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Group photo of Home Front Simulation Symposium 2025. (Photo: HTX)
AI-powered simulation technology allows for the engineering of high fidelity and data rich environments that can empower training for public safety operations in today’s increasingly complex security environment - this was the key message in HTX Deputy Chief Executive (Development) Ng Yeow Boon’s opening address at the Homefront Simulation Symposium, which took place on 26 August 2025.
Jointly organised by HTX and the Home Team Academy (HTA), the symposium was focused on the latest developments and applications of simulation technologies in public security. The event attracted over 360 participants from the Home Team as well as public security agencies and academic and industry partners from Singapore, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands.
DCE(D) Ng Yeow Boon delivering his opening address. (Photo: HTX/Nicole Lim)
Among those who gave insightful presentations at the event was Tan Hock Woo, Chief Technology Officer, Training and Simulation, ST Engineering, who showed the audience how AI has impacted public safety operations and training.
Tan Hock Woo, CTO, Training and Simulation, ST Engineering. (Photo: HTX)
John Han, the Science and Technology Attaché from the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), then took the stage to explain how AI, Extended Reality (XR), and simulation technologies can empower public safety officers.
John Han, Science and Technology Attaché, US DHS. (Photo: HTX)
Next, Ying Meng Fai, the director of HTX’s Human Factors and Simulation Centre of Expertise(HFS CoE), delivered an enlightening presentation on building cognitive and physical Digital Twins for safer and smarter public safety operations.
HFS CoE Director Ying Meng Fai. (Photo: HTX)
The speakers then convened for a panel discussion on how AI, XR and simulation can be leveraged to empower operations and training.
From left to right: moderator Dr Saravana Kumar, Deputy Director, HFS CoE; Tan Hock Woo, CTO, Training and Simulation, ST Engineering; John Han, Science and Technology Attaché, US DHS; and Ying Meng Fai, Director, HFS CoE (Photo: HTX/Nicole Lim)
HTA Chief Executive Wilson Lim experiencing immersive simulation training through a VR headset, exploring a 3D map of Orchard Road. (Photo: HTX)
Another three sets of technical presentations were held in the afternoon, with the first focusing on human modelling. The second set was on advances in XR while the third was centred on incident management.
Matthijs Koedijk, Senior Scientist, Human Performance, The Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), speaking on “Human Capability and Technology: Simulation of Human Performance in Military and Police Contexts”. (Photo: HTX/Alvin Lim)
Panel discussion on “Shaping the Future of Immersive Training and Operations”. From left to right: moderator Derek Chong, Lead Engineer (Human Performance Modelling in XR, Human Simulation, Instrumentation and Modelling), HFS CoE; Markus Murtinger, AIT; Professor Yen Ching-Chiuan, Keio-NUS CUTE Centre; Christian Haarmeijer, CEO/Co-founder RE-Lion; and Saravana Kumar, Deputy Director, HFS CoE (Photo: HTX/Alvin Lim)
The day before the symposium, some of the delegates visited two of HFS CoE’s laboratories.
The delegates at EXCEL’s fitness evaluation lab. (Photo: HTX/Alvin Lim)
A delegate experiencing a stereoscopic virtual environment. (Photo: HTX/Alvin Lim)
The day after the symposium, 60 participants – including several delegates from the symposium as well as members of the Home Team – attended a full-day workshop at HTX HQ where they learned about topics like driving simulation, digital twins, emerging display technologies, and human-system integration.
Professor Uwe Wössner, HLRS (High Performance Computing Centre Stuttgart), sharing with the workshop participants on vehicle dynamics simulation, pedestrian and traffic simulation, road network modelling, and realistic environment rendering. (Photo: HTX/Alvin Lim)
