Applications of Serious Games in Geovisualization

Abstract

The aim of this chapter is to introduce the reader to the impact of the application of serious games in geovisualization, due in particular to the use of flight simulators and associated technologies. The authors present the main elements and techniques developed for serious games that have influenced geovisualization research, and also bring an overview of some available frameworks for the implementation of serious games. They illustrate the main concepts, the development of an integrated system that combines flight simulator technologies with satellite imagery, and other diverse geographical data sources in a single geovisualization application. The chapter also presents a review of the high-end human-machine interfaces designed for games and their current and possible uses as geovisualization exploration tools. A discussion about the several challenges is provided as well as the opportunities that arise through the application of serious games in this area.