Abstract

Geospatial simulation through Massive Multiplayer Online Games and GIS
Track: Education and Training
Authors: Ola Ahlqvist Ahlqvist

Enhanced participation and collaboration in spatial decision making has engaged researchers and practitioners for many decades but spatially situated social interaction remains limited. In contrast, online computer game activities demonstrate a very high level of participation, social interaction, and knowledge construction. This paper reports on the initial development of a generic framework for integrating Geographic Information Systems (GIS) with Massive Multi-player Online Gaming (MMOG) technology to support the integrated modeling of human-environment resource management and decision-making. We discuss Web 2.0 concepts, online maps, and games as key technologies to realize a participatory construction of spatial simulation and decision making practices. Through a design-based research approach we develop a prototype framework, "GeoGame, that allows users to play board-game-style simulations on top of an online map. Our prototype includes the following features: game lobby, user-modifiable rules and scenarios building, a simulation interface with a GIS virtual globe, chat, discussion, and market transactions.