Response Variability Analysis to measure behavioral consistency across users and simulation conditions. The model is based on an experimental study of egocentric distance estimation and demonstrates applicability across various industry contexts, including fire services, process plants, aviation, and healthcare. By positioning immersive environments as behaviorally expressive systems, VTREM contributes novel insights to the field of information visualization, broadening the concept of data interpretation to encompass embodied spatial decision-making. The model enables simulation designers and educators to systematically validate training environments, thereby enhancing both instructional integrity and operational preparedness.