The Impact of Video Game Technology
on Physical Protection System
Modeling & Simulation

Industry advancements in computing and graphics due to the emergence of video games and related technologies have paved the way for next generation modeling and simulation (mod/sim) tools. Using these advancements, next-generation mod sim tools will continue to be more accessible due to increasingly intuitive interfaces and graphics, readily accessible required hardware, and decreased required user specialization. The result is that more users can take advantage of the benefits of using these tools to assist in the secure design and safe operation of critical facilities. Utilizing industry advancements Sandia National Laboratories (Sandia) has developed two next-generation security tools, Scribe3D© and PathTrace© which can be used both domestically and internationally at no cost for approved partners. The use of next-generation mod/sim tools such as Scribe3D or PathTrace can provide many benefits to facility security personnel, operators, and regulators. Mod/sim can be used as a cost-effective way to evaluate security-by-design and the Design and Evaluation Process Outline (DEPO), evaluate the effectiveness of current physical protection systems (PPS), plan for force-on-force (FoF) exercises, conduct tabletop exercises with results recorded for future trainings, model an unlimited set of “what if” scenarios, conduct virtual tours, analyze adversary attack plans, study adversary attack paths, find the critical detection point (CDP) in an adversary pathway, and simulate combat engagements with scientific and verified data.