scholarly journals Breaking the Silos: an online serious game for multi-risk DRR management

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marleen C. de Ruiter ◽  
Anaïs A. Couasnon ◽  
Philip J. Ward

Abstract. The increased complexity of disaster risk due to climate change, expected population growth and the increasing interconnectedness of disaster impacts across communities and economic sectors, require Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) measures that are better able to address these growing complexities. Especially Disaster Risk Management (DRM) practitioners need to be able to oversee these complexities. Nonetheless, in the traditional risk paradigm, there is a strong focus on single hazards and the risk faced by individual communities and economic sectors. Breaking the Silos is a serious game designed to support various stakeholders (including policy makers, risk managers, researchers) in understanding and managing the complexities of DRR measures in a multi-(hazard) risk setting, thereby moving away from hazard-silo thinking. What sets Breaking the Silos apart from other disaster risk games, is its explicit focus on multi-risk challenges. The game includes different hazard types, intensities, and their interactions, different impact indicators, and (a)synergies between DRR measures. Moreover, the spread of expert knowledge between different participants and the high levels of freedom and randomness in the game design contribute to a realistic game. The game was successfully launched during the World Bank GFDRR’s Understanding Risk 2020 Forum and later played again with the same settings with researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich. Before and after playing the games, participants were asked to complete surveys asking them about their perception of the challenges of DRM and whether the game raised their awareness of these challenges. The preliminary findings indicate that Breaking the Silos was found useful by the participants in increasing awareness of the complexities of risk.

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 383-397
Author(s):  
Marleen Carolijn de Ruiter ◽  
Anaïs Couasnon​​​​​​​ ◽  
Philip James Ward

Abstract. The increased complexity of disaster risk, due to climate change, expected population growth and the increasing interconnectedness of disaster impacts across communities and economic sectors, requires disaster risk reduction (DRR) measures that are better able to address these growing complexities. Especially disaster risk management (DRM) practitioners need to be able to oversee these complexities. Nonetheless, in the traditional risk paradigm, there is a strong focus on single hazards and the risk faced by individual communities and economic sectors. The development of the game and how it aims to support a shift from a single-risk to a multi-risk paradigm are discussed in detail. Breaking the Silos is a serious game designed to support various stakeholders (including policy makers, risk managers, researchers) in understanding and managing the complexities of DRR measures in a multi-risk (multi-hazard) setting, thereby moving away from hazard-silo thinking. What sets Breaking the Silos apart from other disaster risk games is its explicit focus on multi-risk challenges. The game includes different hazard types and intensities (and their interactions), different impact indicators, and (a)synergies between DRR measures. Moreover, the spread of expert knowledge between different participants and the high levels of freedom and randomness in the game design contribute to a realistic game. The game was launched during the World Bank GFDRR's Understanding Risk 2020 Forum and later played again with the same settings with researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich. Feedback from the pre- and post-game surveys indicates that Breaking the Silos was found useful by the participants in increasing awareness of the complexities of risk.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marleen de Ruiter ◽  
Anaïs Couasnon ◽  
Philip Ward

<p>The increased complexity of disaster risk due to climate change, expected population growth and the increasing interconnectedness of disaster impacts across communities and economic sectors, require Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) measures and practitioners that are better able to address these complexities. Nonetheless, in the traditional risk paradigm, there is a strong focus on single-hazards and the risk faced by individual communities and sectors.</p><p><em>Breaking the Silos</em> is a narrator-led, role-playing game designed to support decision makers and stakeholders in understanding and managing the complexities of implementing DRR measures in a multi-(hazard) risk setting. The game starts in de aftermath of a (randomly selected) disaster. The different roles include key decision-makers and stakeholders of a country. The team is responsible for the post-disaster recovery process and can decide to implement DRR measures. However, while some of these DRR measures can decrease risk of one hazard, they can increase the risk of another hazard. In each subsequent round, the team faces another (randomly selected) disaster. Unlike many other risk serious games, <em>Breaking the Silos </em>includes many random factors to better simulate reality. The roles are designed such that expert knowledge and objectives are spread throughout the participants and they can even be conflicting at times.</p><p>The game was successfully launched during the World Bank’s 2020 Understanding Risk conference. Before and after playing the game, participants were asked to complete surveys asking them about their perception of the challenges of Disaster Risk Management and whether the game raised their awareness of these challenges. The preliminary findings indicate that <em>Breaking the Silos</em> is a useful tool in supporting decision makers and practitioners to become aware of (the risks of) hazard-silo thinking and possible (a)synergies of DRR measures.</p>


2000 ◽  
Vol 151 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephan Wild-Eck ◽  
Willi Zimmermann

