Participative simulation to raise awareness among coastal planning stakeholders on maritime flood risks (LittoSIM)

Île d’Oléron, Dieppe, Camargue, Villers sur mer – France

Dates : 2015-2022

Project leader: National Centre of Scientific Research (CNRS) – UMR LIENSs

Classification

Risks

Solutions

Actors

Costs

Summary

LittoSIM is a participative simulation platform for local elected officials and technicians concerned with marine submersion risks. The simulation is in the form of a ‘serious game’ integrating a model of marine submersion, modelling actors working on the territory and game actions played in situ by elected officials and technicians (municipalities and inter-municipalities). The game explores different flood risk management scenarios, whose development is induced by the players’ planning choices and the simulation itself, thus constraining the game trajectories. During the 3 to 4-hour workshops, 8 to 12 local players experiment with different possible actions: construction/renovation of dykes, reinforcement of dune or pebble strips, construction outside or inside the flood zone, more or less far from the coast, with or without adapted urban planning, modification of Local Urbanism Plan (PLU) between agricultural, natural and urbanisation zones. At the end of the workshop, the strategies tested by the different teams are discussed and debated. Financed by the CNRS, the Fondation de France and the Region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, several configurations of the simulation are available depending on the territorial specificities (low sandy coasts, cliff and valley coasts, estuarine territories).

Actions

The LittoSIM research project comprises the development of the tool, its deployment in different pilot territories and the evaluation of the learnings brought about among elected officials and managers, and their apprehension of the space and the territory at risk as well as its planning. While the priority audience is local and regional authorities as well as local engineers and technicians, it is also possible to involve government representatives.

During 3 to 4-hour workshops, 8-12 local actors evaluate different action paths. After a first introduction of the workshop, the participants are divided into teams of two to three people; each team is responsible for one section of the simulation. During the simulation, participants experiment with different possible actions: construction/renovation of dykes, reinforcement of dune or pebble strips, construction outside or inside the flood zone, more or less far from the coastline, with or without adapted urban planning, modification of local urban planning within agricultural, natural and urban zones.

The players interact with each other and with the risk agency to develop concerted strategies at the territorial level. They have to deal with challenges such as financial constraints, regulations and incentives. This strategic development of the territory is confronted with increased flooding (flooded surface, water height, flooded built-up areas, etc.) after several rounds of the game (corresponding to years). 

Following the simulation, the participants discuss the strategies they deliberately chose and those induced by the game. They are invited to debate the contributions of the game in terms of risk knowledge (hazard and vulnerability), opportunities and difficulties of stakeholders’ coordination and learnings from imposed scenarios.

Different configurations are available to adapt to the territorial specificities of local actors such as low sandy coasts, cliffs and valleys, estuarine areas.

Outcomes

In this case, the application of LittoSIM to the Oleron Island in 2017 showcases its successes. Elected representatives and technicians of the island’s councils have attended four workshops that invited participants to work collectively on effective and coordinated flood risk prevention strategies for their island. 

The 33 people who have attended (city mayors and other elected officials, project managers or heads of departments) declared that they greatly appreciated the workshop, which they have described as “fun”, “interesting” and “effective”. The evaluation of the workshops revealed that those who have learnt the most were the municipal elected representatives who had a limited understanding of prevention strategies before the workshops compared to other participants. About a third of the participants changed their opinion on different prevention strategies, with a notable positive evolution towards so-called soft protection strategies.

The workshops were an opportunity for elected officials and agents to connect. The workshops organised a dialogue about flood risk management among agents and elected representatives less involved in this matter. LittoSIM has enabled them to further their understanding, without going into too much technical detail, and to form an opinion on the various management options.

Between 2021 and 2022, CEREMA and other organisations will be trained in the use of LittoSIM, to be autonomous in the planning and animation of workshops in the territories. Those interested in this training can contact the LittoSIM lead organisation ( contact-littosim@univ-lr.fr ).

Central factors in the LittoSIM development and implementation were:

  • The adaptation of the simulation tool to great site-specific categories (type of coast, type of hazards, type of solidarity) without integrating local specificities that would require the redevelopment of the simulation tool. 
  • The establishment of partnerships with local organisations/institutions that are responsible for risk prevention issues.
  • To propose a balance between educational objectives (testing alternative prevention measures) and playing to allow participants to express their feelings and points of views on flood risk management.
  • The planning of a debate during the debriefing of the simulation. This time is essential for participants to tell their experience in the field. It should not be neglected and requires active facilitation.

Getting familiar with LittoSIM to organise workshops in the territories requires prior training. Training sessions of 2 to 3 days are currently being carried out.

The use of LittoSIM requires computer devices including several tablets, a calculation machine and an ultra-short-throw projector. The cost of this equipment is between 5.000 and 6.000€. Various organisations are already equipped with the necessary computer kit. Loans can be granted.

Partners

Technical partners: State services, regional and local authorities, universities and scientific institutions

Financial partners: CNRS, Municipalities Community of Oléron, University of Caen, Region of Nouvelle Aquitaine, Fondation de France

Resources