When you are transporting nuclear reactors, you have only one chance for a safe, zero-error shipment. Perkins, a specialised highway transportation contracting company realised this only too well when it had to transport four massive steam generators for a nuclear power plant from southern California to Utah.
It used a completely digital approach to create a massive transportation vehicle — a 400-foot-long truck with over 192 wheels. It began with 2D sketches of the transporter in AutoCAD software then brought alive in 3D models which were then put through a simulation software. Thus, Perkins was able to simulate every possible accident or "situation" that might have happened and optimise design accordingly to avert the worst.

Similarly, simulation software allowed a new elevator system for US Navy aircraft carriers to be tested for shocks — like those produced by underwater explosions. And the US National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST) could have safer and more effective respirator masks for firefighters.
It could digitally capture reality, using the same software, to analyse the fitting process between the respirator mask and a human head and assess airflow for the mask, in two-and-a-half days.

Augmented reality, the blending of virtual and real worlds and simulation are mainly linked with gaming, animation movies, entertainment and other consumer applications.
But digital recreation of real-world environments and situations have almost infinite applications in safety and research as well because they allow you to see and prepare for the worst, without necessarily having to go through it in reality, which is incredibly expensive. The US Navy for instance, saved hundreds of millions of dollars on those tests alone.

Moreover, simulation means that multiple situations can be dealt with simultaneously, which may not always be possible in regular testing. This is better preparation since in real life, situations rarely occur one at a time. It also aids in research because you can see things that you might not have seen otherwise.

CIM Data, a consultancy firm focused on product lifecycle management, forecasts that the simulation and analysis software market will exceed $3.1 billion by 2014.
"In as little as 10 years, all kinds of testing will be done digitally with a big focus on simulation," says Buzz Kross, vice-president, design, lifecycle & simulation at Autodesk. The design software giant has been among the strongest supporters having invested over half a billion dollars in simulation technology.

Source:http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/hardware/simulation-software-marks-its-might-in-safety-testing/articleshow/13192785.cms