Virtual Climate Lab: increasing stakeholder engagement
The Virtual Climate Lab makes interpreting scientific data straightforward and engaging. By combining various data layers with a detailed 3D-printed terrain model, different scenarios are brought to life. Gather around this interactive table to explore different scenarios, discuss potential impacts and make informed decisions with stakeholders.
The Virtual Climate Lab is a table-like setup. The 3D-printed model is placed within the frame, engaging users to their region of focus. As the data is presented on a physical scale model the results presented become more tangible. This setup allows users/stakeholders to gather around and openly discuss differences between scenarios and point out areas of interest. In addition, the external monitor can be used to highlight a transect of interest, enabling users to assess the data in a specific location in higher detail.
Use Cases
Currently two use cases are implemented: the first one was for future water availability on Terschelling and focussed on local island-based stakeholders like farmers, nature preservation agencies and the drinking water company. The second case was to support Marine spatial Planning through the Greater North Sea Basin Initiative, focussing on delegates of ministries of the countries surrounding the North Sea Basin. This difference between hands on- and high-level stakeholders shows the variety of cases to which the VCL could add value.
Current and future developments
Our aim is to further develop on:
- Streamlining use cases: reducing manual steps needed to setup the VCL for a new location. This applies to the production of the 3D-printed terrain model and the underlying data that is to be visualised.
- Interactivity: We are further enhancing methods of user interactivity. Through object detection and localisation we want to enable users to mimic mitigation measures completely interactively. A small item (e.g. a pump or windmill ) can be placed on the terrain model, and this alters the results of an underlying simulation.
- Virtual Reality: in order to make future scenarios more tangible we want to simulate a game like environment in which users can experience what the future may look like in their chosen region.
I am pleased to see this approach: It offers an excellent opportunity to collaboratively examine a region with stakeholders, gain insights into how the system functions, and assess the impact of specific solutions.
Perry de Louw, specialist groundwater and water availability Deltares during stakeholdermeeting at Terschelling
