Date
Monday, November 13, 2023
Time
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Name
Designing for Behavior Change: Improving Infrastructure Resilience through Virtual Experiences
Session ID BECC
A2 - Lightning: Improving Community Resilience through Sustainability + Adaptation
Track
Climate Change
Dalya Ismael
Description

NASA has identified understanding climate change threats as a strategic goal, and decision-makers at all levels must address climate change to mitigate severe storm events and rising sea levels. This study proposes an approach to making long-term, resilient decisions related to climate change by incorporating Virtual Reality (VR) technology into engineering decision-making tools. Climate data from NASA's public database will be collected and analyzed to create climate projections. These projections will then be used to create an immersive VR scenario, allowing engineers to visualize the effects of climate change on coastal infrastructure projects 100 years in the future. Participants will wear VR headsets and use the engineering decision-making tool Envision to assess sustainability and resilience measures. The study aims to address the complex decision-making involved in infrastructure planning, design, and construction, as decision-makers often focus on immediate gains rather than long-term resilient outcomes. By using VR technology, engineers can see the long-term effects of their decisions, providing a more informed and sustainable approach to infrastructure projects. This study offers an opportunity to explore the intersection of climate change, infrastructure design, and human behavior, providing insights into how engineers can make more sustainable and resilient decisions for engineering projects. By combining VR technology with decision-making tools, this study aims to improve the way infrastructure decisions are made, ultimately leading to a more sustainable and resilient future for communities.