Research Insights

This project leverages assets from a previously funded NOAA project and the research team’s expertise in using immersive technologies to translate critical hazardous weather information with these theory-driven and evidence-based objectives: (1) amplify the impact of risk communication through mixed-reality (MR) simulations of hazardous weather events (hurricane, wildfire) that can localize the experience of risk in the user’s physical space (2) co-develop transformative action plans for emergency preparedness with key stakeholders (emergency managers, local government representatives, community members) to increase the resilience of communities at risk for hurricanes (Florida) and wildfires (Oregon); (3) develop and test AIWX, a prompt engineered to leverage the power of artificial intelligence to summarize and synthesize large volumes of weather information to assist decision-making when hazardous weather events are imminent. Through a two-year project that engages close to 600 coastal residents, emergency managers, and other stakeholders in the weather enterprise in Florida and Oregon, we aim to address Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences Priority (2) – Behavioral responses to hazardous weather events. We will integrate a community-based participatory research approach to work closely with key stakeholders, developing actionable weather solutions that are feasible and sustainable over time. In the Southeastern United States, University of Georgia’s research team will partner with the National Hurricane Center and the Broward County Public Library system (37 branches) in Florida. In the Pacific Northwestern United States, University of Oregon’s research team will partner with the Oregon Museum for Science and Industry in Oregon. Through collaborators who are well-established in these at-risk communities, we can leverage existing resources at the sites, rely on their ability to handle hundreds of thousands of foot traffic from community members, and draw on their reputation as a trusted source of information in the community. At the end of the project, we will deliver a library of immersive experiences that include both virtual reality and mixed reality experiences to simulate hazardous weather events with visceral sensorimotor cues, elevating risk perceptions and drawing attention. The mixed-reality prototype that is currently at RL3 will be tested and iteratively enhanced to RL7. Functionality will be demonstrated in near-real world environments and large-scale demonstrations in Florida and Oregon (tested across N = 240 participants). The co-developed community action plans (‘hero project’) will be tested through the integration of our collaborators and community partners (N = 320) to determine how community members build collective efficacy that leads to actions for transformative and sustainable community resilience against hazardous weather events (target RL5). AIWX will be tested for feasibility with emergency managers and local government personnel to eventually be integrated into their training protocols (target RL7). Together, the southeastern and Pacific northwestern areas of the United States incur billion-dollar disasters from hazardous weather events. By combining the expertise of interdisciplinary university research teams, government, trusted civic partners in at-risk communities, and leveraging the power of cutting-edge immersive technologies and AI, the proposed project aims to overcome individual and community vulnerabilities to weather and better communicate their risks to minimize preventable harms to life and property.

Funder: U.S. Department of Commerce

Amount: $391,865

PI: Sun Joo (Grace) Ahn, Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication