Weather the Storm, a simulated reality experience that immerses users in the impacts of storm surge to illustrate its catastrophic and occasionally deadly ramifications, is now accessible for download. This simulation seeks to enable coastal inhabitants to proactively prepare for hurricanes.
This simulation is made possible through a collaboration with the University of Georgia, Clemson University, Georgia Sea Grant and South Carolina Sea Grant, along with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
“Virtual reality experiences are tremendously beneficial for emergency readiness training,” remarked Sun Joo “Grace” Ahn, founding director of UGA’s Center for Advanced Computer-Human Ecosystems, which created the project. “They deliver intense representations of natural disasters that are more vivid and emotive than traditional forms of media because users can see, hear, and feel the occurrences within the virtual environment.”
Weather the Storm is designed to allow coastal communities to feel and visualize the intensity of hurricanes, motivating them to evacuate when directed by local emergency responders. The VR experience simulates a storm surge event within a coastal residence and is complemented by footage from Hurricane Ian, which hit Florida in 2022 and caused extensive destruction throughout the Southeast, illustrating water and strong winds entering the dwelling. Users also receive valuable recommendations for essential items to have ready, such as batteries and drinking water.
As per the National Hurricane Center, when a tropical system or hurricane nears the coast, strong winds can drive significant volumes of water onto land in the form of storm surge. From 1963 to 2012, storm surge accounted for nearly half (49%) of immediate fatalities due to Atlantic tropical cyclones in the United States.
Statistics reveal that from 2013 to 2022, storm surge represented 11% of direct fatalities due to tropical cyclones, a decline from the 49% noted between 1963 and 2012. This indicates that public outreach and enhanced forecasting have aided in achieving a relative decrease in storm surge-related deaths. Nonetheless, storm surge remains a perilous and frequently misinterpreted hazard. In 2022, 41 individuals lost their lives due to storm surge caused by Hurricane Ian.
“As hurricanes and other natural calamities become more destructive, we must utilize every resource at our disposal to safeguard our communities,” stated Matthew Browning, associate professor at Clemson University and co-director of the Virtual Reality & Nature Lab. “Weather the Storm provides a compelling avenue for the general populace to take precautions seriously, enabling individuals to genuinely confront the dangers of storm surge before it’s too late.”
Weather the Storm was funded by the Weather Program Office’s Social Science Initiative at NOAA.
“This co-production underwent over 25 iterations, with hands-on field assessments shaping the enhancement of the simulation,” uttered Castle Williamsberg, a social scientist with NOAA’s Weather Program Office. “The entire group was dedicated to making it as lifelike and scientifically precise as possible, ensuring that people could accurately grasp the experience of storm surge in VR instead of facing it in reality.”
Research indicates that messages conveyed through a VR immersive experience leave a more lasting impact compared to messages relayed via video or written formats. The strong collaboration among institutions, Extension services, and federal bodies facilitated the creation of this VR simulation, which initially began as a small initiative backed by a University of Georgia Presidential Interdisciplinary Seed Grant.
“We are exploring how to harness the communicative power of the virtual realm to discern if we can influence behavior not just within that space but also beyond it, enhancing readiness for rare and high-risk occurrences, such as hurricanes,” Ahn explained.
Ahn and Browning directed the conception and development of Weather the Storm, alongside Olivia McAnirlin from Clemson, and Jill Gambill, previously associated with University of Georgia Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant.
The VR application can be obtained via the Center for Advanced Computer-Human Ecosystems web portal (https://www.ugavr.com/weatherthestorm). Detailed video tutorials and PDF guides for downloading and utilizing Weather the Storm, in addition to resources to enhance the VR experience, can also be accessed on the site. The application is intended for use with a Meta Quest VR headset.
The article Storm surge virtual reality simulation designed to save lives originally appeared on UGA Today.