Disaster Dynamics

Five Year Plan

03-Dec-2003

Scientific Goals

Disaster Dynamics• transform descriptive case studies of natural hazard

events into interactive learning tools for undergraduate and professional education

• integrate concepts of complexity, resilience, emergence, and adaptation in dynamic, computer-aided role-playing disaster simulations and games

• contribute to the design of hazard-resistant and resilient communities

Unique Attributes

• Disaster Dynamics targets FEMA higher education programs

• Focused on strategies for mitigation of hazard impacts

• Design approaches incorporate concepts from systems thinking and non-linear systems dynamics

NCAR Collaborators• Education and Outreach (E&O)

– Evaluate potential for K-12 adaptation of DD products• Cooperative program for Operational Meteorology, Education, and

Training (COMET)– Evaluate potential for use in professional distance education

• Unidata– Explore interfacing weather data with gaming tools

• Digital Library for Earth Systems Education (DLESE)– Knowledge resource

• NCAR Weather & Climate Assessment Initiative– Collaboration on extreme event theory and associated uncertainties

• NCAR Wildfire Initiative– Collaboration on content development for wildfire products

• USWRP– Connecting basic research to disaster management

University Collaborations

• University of Colorado, Boulder & Denver– College of Architecture and Planning - Alternative

Growth Futures project

– Center for Life-Long Learning & Design

– Natural Hazards Center

– Environmental Sociology Program

• University of Texas, Austin– Center for Space Research

• FEMA Higher-ed colleges and universities

DD Collaboration Figure

DD Deliverables

• Near-term– WFCA

– Flow

– (Freeway / Fishbanks)

– DLUG

• Future– DD Toolkit

– Integrated content system

– Interface for instructors

The DD Toolkit

• Java library for development and customization of interactive network simulation games– Runs on Mac, Linux, PC

• Features– Zero configuration network - just double click– Instructor interface (future)– Reusable components (map, chat, voting)– Agent-based simulation framework– End-user customization without coding (with XML

property files)

DD Architecture

Agent-basedSimulation

Client/ServerNetworking

GameObjects

Game TurnStructure

VisualizationToolkit

Game UserInterface