First Steps Towards an Interactive Real-time Hazard Management Simulation

Abstract

This paper reports on the construction and initial testing of a computer-based interactive flood hazard management simulation, designed for undergraduates taking an applied geomorphology course. Details of the authoring interface utilized to create the simulation are presented. Students act as the managers of civil defence utilities in a fictional town, and have to respond to changes in local conditions to prevent a flood disaster. An SMS messaging service presents the managers with real-time situation updates, and enables them to respond immediately. No significant difference is observed between the standard of student performance under these conditions of authentic assessment in the simulation and that attained in the other, more traditional, elements of assessment in the course. Future refinements intended to overcome identified weaknesses in the simulation are outlined.

Keywords:

• Real-time simulation
• flood management
• SMS messaging
• geomorphology
• hazards
• Authentic Assessment

Acknowledgements

The development of the hazard simulation model would not have been possible without the aid of support obtained through the University of Aberdeen's Learning Technology Programme. Three anonymous referees are thanked for their helpful and supportive comments which guided considerable improvement in structure of this paper.

Notes

¹ The JISC-funded TurnitinUK plagiarism detection software is an online service hosted at http://www.submit.ac.uk that enables institutions and staff to carry out electronic comparison of students' work against electronic sources, and other students' work. The service is based in the UK and accessed via standard web browsers.