Risk Communication through use of Virtual Reality

Risk communication is critical in reducing risk to natural hazards and influencing decision making. By communicating effectively, individuals and communities can be made aware of the risk, potential measures to reduce their risk, and the decisions to ensure their safety. Through effective risk communication, the public can be informed about the causes, likelihood, and consequences of natural hazards and the measures that can be taken to mitigate their impact. In this context, we have been developing a prototype to educate students about natural hazards through virtual reality (VR). This innovative solution combines hardware and software components to create an immersive and interactive learning experience. The hardware component consists of the necessary equipment required to run the VR simulation, such as VR headsets and motion controllers. The software component encompasses the virtual environment and interactive components that bring the VR experience to life. This prototype is designed to be an effective tool in educating students about natural hazards, providing them with a hands-on understanding of the dangers they face and how to respond in case of a disaster. By leveraging VR technology, we aim to make learning about natural hazards engaging, memorable, and effective.