Two large-scale surveys looking at attitudes towards forests, forestry and forest policy in the second half ofthe nineties have been carried out. This work was done on behalf of the Swiss Confederation by the Chair of Forest Policy and Forest Economics of the Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich. Not only did the two studies use very different methods, but the results also varied greatly as far as infrastructure and basic conditions were concerned. One of the main differences between the two studies was the fact that the first dealt only with mountainous areas, whereas the second was carried out on the whole Swiss population. The results of the studies reflect these differences:each produced its own specific findings. Where the same (or similar) questions were asked, the answers highlight not only how the attitudes of those questioned differ, but also views that they hold in common. Both surveys showed positive attitudes towards forests in general, as well as a deep-seated appreciation ofthe forest as a recreational area, and a positive approach to tending. Detailed results of the two surveys will be available in the near future.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 559-559
Author(s):  
Sara Freed ◽  
Briana Sprague ◽  
Lesley Ross

Abstract Interventions using exercise video games, or exergames, have shown short-term cognitive and physical benefits to older adults, though long-term effects are less promising. Enjoyment of exergames may promote exergame use after the intervention period, though little work has examined older adults’ views of exergames before and after gameplay experience. We invited 20 older adults between 65 and 84 years of age (M=73.30, SD=5.95) to play two Xbox Kinect games, Just Dance and Kinect Sports Rivals, for twenty minutes. In our presentation, we will present qualitative and quantitative findings of this pilot study, including findings that older adults reported that they were not likely to play similar exergames in the future and that they did not find the exergames to be more fun compared to other ways of exercising. We will discuss implications for game design and research relevant to game developers, manufacturers, and researchers. Part of a symposium sponsored by Technology and Aging Interest Group.


Author(s):  
Ali Amasha

Abstract Background The flash flood still constitutes one of the major natural meteorological disasters harmfully threatening local communities, that creates life losses and destroying infrastructures. The severity and magnitude of disasters always reflected from the size of impacts. Most of the conventional research models related to flooding vulnerability are focusing on hydro-meteorological and morphometric measurements. It, however, requires quick estimate of the flood losses and assess the severity using reliable information. An automated zonal change detection model applied, using two high-resolution satellite images dated 2009 and 2011 coupled with LU/LC GIS layer, on western El-Arish City, downstream of Wadi El-Arish basin. The model enabled to estimate the severity of a past flood incident in 2010. Results The model calculated the total changes based on the before and after satellite images based on pixel-by-pixel comparison. The estimated direct-damages nearly 32,951 m2 of the total mapped LU/LC classes; (e.g., 11,407 m2 as 3.17% of the cultivated lands; 6031 m2 as 7.22% of the built-up areas and 4040 m2 as 3.62% of the paved roads network). The estimated cost of losses, in 2010 economic prices for the selected three LU/LC classes, is nearly 25 million USD, for the cultivation fruits and olives trees, ~ 4 million USD for built-up areas and ~ 1 million USD for paved roads network. Conclusion The disasters’ damage and loss estimation process takes many detailed data, longtime, and costed as well. The applied model accelerates the disaster risk mapping that provides an informative support for loss estimation. Therefore, decision-makers and professionals need to apply this model for quick the disaster risks management and recovery.


Processes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 515
Author(s):  
Thomas Freudenmann ◽  
Hans-Joachim Gehrmann ◽  
Krasimir Aleksandrov ◽  
Mohanad El-Haji ◽  
Dieter Stapf

This paper describes a procedure and an IT product that combine numerical models, expert knowledge, and data-based models through artificial intelligence (AI)-based hybrid models to enable the integrated control, optimization, and monitoring of processes and plants. The working principle of the hybrid model is demonstrated by NOx reduction through guided oscillating combustion at the pulverized fuel boiler pilot incineration plant at the Institute for Technical Chemistry, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. The presented example refers to coal firing, but the approach can be easily applied to any other type of nitrogen-containing solid fuel. The need for a reduction in operation and maintenance costs for biomass-fired plants is huge, especially in the frame of emission reductions and, in the case of Germany, the potential loss of funding as a result of the Renewable Energy Law (Erneuerbare-Energien-Gesetz) for plants older than 20 years. Other social aspects, such as the departure of experienced personnel may be another reason for the increasing demand for data mining and the use of artificial intelligence (AI).


Author(s):  
Zaky Machmuddah ◽  
St. Dwiarso Utomo ◽  
Entot Suhartono ◽  
Shujahat Ali ◽  
Wajahat Ali Ghulam

The coronavirus pandemic has spread all over the world, affecting both the health and economic sectors. The aim of this research was to observe stock prices of customer goods before and after the COVID-19 pandemic using event study and the comparison test. The sample included data of daily closing stock prices and volume of stock trade during the three months before (−90 days) and after (+90 days) the occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic ongoing, totaling 2670 observation data both before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, for a total of 5340. The research findings indicate a significant difference between the daily closing stock price and volume of stock trade before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The current research has both theoretical and practical implications: the findings strengthen the efficient market hypothesis, which states that the more complete the provided information, the more efficient the market. The practical implication is that investors should be careful when choosing to invest. Investors should choose customer goods sector companies that provide products that are much needed by customers, for example, pharmacy, food, beverages, etc. Future research is needed to investigate the long-term impact of the pandemic on the economy.


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