SERIOUS GAMING

An aim of the project is to look at the opportunities for using Serious Gaming for training and exercises for high water, floods, evacuation and crisis management linked to evaluation techniques and an educational programme. This involves thematic modules (netcentric operations, upscaling, information management, decision-making, evacuation, coping with uncertainties) and chain-based modules or complete exercises (covering several facets). The basis here will include, among other things, experience with Waterproef, Floodex, drills associated with FLIWAS, LEM and other high-water simulation exercises in the Netherlands. The target group comprises water managers and teams in the general sector (in the Dutch situation; they will sometimes be grouped together abroad). The focus here will be on operational, tactical and strategic teams, and combinations of those teams.

The deployment of Serious Gaming concepts should result in enhanced safety for the Netherlands through the improvement of collaboration between the various parties involved in a water crisis. The organisations with specific roles who are involved in dealing with alerts know what they are expected to do, which overall processes have to be initiated and what options they have in terms of coordinated action.

Research in 2011 will focus on extending the game concept by deepening and extending the supporting software developed last year.