As you know, OpenRelief is about more than the technical aspects of disaster relief. It is a design project to help improve our responses via new ideas and new approaches. The robot plane we are developing is one part of this. The radiation sensor is another. However, we also need to address the question of how such things can fit into the real world.
To assist with this we are experimenting with wargaming concepts. While these have conventionally been associated with military planning, and more recently with aggressive management training, we are aiming to create simple, adaptable and interesting ways to help people think through the inclusion of advanced technology in their humanitarian efforts.
As a sort of gift to everyone who has patiently supported, contributed to and believed in this project throughout the year, today we are releasing the first public draft of the OpenRelief disaster response situation simulation. This was developed by Kevin Walsh, an experienced game-master, and someone who has used a bird’s eye concept that we can hopefully adapt and evolve to suit responders around the world. You can download it here:
http://www.opendawn.com/openrelief/situation-simulation/
The first release edition (with updates incorporated from suggestions by Mike) is due shortly.