Harnessing Game Engines and Digital Twins: Advancing Flood Education, Data Visualization, and Interactive Monitoring for Enhanced Hydrological Understanding

Abstract

Given the increasing frequency and severity of floods caused by climate change, there is a pressing requirement for creative ways to improve public comprehension and control of hydrological phenomena. Contemporary technology provides unparalleled possibilities to transform this domain. This project investigates the possibilities for merging gaming engines and digital twins to enhance flood education, data visualization, and interactive monitoring. This study proposes the utilization of immersive digital twins to enhance the comprehension of hydrological and hydraulic systems. The suggested method utilizes game engines to generate dynamic and interactive models that connect raw data to practical insights, enabling a more profound understanding of flood dynamics. This study underscores the wide-ranging usefulness of digital twins in various watersheds by focusing on the development of advanced monitoring systems, the benefits of improved data visualization, and educational outreach. The incorporation of real-time data via IoT technology considerably improves the significance and precision of these virtual models. This novel approach seeks to refashion flood management approaches by cultivating well-informed stakeholders and advocating for effective environmental education, ultimately leading to more resilient and prepared communities. An immersive digital twin of the real world can assist decision-makers technically, psychologically, and mentally by making complex phenomena easier to understand and visualize, thanks to real-time data and simulations that keep the information up-to-date, consequently leading to a more precise and intuitive decision-making process.