Serious and escape games in virtual reality to improve the capacity of decision makers and citizens for the implementation of air quality plans and actions

Introduction

Poor air quality is one of the leading causes of death in Europe, and except for some known antagonisms, the fight against air pollution is often common with the fight against climate change.

Awareness Challenges

Air quality is a complex issue in terms of awareness since it is often invisible. It is thus still difficult to involve all decision makers and citizens in this issue and to make them improve their actions or behaviours.

Decision-Making Integration

Due to a lack of persuasion, decision makers still insufficiently integrate air quality issues into the decision-making process for urban planning projects. Moreover, solutions to limit air pollutants emissions do rarely enjoy good acceptability.

Project Overview

Our LIFE V-Air project therefore proposes to develop innovative tools for a real impact in terms of messaging and persuasion to decision-makers and citizens. Using gamification and virtual reality (VR), the tools will make the substandard air quality and its impacts visible in case of insufficient action in the future (2030 and 2050).

Training for Decision Makers

Decision makers will be trained with a serious game in VR fed by air quality data on their own territory as well as linked indicators concerning energy and climate. The immersion will help them to visualize the various impacts on health and the environment.

Scenario Mobilization

The scenarios will mobilize them to identify the best investments for public policies in terms of development, transport, etc., to reach the environmental targets.

Engaging Citizens

As for the citizens, they will benefit from a more entertaining tool in VR, that is an escape game with individual data.

Database Enhancement

These tools will enhance existing air-climate-energy databases at the European, national, regional, or more local scales. This territorial adaptation made possible by VR will have a high replication potential.

Partner Expertise

The project partners have skills in the air-climate-energy databases, in VR, or in support of decision makers and citizens.

Conclusion

The project will contribute to improving air quality across Europe and will have benefits on climate issues.