When it comes to realistic training, it's hard to beat a full-scale faux city designed specifically for force-on-force training. The high-tech tactical village at the College of DuPage's 66,000-square-foot Homeland Security Education Center in the western suburbs of Chicago is the only training center of its kind outside the military, according to Cubic Corp. , which developed the systems used at the center.
The climate- and lighting-controlled indoor training area consists of a main street that can be reconfigured to meet any department's training needs. The center uses Cubic's Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (MILES) and ASAULT exercise control and after-action review system.