How do you train somebody to do a dangerous job without exposing them to risk? At the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) in Calgary, instructors use simulation technology to help bridge the gap between theory and real-world practice. It’s part of a larger trend toward employing virtual reality in training and education in construction, just as it’s becoming increasingly popular in fields ranging from the military to health care.
SAIT opened a 2,812-sq.-m crane and ironworker facility—one of five new facilities opened by the polytechnic this year. It has a fully functioning crane maintenance shop, a yard with boom trucks and mobile cranes, and 12 state-of-the-art crane simulators—the largest array in North America.
