Bechtel Partners with ITI to Expand VR Crane Training Capabilities

Bechtel, the global construction and engineering company, and Industrial Training International (ITI), the training and technical service company known for their work in creating VR versions of the industry’s heavy equipment, are collaborating to recreate even more crane types for VR training.

Certifying a worker to operate heavy construction equipment like a crane costs companies time and money, and now that the United States’ Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires all crane operators to be certified by 2017, there’s never been a better time for simulators to enter the market in force.

Starting in 2016, the collaboration between Bechtel and ITI saw the creation of a mobile crane simulator project using an Oculus Rift headset in combination with a modular rig called ITI VR.

The training is said to improve in-depth, real-life scenarios so operators can improve readiness and safety on site. Bechtel will also expand its subscription to ITI’s training program, which the company uses in its workforce development programs on construction sites across the world.